Recognizing that you’re losing your hair can be very disheartening. However, hair loss solutions like Finasteride and Minoxidil are typically the first options many people turn to for restoring their hair. For men and women experiencing pattern hair loss, these options may be effective. However, you may be left wondering which hair loss treatment is best for your situation.
Hair loss solutions often represent a significant investment in yourself, your appearance, and your confidence. When looking for hair loss treatments, it’s important to thoroughly research your options to ensure you’re selecting the right treatment for your type of hair loss. The hair restoration experts at Balance Hair Restoration have put together some answers to your questions about the differences between Finasteride and Minoxidil.
What Is Finasteride?
Typically for men experiencing pattern hair loss, Finasteride is an oral medication used to successfully treat hair loss by blocking enzymes that convert testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can cause male and female pattern hair loss. While Finasteride is effective for women experiencing pattern hair loss, it is not safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and can impact birth control effectiveness.
Finasteride works by encouraging regrowth of hair follicles on the scalp. It’s available by many names and is available in generic forms.
What Is Minoxidil?
For men and women experiencing pattern hair loss, Minoxidil is a topical medication applied to the scalp to effectively slow and prevent hair loss. It has been shown to help encourage hair growth with continued use by shortening the resting phase of hair follicles and stimulating follicles to move into a lengthened growth phase.
Typically, it’s offered in 2% and 5% strengths and is available over the counter. Minoxidil is most commonly known as the brand Rogaine.
What Is the Difference Between Finasteride and Minoxidil?
While both Finasteride and Minoxidil are medications to treat hair loss, their main differences are their form and function. Minoxidil is a topical medication applied to the scalp whereas Finasteride is an oral medication. Finasteride is not for everyone and requires a doctor’s assessment of the hair loss; it is available by prescription only. Generally, Minoxidil is more suitable for many different hair loss patients and is available over the counter.
As far as their functions are concerned, the medications treat hair loss in two different manners. Finasteride stimulates the regrowth of hair follicles by blocking the body from producing DHT. Minoxidil helps slow or prevent hair loss by widening blood vessels in the scalp, stimulating hair growth by allowing more nutrients to reach the hair follicles.
Because their functions are complementary, they are often used in tandem to address hair loss in men.
Which Treatment Is Most Effective?
Finasteride successfully treats hair loss that is caused by male or female pattern hair loss by adjusting DHT levels that impact hair growth. Hair loss that isn’t caused by hormonal changes is often more responsive to Minoxidil.
Typically, Finasteride is considered to be more effective than Minoxidil for men experiencing male pattern hair loss. However, a combination approach using both Finasteride and Minoxidil is typically more effective than either treatment alone.
For women experiencing female pattern hair loss or menopause-related hair loss, Finasteride is also effective. However, Finasteride should not be used by premenopausal women who are pregnant or want to become pregnant as it can cause fetal development issues. Finasteride can also impact birth control effectiveness.
Minoxidil is typically effective for most women; however, it should not be used by those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Can Finasteride and Minoxidil Be Used Together?
For men, yes, Finasteride and Minoxidil can effectively boost hair regrowth when used together. Even at small doses, Finasteride and Minoxidil work together to help prevent hair loss and regrow hair follicles.
Each medication has a different function that makes them complementary. Oral Finasteride helps encourage hair follicle regrowth while topical Minoxidil helps slow hair loss.
Are There Side Effects from Finasteride or Minoxidil?
As with many medications, there are some side effects to taking Finasteride and Minoxidil, with Finasteride presenting more significant side effects pertaining to sexual function.
After a few weeks to months, both Finasteride and Minoxidil treatments can cause temporary hair shedding. While this can be discouraging, it’s part of normal hair regrowth.
Side effects associated with Finasteride may include:
- Loss of libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Reduced ejaculatory volume
- Anxiety and depression
- Gynecomastia—increased development of breast tissue in men
- Increased risk of breast cancer in men
Side effects of Minoxidil may include:
- Dermatitis of the scalp
- Headaches
- Excessive body hair growth at higher concentrations
- Skin irritation, including itchy, dry, or scaly skin
- Folliculitis—infected hair follicles
- Hair color changes
- Cardiovascular symptoms, oral Minoxidil only
When Can I See My Results from Finasteride or Minoxidil?
If used as directed, the results from Finasteride and Minoxidil should be visible within a few months. You should begin to see both a decline in hair loss and an increase in regrowth. While results will vary for individuals, the majority of men showed more hair growth improvement by using a combination of Finasteride and Minoxidil as compared to those who used only one of the treatments.
For the best results, both Finasteride and Minoxidil should be used daily. Stopping either of the medications may interfere with your results, allowing hair loss to continue and stopping regrowth. To maintain regrowth and stop hair loss, Finasteride and Minoxidil should be continued indefinitely.
Schedule Your Hair Loss Consultation with Balance Hair Restoration Today
It’s important to thoroughly research the ins and outs of hair restoration treatments, including medications like Finasteride and Minoxidil. At Balance Hair Restorations, we will help you determine the appropriate option for you to achieve optimal results for your unique hair loss situation.
Double board-certified Dr. Pramit Malhotra and the expert team at Balance Hair Restoration have more than 50 years of combined experience. They understand the life-changing impact of a successful hair restoration procedure, and they want their patients to have a positive, effective experience.
Learn about the advantages of choosing Balance Hair Restoration to help you rejuvenate your hair and your confidence. Contact us today or call (734) 913-5100 to learn more!
