Finasteride timeline of before and after

Finasteride is a medicine that is primarily used to treat two conditions, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Male Pattern Hair Loss (androgenetic Alopecia). In this...

Finasteride is a medicine that is primarily used to treat two conditions, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Male Pattern Hair Loss (androgenetic Alopecia). In this article we will discuss a brief overview of the timeline of action of Finasteride in the treatment of Male Pattern Hair loss.

Finasteride helps restore thick and fruitful hair to men suffering from male pattern hair loss by stabilising and preventing further loss as well as reactivating dormant follicles on the scalp to trigger regrowth. It does this by reducing the levels of a hormone known as Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the scalp and in the bloodstream.

The effects of Finasteride begin to show after slow and consistent use over 3 months to a year. This article will help give you a good before and after picture when using Finasteride and a guide of a timeline to expect with its use.

You can purchase Finasteride and other treatment for Hair Loss products from our website at Meds For Less and have it delivered reliably, discreetly and conveniently to your home address within 24 hours.

When Does Finasteride Start Working?

Finasteride is a medication that can be used to treat two conditions: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Male Pattern Hair Loss (androgenetic Alopecia). The time it takes for finasteride to start working depends on the condition you are aiming to treat. This article will cover Finasteride and its effects in treating hair loss.

Finasteride Timeline For androgenetic Alopecia:

The initial effects may be visible within 3 to 6 months of consistent daily use before you start noticing a reduction in hair loss and some mild regrowth.

The maximum effects and full results are typically seen after 12 months or longer of consistent use. These effects include thicker and fuller hair in areas that were previously thin.

Important note: Sometimes hair thinning increases in the initial months as the older weaker hairs fall out to make way for the newer stronger ones.

Research-Backed Results: The Finasteride Timeline

To answer questions such as, When does finasteride start working ? or How quickly does it restore hair growth ? There are research backed timelines for the action of Finasteride, particularly where androgenetic Alopecia (Male Pattern Hair Loss) is concerned, and these are as follows:

Initial action within the first 3 months:

Not much occurs visibly, some people experience increased shedding of hairs as weaker hairs fall out to make way for stronger hairs. This is a normal part of the shedding process. This occurs because Finasteride starts lowering Dihydrotesterone Hormone (DHT) in the bloodstream and scalp (by 70% according to research) for these first few days.

Finasteride Results After 3 Months:

After three months, hair loss slows significantly for most people. Thinner hair patch areas may stabilize and early regrowth begins with some people starting to notice the hair getting slightly thicker. After 6 months of consistent use, Research and clinical trials show 83% of men show no further hair loss.

Visible Changes After 6 Months of Finasteride:

Between 6 to 12 months of consistent use, a continued reduction in DHT levels allows hair follicles to further recover and the hair grows back thicker and denser.

Regrowth of hair is very visible, particularly at the crown of the scalp and hair texture and intensity improve.. However, it is after 12 months of consistent use, that research shows that 66% of users show good visible hair regrowth results from Finasteride.

Full Hair Regrowth Potential After 12 Months:

After 1 year of consistent use, Finasteride reaches its peak effectiveness, however continued consistent use is necessary to maintain the effect of good Finasteride results.

After 12 months of consistent use, men start to notice a less dramatic receding hairline, significant improvement on areas like the crown and maximum stabilisation for hair loss and regrowth. Men also start to notice regrowth on the front of the head, these regrowths are typically more subtle compared to effects seen in the crown regions. This can be seen in the picture below.

before and after finasteride — Regrowth of hair at the frontal region of the scalp, before and after consistent Finasteride use

The regrowth on this frontal region is very visible after more than a year of consistent use.Research studies have shown that after the 12 month marker there is consistent and good regrowth in all regions of the head.

Before and After: What to Expect with Finasteride

Having a good timeline of Finasteride activity can help you understand what you can expect before and after finasteride use. It can also help you to answer common questions like, “How long does finasteride take to work” ?

Before starting Finasteride, there is Male Pattern Hair Loss (androgenetic Alopecia). This hair loss is progressive and most commonly affects the crowns and the temples. Due to the excess Dihydrotestosterone (DHT hormone), hair follicles are miniaturised which cause shorter and thinner hairs.

