Investigating the Real-World Experience of Enhancing Occipital Hair Diameter Index in Male Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) is a condition that causes gradual hair thinning and baldness in certain areas of the scalp. Male Pattern Hair Loss (MPHL) affects the frontotemporal and vertex regions, while Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL) presents as diffuse thinning of the central scalp with a preserved hairline. Historically, the occipital region was considered an unaffected area of AGA, leading to little research on the efficacy of alopecia medication in this area. 1 However, recent studies have shown that both MPHL and FPHL can cause changes in the occipital hair and contribute to AGA, highlighting the importance of investigating the effects of drugs like finasteride on the occipital region.This study aimed to fill the gap in real-world scenarios by retrospectively reviewing patients treated with finasteride at our clinic for 6 months or longer. We evaluated the changes in occipital hair thickness and measured various hair parameters under digital trichoscope of MPHL and FPHL patients before and after treatment. Using the Hair Diameter Index to estimate visual hair density range, we were able to quantify the changes observed. The favorable outcome regarding the use of finasteride may provide citable evidence for medication prior to hair transplant surgery.