Does Finasteride Work for Hair Loss?

Table of Contents

• What is Finasteride?
• How Does Finasteride Work?
• How To Take Finasteride
• Will Missing a Dose Affect My Hair Growth?
• How Long Does Finasteride Take To Work?
• Does Finasteride Permanently Stop Male Pattern Hair Loss?
• Does It Work According To Science?
• Is Finasteride Safe To Use Long Term?
• What To Do If Finasteride Is Not Working
• So, Is Finasteride Effective?

What is Finasteride?

Finasteride is a prescription-only medication that can help to reverse and slow the natural balding process. It was discovered in the 1980s by a company called Merck and Co and was initially trialled as a medication for an enlarged prostate. During clinical trials, scientists observed that finasteride increases hair growth. A few years later, it was approved as a treatment for male pattern hair loss. 

Finasteride is taken orally in tablet form every day. It should not be taken or even handled by women, especially pregnant women, as it can harm the foetus.

You may also come across "Propecia" when researching hair loss treatments, this is the brand name for finasteride. Unbranded, generic finasteride is cheaper and just as effective as Propecia.

How Does Finasteride Work?

Finasteride works by blocking the enzyme 5α-Reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the hormone which is responsible for causing hair loss in males. As you can see from the picture below, male pattern baldness is caused by excess DHT, which causes hair follicles to shrink to a point where they are unable to grow hair. As finasteride reduces the amount of DHT produced, it allows hair to regrow from the follicles that were previously affected, as well as preventing further hair loss.

Some men produce more DHT than others, and some men are more responsive to DHT. Genetics play a big part, which is why some men will never go bald, and others will bald at different times in their life. Balding patterns also vary depending on individuals. Some men will find that their hairline begins to recede, whilst others will find their hair is thinning at the top of the scalp before it starts to fall off. Finasteride does not work on a specific region of the scalp, but works by lowering DHT levels altogether. This results in the regrowth of hair, as well as slowing or preventing the natural balding process, on all areas of the scalp including the crown (vertex), mid-frontal area (just in front of the crown) and hairline.

How To Take Finasteride

For hair loss, you should take one tablet of oral finasteride daily.

You should not crush or break finasteride and you should swallow the tablet whole with water. This is because it can be absorbed through the skin and can potentially cause birth defects if a pregnant woman comes into contact with it.

You can take finasteride on an empty stomach, or after a meal. There is no best time to take the medication, but you should try to take it at the same time each day to help you get into a routine. This reduces the chances of forgetting to take a dose.

Will Missing a Dose Affect My Hair Growth?

Missing a daily dose of finasteride occasionally is unlikely to affect your hair. However, the medication has a short half-life which means that it exits the body quickly. Missing frequent doses can negatively impact results. If you do miss a dose, do not take an extra tablet to make up for the missed dose. Continue to take your tablets as normal when it is time to take your next dose.

Tip: You can set a reminder on your phone to help you remember to take your tablets. Alternatively, you can leave your tablets by your toothbrush to remind yourself that you need to take a tablet.

How Long Does Finasteride Take To Work?

Finasteride starts to work on the scalp straight away, but it takes at least 3 months before you will see any noticeable effects. Initially, some men will find that their hair is falling out at a faster rate. This is referred to as "finasteride shedding" and is a positive sign that the treatment is working, as the older hairs are making way for newer and stronger strands of hair. 

After 6 months, most men will find that their hair is growing back thicker and stronger, and less hair is falling out. It is important to take finasteride continuously, as breaks in your treatment can have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the drug.

You should measure the response of finasteride after one year of consistent use. Most men will find that it has helped in growing new hair, or has been successful in preventing further hair loss.

If you have not seen any benefits or change in hair count after 12 months of use, you should discontinue treatment.

Does Finasteride Permanently Stop Male Pattern Hair Loss?

Finasteride does not work forever, and if you stop taking finasteride the natural balding process will resume. This means that you will lose any hairs which have regrown as a result of the treatment. The half-life of the tablets is 4-7 hours, which means that the dose drops by 50% within this time frame, after you have taken it. Because it is eliminated from the body at a rapid rate, it is important to continue treatment.