After starting Finasteride, the levels of DHT in the scalp and bloodstream decrease and continued use of Finasteride overtime helps to address the hair loss. A rough timeline of what happens is as follows:

First 3 months of consistent use: Hair loss may appear to initially worsen as weaker hairs fall out to make room for new growth. There are few visible signs of regrowth at this stage. During this phase, the loss of positive finasteride effects and continued hair loss can be discouraging, hence patience is key.

Within months 4-6: Hair loss slows significantly and bald spots or thinning areas begin to stabilize and early regrowth (particularly at the crown region) may reappear. The hair begins to look healthier with less shedding and thicker texture.

With 7-12 months of consistent use, regrowth becomes more noticeable in areas like the crown and mild scalp and areas with previous thinning may fill in as hair density improves.

Maximum and full benefits are achieved after a year of consistent use. Visible signs include the stabilisation of hair regrowth and dense hair structures. The picture below helps to demonstrate the positive effectiveness of Finasteride with long term, consistent use.

Key things to keep in mind to ensure effectiveness of finasteride include consistency and patience during this long process.

It’s also important to remember that shedding is common, at least in the earlier days of use as the medicine is helping remove the weaker hairs to make way for stronger,denser ones.

Factors Influencing Finasteride Results

The Effectiveness of Finasteride depends on several factors, understanding these can help you set milestones on your journey so you can have realistic expectations of where you aim to reach with Finasteride treatment. These factors include:

Age: Finasteride tends to work better for younger men (aged 20-30) as opposed to men above 40 due to the young hair follicles being more capable of regrowth.
The stage of hair loss: Finasteride is most effective when used for stabilising hair loss and regrowing thinning hair in the crown and mid-scalp. The medicine is less effective if it used for advanced hair loss, especially if hair follicles have been active for some time
Male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) has a genetic component and the extent to which it affects people is largely determined by our genetics. Finasteride can slow hair loss but the degree of regrowth depends on how severe the male pattern hair loss is.
Duration of Hair loss: Finasteride works better if used within the first 5 years of hair loss however results tend to be limited if hair follicles have been dormant for over a decade.
Consistent and regular use of Finasteride without skipping doses ensures optimal Dihydrotesterone (DHT) suppression and better hair regrowth results.
Having a generally good nutrition status and lifestyle with a diet rich in vitamins like biotin and iron an support hair health and enhance finasteride performance.

Finasteride effectiveness and How long Before Finasteride begins working depends on several factors such as those above. However the effectiveness of Finasteride, like any medicine, is dependent on individual health factors and individual circumstances. Please speak to your health care provider for a more detailed discussion about factors pertinent to you that influence finasteride results.

Finasteride Success Stories and Transformations

Finasteride is a medicine that requires consistent long term use to see beneficial results. most Finasteride success stories and transformations come from clinical trials, anecdotal evidence and rave reviews.

After 3 months of consistent use there is unlikely to be any drastic changes in hair volume and growth due to the natural hair cycle being between 4-6 months, however finasteride success stories have shown that hair can begin to look fuller at this age, especially at the crown area.

After 6 months of consistent use there is visible and fuller regrowth of the hair. While bald spots may still be visible at the crown, there will be clear and visible regrowth around the hairline and the temples. The increase in hair density will also lead to a fuller head of hair.

After 7-12 months of consistent use, hair regrowth is particularly noticeable, especially around regions like the scalp and the mid-crown. Thinning areas fill in and hair density improves. An example of hair regrowth around the crown is shown in the photo below with the use of Finasteride.

Photo that shows hair regrowth after the use of Finasteride, particularly around the crown.

After 1 year of consistent use, maximum benefits are achieved and maintained. Hair Regrowth stabilises and areas of the scalp treated with Finasteride effectively maintain their density. Peak regrowth of the hairline is also noted around these months even though the main focus is on areas like the crown or scalp.

After 18 months – 2 years of consistent use, the positive effect of Finasteride on the hairline is clearly visible with the before and after hairline observations being drastically different.

FAQ

What are the early signs of Finasteride working?

How can you track progress when using Finasteride?

