In fact, hair loss is a very common concern amongst both men and women in the United Kingdom. People may experience hair loss for a...
In fact, hair loss is a very common concern amongst both men and women in the United Kingdom. People may experience hair loss for a variety of reasons including hormonal imbalances, malnutrition, as a side effect of medication and more. Regardless of why it happens, hair loss can have significant effects on people’s self-esteem. This might explain why there are so many hair loss treatment products advertised to the public that it might feel overwhelming. This article focuses on helping you understand how finasteride works. Finasteride was a medication originally made for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, it has shown positive outcomes as a treatment option for hair loss.
When used to treat hair loss, Finasteride is often prescribed to treat the hair loss in Androgenetic alopecia. You might be more familiar with the term male pattern baldness. For treating male pattern baldness (or Androgenetic alopecia), Finasteride can be taken as oral Finasteride or topical Finasteride. Both have been shown in clinical trials to have positive outcomes in reducing hair loss and hair thinning.
This article explores and compares oral and topical finasteride results to help give you a better understanding of the medication.
So how does topical finasteride work? Topical Finasteride works by suppressing the action of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. 5-alpha reductase changes testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), this is another hormone. The action of DHT can shrink hair follicles and can get rid of them; this leads to hair becoming thinner and falling out. Men experiencing male pattern baldness often have increased levels of DHT in the scalp. So with this information, we know that we will want to find a medication that can suppress DHT levels.
Therefore, if you apply topical Finasteride to the different zones of hair loss on the scalp, you suppress the enzyme that makes DHT in the scalp, and thus you reduce the levels of DHT in the scalp. Due to the action of DHT on the hair follicles mentioned earlier, by reducing the levels of DHT in the scalp can help slow down hair loss and thinning while also encouraging hair growth.
Compared to oral finasteride, topical finasteride allows for a more targeted effect. This is because topical finasteride can be applied directly to the scalp whereas oral finasteride has a general effect on the DHT hormone in the body. Therefore It might not be a surprise, that oral finasteride has been linked with more side effects than topical finasteride. This can include low mood and decreased libido although both oral and topical finasteride are generally well tolerated.
So out of the two options: topical finasteride vs oral, which has better efficacy and how do they differ? In fact, both medications reduce dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels and have the same active ingredient. In terms of effectiveness, there have been several studies looking at the effect of topical Finasteride compared to oral Finasteride. Much of the research combines to suggest that they are both effective in treating androgenetic alopecia. Studies and also anecdotal reviews also generally support the idea that there is no significant difference in the effect of the treatment on factors such as amount of hair and hair thickness.
The positive findings and the suggestion that between the two options there is not much difference in the effectiveness means that choosing oral versus topical finasteride solution will be more down to personal preferences.
Let’s look at some key differences between them such as how they are applied and possible side effects.
Oral finasteride is a pill that you take once daily (usually a 1mg dose) while topical finasteride is a solution (e.g liquid or gel) that you apply to your scalp every day. As mentioned above, in terms of effectiveness, current research suggests that topical finasteride and oral finasteride can be equally effective in the treatment of hair loss male pattern baldness. However, there is some suggestion that as the oral medication reduces DHT in the body generally, you are more likely to get systemic side effects.
There are some other notable points. For instance, oral finasteride is not suitable for women. Additionally, topical Finasteride will have to be ordered privately as it is not available on the NHS. How much it costs will vary between different private healthcare providers and pharmacies.
It is most effective to start treating hair loss as soon as possible. Some signs you might want to look out for include: a receding hairline, increased hair loss when you shower, a wider hair parting, hair thinning so you see your scalp more easily and so on.
If you have sought out medical advice and you have been prescribed topical Finasteride, you should use it once a day according to the instructions on the package. Do not use more than needed. To use topical Finasteride effectively:
If you were hoping for a quick fix, I am sorry to disappoint you. You may spend some weeks thinking “does topical finasteride work?”. Consistency and patience are important when using topical Finasteride as the medication will usually need up to three to six months of consistent use before you notice effects. By six months, you should be able to see a decrease in hair loss and possibly some hair regrowth (although note that this is an even slower process). Progress may feel slow and frustrating so it is important to stick to using the medication regularly even if you do not see results. In addition, even when you notice decreased hair loss, in order to maintain the results, you must not stop using Finasteride. This is because unfortunately stopping the medication can bring back the hair loss.
There are many factors to consider when you are trying to choose the best topical finasteride solution for you. Remember, this will form part of your daily routine for an extended period of time so it is important to think about what is easiest for you to make a habit of. For example:
Although instructions for how to use the solution may vary slightly, generally:
If you use topical Finasteride solution according to the directions on the package or following your healthcare provider’s instructions, you should hopefully start to see effects from three to six months after using it consistently.
It is recommended that you consult a medical professional to discuss these questions and any concerns before starting topical Finasteride. Take care to purchase the medication from a reputable source to ensure it is a safe product and suitable for you.
Topical finasteride is generally tolerated well but there are still possible side effects to look out for. Common side effects of topical Finasteride are usually skin related such as:
Oral finasteride has been observed to lead to sexual dysfunction such as erectile dysfunction and lower sex drive. Topical Finasteride may have lower risk of this and may therefore be a preferable option for some people.
It is rare, but sometimes people can experience serious side effects when using topical Finasteride. If you notice any serious side effects such as allergic reactions like swelling or a rash, please consult a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Please note that topical Finasteride is not suitable for women who are trying to conceive or are pregnant. This is because there is a risk that topical Finasteride which works by blocking a hormone that can affect the menstrual cycle this can cause complications in pregnancy, or cause defects in a male fetus such as abnormal external genitals.
Therefore, if you use topical Finasteride and your partner is trying to conceive or pregnant, make sure to use separate pillows to try and reduce the risk of contact with the medication. If for some reason she comes into contact with topical Finasteride, she should immediately wash the contact area with soap and water.
Hair loss is a very common concern in the United Kingdom for both men and women. This might be due to issues with hormone levels, genetics, malnutrition, new treatment and so on. Hair loss can greatly impact someone’s self-esteem and psychological well-being so many people may look for medical or even surgical treatment.
It is important to remember that how quickly hair falls out in male pattern baldness can vary dramatically between individuals. It can be quite hard to predict what may happen and throughout this, it is best to try and avoid comparisons with others.
Regardless, clinical trials have supported the effectiveness of topical finasteride for hair loss. If you feel like you would benefit from using topical Finasteride, it is best to speak to a medical professional first. This is because there are several factors to think about to see if the medication is right for you. This includes factors such as:
1. What is your past medical history?
2. How serious is the hair loss?
3. Where is the hair loss?
4. What are the possible side effects?
5. What are your personal preferences? Does the medication fit in with your lifestyle?
Please note that topical Finasteride is not suitable for women. If you are a woman experiencing hair loss, please consult a doctor so they can help understand what might be causing the hair loss and start you on a treatment plan that is safe and more suitable for you.
Overall, topical Finasteride is a solid alternative to oral Finasteride for treating hair loss, particularly in male pattern baldness. Hopefully, if you had questions like “does topical finasteride really work?” this article has been able to help you.
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