Sarasota

Finasteride (Propecia) for Hair Loss

Located in Sarasota, Florida, and serving all of greater Tampa Bay, Hair Transplant Center provides exceptional service and results designed to help our clients to restore their confidence.

Hair loss is natural, but the men who experience it still worry about their appearance. In the United States, two-thirds of men will lose some of their hair by age 35. By the age of 50, the percentage of men who have lost their hair to some degree rises to 85%.

There are several reasons why some men lose their hair and others do not. But if you have reached the point that you are considering a hair restoration procedure, you’ve likely looked into the alternatives for yourself – and you may be overwhelmed. Some treatments can prevent baldness or slow hair loss, but there is a significant amount of misinformation regarding the efficacy of available treatments. This is why an expert consultation can make all the difference in your journey back to full, healthy hair.

Be prepared – real, lasting hair loss solutions require time and dedication. One such treatment is finasteride, known more commonly by the brand name Propecia.

Does finasteride actually work? Let’s learn more.

How Propecia Was Developed

Merck originally developed finasteride to treat another men’s health issue – enlarged prostate. However, scientists discovered that the drug could potentially grow hair. During the study, those on Propecia experienced hair growth – as opposed to those not on the medication, who lost their hair gradually. The drug was repurposed and approved in 1997, the first treatment of its kind to address male pattern baldness. It remains one of the best options for those experiencing hair loss and looking for a medical solution.

Does Propecia Actually Work?

Propecia is the only prescription medication FDA-approved to treat male pattern baldness. Its active ingredient, finasteride, effectively stops hair loss but does not provide a permanent solution for everyone.

A prescription for Propecia is one tablet (1 milligram) a day. It is important to take it every day for three months or more to see results. Finasteride is most effective in people who have mild to moderate hair loss.

How Does Finasteride Work?

Finasteride blocks the hormone DHT, which adversely impacts men’s ability to grow hair. The treatment also prevents hair follicles from shrinking, allowing hair to remain longer.

Finasteride lowers DHT levels by blocking the hormone at its primary source, so the balding around the hairline is stopped. Regardless of the individual balding pattern, some hair regrowth can be expected.

It typically takes six months to see meaningful results, although stopping the treatment will lead to hair loss once more. If finasteride has been taken for one year without expected results, schedule a consultation with a doctor experienced in hair restoration. It may be time to consider transplant methods, such as follicular unit extraction (FUE).

Finasteride for Women’s Hair Loss

Female pattern baldness is far less common than male pattern baldness, and unfortunately, women have fewer treatment options. Finasteride has not been proven to work for female androgenetic alopecia, and it is not approved by the FDA to treat female pattern baldness. In addition, the drug belongs to Category X, which indicates that the risk for pregnant women outweighs any potential benefit.

Finasteride Side Effects

Finasteride is a drug that can help treat male pattern baldness. It can block the body from turning testosterone into DHT, which causes hair loss. But, it also may cause side effects like impaired sexual function and decreased sex drive. The side effects usually go away when people stop taking the drug.

In April 2012, the FDA issued a warning that finasteride could cause sexual side effects. It has been linked to many reports of decreased sex drive and ejaculation in men who take it. But, there are other medical reasons and prescriptions that can also cause these side effects in men. When they studied the reports of men who took finasteride, they found that these side effects happened in about 4%-6% of people taking this drug, but it was usually reversible.

Before taking finasteride, you should talk to your doctor about the risks. Some side effects that you might have are sexual symptoms and other serious side effects. Contact your doctor right away if any of these happen to you:

Chills, confusion, or cold sweats
Hives or welts, itching, skin rash
Swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
Rapid weight gain
Swelling of the lips and face
Redness of the skin
Tingling sensation of hands or feet
Unusual weight gain or loss
Dizziness or lightheadedness when standing up
Breast enlargement and tenderness

What If Finasteride Doesn’t Work?

Many mistakenly believe Propecia is ineffective because they need to give it more time to work. The active ingredient in Propecia, known as finasteride, may require up to one year to provide results – and missed treatments could cause DHT to increase at the scalp level, preventing hair growth.

If you are taking Propecia as recommended yet still not seeing the results you hoped for, call The Hair Transplant Center- Sarasota to discuss further options, such as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), to restore your hair.

CONTACT FORM