Does Finasteride affect different hair types differently?

Finasteride can affect different types of hair differently, even though its main mechanism of action, to reduce dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the scalp and in the bloodstream and promote hair growth, applies universally. The following is a brief overview of how different factors related to hair type can influence hair growth results.

Hair thickness and density:

Individuals with naturally thicker and complete hair may see more dramatic results as the regrowth of the thicker hair is more noticeable. Thicker hair is also less prone to thinning meaning it’s easier to recover from finasteride use.

Results from finasteride may be less pronounced when used with thin / fine hair due to the subtle nature of fine hair growth. However continued finasteride use over time can help thicken all hair types over time, improving hair density.

Hair texture:

Regrowth from finasteride is typically more noticeable on straight hair because it reflects light more evenly and covers the scalp more effectively.

Regrowth of curly hair can make it more difficult to track progress as early thinning and thickening is masked due to its wavy nature. However over time new growth adds more hair volume which is particularly noticeable.

Scalp Visibility:

People with denser and coarser hair may have less scalp visibility, thinning may be harder to detect when it occurs and hence early progress with Finasteride may also be harder to detect when it’s bringing back thick hair.

People who have a higher scalp visibility may start to notice early hair regrowth much quicker than those with already dense, coarse hair.

Hair loss pattern:

People with a diffuse pattern of hair loss and generalised thinning may see uniform improvement all around the scalp as finasteride stabilises hair loss and regrows miniaturized hair.

Men who have more hair loss in the frontal scalp may see less effectiveness of Finasteride in correcting a receding hairline and causing hairline regrowth. This is because Finasteride functions less in these areas.

Hair regrowth is most noticeable at the crown region of the scalp and hence if Finasteride is used to fix any hair loss there, the positive effects are very noticeable.

Normal hair care practices:

If you normally heavily process your hair with dyes, relaxers or heat stylers, this can weaken hair strands and potentially affect how your regrowth with finasteride looks.

Natural gentle hair care can enhance Finasteride’s effectiveness and support the appearance of newer and healthier hair.

Can Finasteride reverse hair loss completely over time?

How do lifestyle factors influence the timeline of Finasteride results?

Lifestyle factors can have a particular and significant effect on Finasteride. While the medicine’s primary mode of action is to lower the levels of the Dihydrotestosterone Hormones (DHT) in the bloodstream and the scalp. External factors such as stress, diet and hair care routines can influence how quickly you can see improvements in your hair regrowth with finasteride use. Key lifestyle factors that can have a significant impact include:

Diet and nutrition:

Diets that are low in iron, zinc, vitamin D or protein may slow hair regrowth, even with finasteride use. A nutrient rich diet supports healthy hair growth and can enhance finasteride hair results. To supplement your diet and optimize it for hair regrowth and protection, consider eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as leafy greens or nuts.

Stress levels:

Chronic stress can increase the level of the cortisol hormone in the body which can cause cortisol induced hair loss which can disrupt the hair growth cycle and counteract the benefits of Finasteride.

To reduce stress levels and help stress management, you can use techniques such as meditation, exercise or therapy and ensure good sleep.

Normal scalp health:

A healthy scalp creates the optimal environment for hair regrowth. Issues like dandruff, scalp psoriasis and excessive oil buildup can hamper finasteride effects. To ensure good scalp health you can use gentle, sulfate free shampoos or ketoconazole based shampoos to create a healthy scalp environment that is optimal for hair regrowth.

Exercise:

Regular exercise improves blood flow to the scalp, promoting nutrient delivery and hair health. Having balanced, moderate intensity workouts can help scalp health and hair regrowth.

Smoking and alcohol:

Smoking and excessive alcohol use can reduce the effectiveness of finasteride. Smoking reduces blood flow to the scalp and introduces toxins which damage hair growth. Excess alcohol consumption depletes the body of the necessary nutrients for hair health. To help with hair regrowth it may be beneficial to quit smoking and limit alcohol to moderate levels (1-2 drinks per day) There are a lot of lifestyle factors that can affect the effectiveness of Finasteride. Individual factors can also affect how finasteride impacts you. To better understand how your specific finasteride transformation would work , please speak to your healthcare provider.