Tag: Male pattern baldness

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, finasteride is one of the most common and effective treatments for male pattern baldness. However, many wonder about its effects beyond the scalp, specifically: does finasteride increase facial hair? The answer, based on pharmacological evidence, is that it does not; in fact, its mechanism of action is counterproductive to facial hair growth.

According to the American Hair Loss Association, two-thirds of men will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss by age 35. Deciding whether finasteride is worth it for men facing hair thinning involves a careful assessment of its proven efficacy against its potential side effects and costs.

Clinical studies show that finasteride can halt or reverse hair loss in up to 90% of male patients over five years, making it a highly effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia. However, many still wonder, **is finasteride actually worth it?**, especially when considering the potential side effects and lifelong commitment involved.

Androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss, affects an estimated 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States. For those exploring treatment, a common question is: **Does minoxidil still work without finasteride?** The answer is yes, it is a clinically proven standalone treatment.

By the age of fifty, approximately 85% of men will have significantly thinning hair, with male pattern baldness accounting for over 95% of hair loss in men [1.7.2]. This leads many to ask: **will I lose all my hair if I stop finasteride?**

First approved by the FDA in the 1990s, finasteride became a standard treatment for male pattern hair loss and enlarged prostate by targeting a key hormone. But **what class of drug is finasteride**, and how does it achieve these therapeutic effects?

Originally developed as an oral medication for high blood pressure, **minoxidil** was later discovered to have the surprising side effect of promoting hair growth. This led to its repurposing as the first FDA-approved topical treatment for androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male and female pattern baldness. Today, it is widely used to stimulate hair follicles and prevent hair thinning.

Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor that primarily functions by blocking the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This targeted action on hormone levels is the key to understanding **what finasteride does in the body** and how it effectively addresses conditions like male pattern hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Clinical studies show finasteride can reduce DHT levels in the bloodstream by about 70% within 24 hours of the first dose, but the first signs of finasteride working often manifest differently and with a delayed, subtle progression. Understanding these early indicators requires patience and knowing that your hair's natural growth cycle is being reset to combat hair loss effectively.

According to experts, some individuals starting finasteride experience a temporary but noticeable increase in hair shedding. This seemingly counterintuitive effect is actually a positive sign that the medication is beginning to reset your hair's growth cycle.