Finasteride is for men who are looking to stop hair loss dead in its tracks. It is for men experiencing what we call 'diffuse' thinning which is basically the formation of a bald spot at the back or crown area, or for men who have recession of the temples or a combination of both. Finasteride has been backed up by many years of scientific data and has been clinically proven to give an 82% chance of retaining the hair you have today and that can make all the difference.
Finasteride is an anti-androgen treatment which halts the cause of hair loss and many practitioners would say it 'stabilises' your hair; do not under-estimate the effectiveness of this medication. It is often vital to stop the cause of your hair loss in order to see optimal results from growth stimulant solutions such as Minoxidil and of course to get the most out of a surgical hair restoration treatment such as FUE or Advanced Micrografting.
How does Finasteride work?
Finasteride gets to the root of the problem! It has been found that hair thinning in men is caused by the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which is formed by the action of enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. The male hormone testosterone froms a bi-product known as DHT. When a man then begins to lose his hair certain genetically programmed follicles begin to develop DHT receptor sites almost like small 'nooks and crannies' in which these molecules attach themselves. This chemical change not only affects hair but it also causes itching and inflammation and often leads to oily or greasy hair. At this stage the tiny follicles begin to shrink and after a couple of years they are simply too small and short to be seen and the follicle will die off. When Finasteride is taken it works to inhibit the production of this enzyme and so the DHT content in the scalp is reduced and the balding process may therefore be reversed. This results in improved hair growth and a healthy head of hair restoring an appearance of youth and vitality.
Are there any side effects of Finasteride?
Finasteride has very few side effects that have been reported and is generally well tolerated. An advantage of this treatment is that you can take it for a month to see how well you tolerate it. Side effects can be experienced for a small percentage of people in the beginning whilst the body adjusts to the medication and will typically disappear after a couple of months.
Finasteride is only available on prescription and it is important that our doctors are properly briefed on your medical history before they prescribe.
