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:
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.