Finasteride

Finasteride is the active ingredient in Propecia, a drug created to treat male pattern baldness. Manufactured by Merck, Propecia has been clinically proven to produce effective results, by causing hair loss to cease and by encouraging new hair growth. It was approved by the American FDA in 1997, and is a prescription only medication.

Finasteride is a synthetic anti-androgen. It inhibits an enzyme, 5-alpha reductase, from converting testosterone into DHT, the key cause of male pattern baldness. In doing so, hair loss generally ceases and in about 50% of cases, hair growth is promoted on balding areas of the scalp. Even though male pattern baldness is in most cases a hereditary condition, this drug can still treat it successfully.

How does Finasteride work?

Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. It prevents the 5-alpha reductase from turning the male hormone testosterone into DHT. Hair follicles are sensitive to this hormone bi-product, and it can cause hair follicles to shrink, causing hair to fall out and grow more slowly. Eventually, hair follicles become so small that hair cannot grow from them. When finasteride stops 5-alpha reductase from doing its job, DHT levels are reduced in the blood and areas of the scalp. This stops any further hair loss from taking place, and will help hair follicles to heal and grow hair again.

Will my hair grow back for good?

Propecia Finasteride is clinically proven to produce results, and within just 3-6 months of taking it, you should notice a vast difference in the texture of your hair, the strength and the volume. If you stop taking this medication, the new hair that has grown where your scalp was balding, will slowly fall out.

How long does Finasteride take to work?

Everyone would like an overnight solution to male pattern baldness, but it takes a short time for hair loss to be reversed. Finasteride does not work straight away; if you want to see positive results, you should only expect to notice a real difference between 3 to 6 months of beginning the treatment.

Many people cease treatment prematurely, but you must take finasteride for at least 3 months before you can expect to see any positive changes. Continue to take the pills daily, without breaks and the results will show in time.