A continuous dosing regimen allows a sufficient amount of finasteride to be sustained in your body in order for it to work. Once you stop taking it, testosterone will convert to DHT, which will begin to shrink the hair follicles again and hair loss will continue.

Does It Work According To Science?

A clinical trial carried out over a five-year period on over 1,800 men, has proven that taking finasteride 1mg once a day, slowed and reversed balding in more than 90% of men.

Another clinical trial conducted in over 2,500 men, demonstrated that finasteride had a positive impact on hair growth in 87% of men.

A separate scientific study conducted over two years on 1,500 men, demonstrated that 83% of men taking finasteride for two years, experienced an increase in hair growth, a complete halt to hair loss, or both.

Research has also proven finasteride to be more effective than Regaine (topical minoxidil 5%), in treating male pattern baldness.

So, it’s safe to say that science proves that finasteride is effective in helping men to regrow hair, as well as reducing the rate at which hair is lost. It is important to note that finasteride is most effective in helping to reduce thinning hair, receding hairlines and hair loss around the crown. If you have lost most of your hair or have a large and prominent bald patch around the crown, finasteride is unlikely to be of any benefit as your hair follicles are likely to be damaged beyond repair.

Is Finasteride Safe To Use Long Term?

Research and studies prove that finasteride is safe for long term use. A study from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial concluded that “there is little need to worry about long-term consequence of finasteride use in those who use it for hair growth”.  Another 5-year study showed that “Finasteride 1mg daily over 5 years was well tolerated, led to durable improvements in scalp hair growth, and slowed the further progression of hair loss that occurred without treatment”.  

Side effects are not common, however, rare side effects include:

• Depression or low mood
• Reduced sexual desire
• Erectile issues such as erectile dysfunction or a decrease in the production of semen

If you experience any of the above or any unusual side effects, you should contact your doctor.

Important Points

• There have been 3 reported cases of breast cancer in men taking finasteride 1mg. Although this may just be a correlation rather than a direct impact of finasteride, the risk cannot be excluded
• There is a possible risk of birth defects in male babies, if pregnant women come into contact with finasteride. To date, there are no reports of adverse outcomes, however, this risk should not be excluded

Finasteride is generally well tolerated and a safe treatment for male pattern baldness. However, you should read the product information leaflet beforehand and discuss any concerns with your doctor or pharmacist. If you feel that it is appropriate for you to take, you can begin treatment and look forward to a fuller and thicker head of hair.

What To Do If Finasteride Is Not Working

You May Not Have Been Using Finasteride Long Enough

First ask yourself how long you have been taking finasteride for. As humans, we all want to see results fast. It’s human instinct. However, you must bear in mind that it takes at least 3 months for the treatment to start working. It may even take up to 6 months before you start noticing the positive effects.

Finasteride May Be Helping To Slow The Rate of Your Hair Loss

It may not work to regrow hair, but it may be helping to stop the natural balding process. This can be difficult to assess. The best way to gauge this, is to take regular pictures, so that you can assess your response before and after finasteride.

Forgetting To Take Tablets

It can be difficult to remember to take your tablets daily, especially at the beginning. Setting a reminder on your phone or leaving your tablets by your toothbrush can help you to sop forgetting to take your tablets.

It My Be Too Late

Finasteride is most effective in treating mild to moderate cases of hair loss. If you are experiencing hair loss that is within the moderate to severe category, it is unlikely to work.

Tip: Using other hair loss products such as Regaine and hair loss supplements can help to speed up the results of finasteride.

So, Is Finasteride Effective?

Yes! Finasteride does work for most men with male pattern hair loss if you take it continuously. Scientific research and evidence point to finasteride as being the most effective treatment for hair loss in males. It can also be used in combination with Regaine, a product that contains the ingredient Minoxidil, another proven hair loss treatment. Finasteride reviews from active users also suggest that a majority of men who use finasteride, find that it works to regrow and thicken hair, as well as prevent further hair loss. 

However, whilst finasteride has positive results for most men, it may not necessarily work for everyone. It is unlikely to work in those that are completely bald or have very little hair left, or those suffering from hair loss that is not attributed to male pattern baldness (such as alopecia).

Whilst all of our content is written and reviewed by healthcare professionals, it is not intended to be substituted for or used as medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.