Are you looking to use topical Finasteride for hair loss treatment? Finasteride is a popular tablet formulated to treat BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). It comes under the brand name Proscar administered at 5mg daily. The BPH treatment tablet is FDA approved, and users noted that it thickens hair. It was later approved for alopecia studies and has been marketed under the brand name Propecia, which features 0.25% Finasteride for hair loss treatment. Finasteride for hair loss is FDA approved and comes with various side effects. As such, it is vital to consult a doctor or dermatologist before using Finasteride or any other hair loss medication.
What is Topical Finasteride?
Topical Finasteride was designed for people looking to avoid the adverse experiences of using oral Finasteride. As a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, Finasteride has been shown to block testosterone conversion to DHT, preventing DHT-induced hair loss. However, using the oral pill comes with many side effects, including decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and premature/delayed ejaculation. Other side effects include stomach upset and diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, increased facial hair, vertigo, and prostate enlargement. The side effects steer people away from Finasteride for androgenic alopecia towards the topical formula.
Topical Finasteride is applied on localized areas to reduce hair loss without systemic side effects of DHT blocker pills. However, there is limited evidence to support the efficacy of topical Finasteride. Its mode of action also isn’t known. It has been shown to reduce hair loss by preventing DHT damages on the hair follicles. Note that topical Finasteride is not commercially available for hair loss and yet to get the FDA’s approval. As such, it must be compounded.
Is Topical Finasteride Safe?
There’s little study to determine the efficacy and safety of topical Finasteride. Most studies are for the oral pill designed for BPH and hair loss. Finasteride is a DHT blocker, which prevents the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase (5AR) from converting testosterone to DHT, the molecule associated with damaging hair follicles and causing hair loss. Unfortunately, blocking DHT has many side effects.
Topical Finasteride is yet to be researched for hair loss and is thought to work like the oral tablet. It prevents DHT from binding to receptors in the hair follicles. Nevertheless, you should not use topical Finasteride for any medical condition, as it lacks research and FDA approval. The side effects of topical Finasteride haven’t been researched, and while the formula might be safer than its oral counterparts, it is advisable to avoid it.
Summary
Finasteride is a popular DHT blocker used to treat BPH and available as an oral pill. Finasteride has also shown it can increase hair growth and reduce hair loss caused by increased DHT levels. However, there’s no commercial topical Finasteride, and you must get it from a compounding pharmacy. Research is needed to determine whether topical Finasteride is safe and effective. However, from the side effects of oral Finasteride, people experiencing hair loss may want to stay away from any form of the formula. What’s more, the mode of action, the science behind it, and the long-term side effects aren’t known.