If you’re one of the 85% of men globally who are affected by hair loss, you’ve probably heard of an array of products that claim to prevent baldness [1]. Although male pattern baldness is something that most men will have to deal with at some point, there are ways to minimise hair loss or encourage your hair to grow back.
Finasteride is one of the most popular products among men. It’s an oral treatment used for men who are experiencing hair thinning or balding.
If you don’t want to take Finasteride, or haven’t experienced any improvements when using it, you may be looking for some alternatives to Finasteride you can use instead. In this article, we’ll be talking about the Finasteride alternatives you can use to counteract male pattern baldness.
What is Finasteride and what is it used for?
Finasteride is an oral drug often prescribed to men who are suffering from hair thinning, hair loss, and baldness. It’s normally available on private prescription, as it’s not currently available under the NHS as a hair loss treatment.
Finasteride is an effective treatment for hair loss, with many studies presenting impressive results. In one study, up to 80% of test subjects noted an improvement in hair loss [2]. In another, it was found that after taking Finasteride for two years, 83% of men experienced increased hair growth [3].
Why might you want to avoid Finasteride?
There are several reasons why you may want to find a Finasteride alternative to combat hair loss. The first is that you have a type of hair loss that the drug isn’t designed to treat.
Finasteride is not proven to be effective on all types of hair loss, particularly telogen effluvium or alopecia areata. If you do have one of these conditions, there may be better ways to treat the effects without taking an oral drug like Finasteride.
Secondly, if you’re suffering from female pattern hair loss, an oral drug like Finasteride is not recommended. This is because Finasteride works by preventing testosterone from converting to DHT – the most common cause of male pattern baldness. Because women’s bodies do not produce testosterone and DHT in the same way as male bodies, Finasteride will not have as much of an effect.
Alternatively, you may have already tried taking Finasteride as a treatment for hair loss without noticing any results, for a range of reasons. Some Finasteride users report side effects, including:
- Sexual dysfunction, including lowered libido and erectile dysfunction
- Gynecomastia
- Mental health conditions including depression
- Post-Finasteride syndrome
If you’re looking for a Finasteride alternative, here are some of your options.
What can I take instead of Finasteride?
There are plenty of different options when it comes to Finasteride alternatives. Ranging from other oral drugs to topical treatments that all promise to prevent hair loss and encourage hair regrowth.
1. Rogaine
Rogaine is a topical treatment that’s available over the counter. It’s a popular hair loss treatment that uses the active ingredient Minoxidil to encourage hair growth and help people who are suffering from balding.
This treatment has been approved to treat both male and female baldness and is thought to work due to its anti-inflammatory, vasodilating, and anti-androgenic properties [4].
Rogaine isn’t an immediate solution to hair loss. It normally takes up to four months to notice any difference. But, if you’re willing to wait a while before seeing results, this is a safe and well-tolerated treatment.
2. Dutasteride
Like Finasteride, Dutasteride is a prescription drug that people can take if they’re experiencing hair loss – most commonly under the brand name Avodart.
It works in a similar way, as it belongs to the same group of drugs as Finasteride. These medications are known as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, or 5-ARIs. They work by stopping testosterone from converting into DHT.
There have been a few studies that have compared the efficacy of both Finasteride vs Dutasteride. Dutasteride has been found to increase hair count, hair width, and hair growth more effectively than Finasteride [5].
3. Natural DHT blockers
Some men who don’t want to take traditional treatments for hair loss have started to turn to natural DHT blockers to help encourage hair growth.
The research into these natural treatments is nowhere near as extensive as the studies that have been conducted around oral and topical treatments like Finasteride, Minoxidil, and Dutasteride. But some early studies have observed their effectiveness.
Ingredients like caffeine, rosemary oil, pumpkin seed oil, and black seed oil are all said to have some impact on DHT, and may block the processes that lead to male pattern baldness.
Worried about balding?
If you’ve started to notice your hair thinning, or bald patches appearing, you may want to tackle your hair loss as quickly as possible.
There are many options available during the early stages of hair loss. But once your hairline has really receded, or you’re left with little hair left on your head, a lot of the treatments may not be powerful enough to make a big difference. If this is the case for you, and you’ve exhausted all other treatment options, you may be considering a hair transplant.
At the Wimpole Clinic, we specialise in providing hair transplants to men and women who feel self-conscious about their thinning or balding hair.
If you’re interested in what we do at the clinic, schedule a free, no-obligation call with one of our specialists. They can talk you through the whole process. Book your free consultation today.
Talk to a specialist ☎ 020 7935 1861.
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