Finasteride for Hair Loss: FAQs
Does Finasteride Stop Hair Loss & Can It Grow Hair Back?
Finasteride can slow and even stop hair loss, but can finasteride regrow hair? The answer is yes. In clinical trials, 66% of men taking finasteride saw an increase in hair growth. Finasteride can also help grow thicker hair, especially if you pair the treatment with minoxidil, which brings more blood flow and nutrients to the area and allows healthier hair to grow.
What Kinds of Hair Loss Can Finasteride Treat?
The effectiveness of finasteride depends on the type of hair loss you have. It works best for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia because it can prevent high levels of DHT in the bloodstream. This allows hair strands to continue growing uninterrupted and without getting thinner and weaker.
What Kinds of Hair Loss Can Finasteride Not Treat?
Finasteride hair growth treatments are not effective in the treatment of other types of hair loss. These include telogen effluvium, in which stress, infections, or even surgery can cause hair loss. It is also not an effective option for the treatment of alopecia areata, which is a type of autoimmune disease.
Another type of hair loss that hair regrowth finasteride medication cannot treat is tinea capitis, also known as ringworm or herpes tonsurans infection. This is a fungal infection of the scalp hair caused primarily by the dermatophyte species Microsporum and Trichophyton. The fungi can penetrate the hair follicle’s outer root sheath and may eventually invade the hair shaft.
Ultimately, hair loss issues that do not have their root cause in DHT cannot benefit from Finasteride and may benefit from other treatment options.
How Long Does Finasteride Take to Work?
Finasteride is highly effective, but it takes time. Finasteride hair growth treatment requires that you consistently use the medication over a few months as directed. For most men, it can take three to four months to start seeing improvement.
Finasteride starts reducing the levels of DHT as soon as you begin taking it, but your hair takes longer to grow. The progress the medication makes can also depend on where in the hair growth cycle the various follicles are, in addition to other factors. During your consultation, we will discuss your options and the average timeline.
Do I Need to Take Finasteride for a Long Period of Time?
Finasteride is effective when you take it in a consistent manner over a period of time. If you want to achieve substantial changes and grow healthier, thicker hair, it’s important that you continue to take the medication to maintain continued results.
If you stop taking the medication, the rate of hair loss will revert back to before you began the medication, and overtime the hair that was preserved due to the medication will likely begin to fall out. The positive effects of taking finasteride begin to wear off over time if medication is not taken, but with renewed use, you can pick up where you left off, so fear not that missing days will set you back to ground zero. However, consistency is the key to success!
Are There Any Side Effects of Taking Finasteride for Hair Loss?
There may be some mild side effects when using finasteride hair regrowth treatments. The vast majority of people do not experience any symptoms, but some effects can include:
- Chills
- Dizziness
- Cold sweats
- Decreased libido
These side effects typically resolve on their own and do not require medical attention. In rare cases, you may experience bloating or swelling of your face and tingling of the hands or feet. If you do experience these, it is important to reach out to a medical professional.
It is also important to remember that hair shedding while taking finasteride is normal, as the old hair falls away when new hair begins to grow. This may happen at different times during the treatment process because different hair follicles can be at different stages of the growth cycle.
The oral form of finasteride has the potential to produce side effects, but the topical form does not. Make sure that you consult with your physician or us about the best option for you.