Finasteride is known as an effective medication for stopping hair loss caused by male pattern baldness (also known as androgenetic alopecia). Many men use it to control hair loss and maintain their existing hair. But did you know Finasteride can also stimulate hair growth?
In this article, you’ll learn all about Finasteride hair growth and how effective it is at treating hair loss. Discover how Finasteride works to regrow hair, see real patient results, and find out how to increase the chances of Finasteride regrowing your lost hair.
Finasteride is a drug that blocks DHT production in the body. DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is a hormone that binds to androgen receptors in your hair follicles and causes them to shrink. When your hair follicles shrink, they stop producing hair. If left untreated, this becomes permanent.
By blocking DHT production, Finasteride prevents your hair follicles from shrinking, so they can produce hair for longer. In some cases, Finasteride can even regrow hair in dormant follicles.
Finasteride isn’t suitable for everyone. It shouldn’t be used by:
Yes. Finasteride has been proven to not just stop and slow hair loss, but also to stimulate hair regrowth.
However, your hair growth success depends on a few factors, including the scalp location of your hair loss. One study found that men with crown hair loss have a 61% chance of mild to moderate hair regrowth when using Finasteride [1]. Men with temple hair loss have a slightly lower chance of regrowth, with 37% seeing hair regrowth after a year.
Another study found that Finasteride users with crown hair loss are more likely to see greater hair growth over time. 66% of people had improved hair growth after two years of use, compared with 48% after one year [2].
You’re also more likely to get good Finasteride results if your hair loss is in the early stages (ex. hair thinning, temple hair loss, or receding hairline). Learn more about using Finasteride for a receding hairline.
Three randomised placebo-controlled phase III studies of Finasteride use included 1,879 men aged 18–41 with mild to moderate male pattern baldness [1-2]. Two studies included men with predominantly crown hair loss, while one focused on men with temple hair loss.
Hair regrowth was measured based on standardised clinical photography. In addition to hair regrowth, 70-83% of Finasteride-treated men had no further hair loss after one to two years.
These male pattern baldness patients have experienced substantial hair growth as a result of using Finasteride to treat hair loss.
As you can see, Finasteride can add great density to your hair if it’s taken consistently over several months.
Three Chinese patients with male pattern baldness before treatment, after 6 months and after 12 months [3]. Treatment consisted of 1mg Finasteride and topical 5% Minoxidil.
It usually takes around 3-4 months to see the physical effects of Finasteride on your hair, but it can take longer to see new hair growth. Visible hair regrowth often begins after around four to six months.
The longer you use Finasteride, the better your results can be.
You can get even better hair regrowth if you use Finasteride in combination with Minoxidil, a topical hair loss treatment [3-5].
Minoxidil is available over-the-counter, so it’s easy to obtain and use alongside your existing hair care routine. Most people are advised to apply Minoxidil twice a day.
Combined topical Finasteride and Minoxidil have also been shown to reduce the need for oral Finasteride in the long term [4]. So using these hair loss treatments in tandem may provide a route for reducing the side effects of Finasteride while maintaining hair density.
Follow these tips to get the best results from Finasteride use. You can stop your receding hairline and enhance the chances of regrowth:
You can get Finasteride (or Propecia, the branded version of generic Finasteride) on prescription from many online pharmacies. However, it’s best to get any hair loss treatment from a reputable hair clinic like the Wimpole Clinic. That’s because:
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