Finasteride is a prescription-only treatment that comes as a tablet. It is used to treat hair loss in men, but can also be used to treat an enlarged prostate at higher dosages. Finasteride is generic medication, which often means it is available at a lower cost than branded versions. One popular brand of finasteride is Propecia, which is used to treat hair loss. Another well known brand of finasteride is Proscar, which is used to treat enlarged prostates.
At Superdrug Online Doctor, we only prescribe finasteride for hair loss.
How does finasteride work?
Finasteride reduces the amount of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. In male pattern balding, the hair follicles shrink. In these smaller hair follicles, DHT is found at high levels. However, when DHT is suppressed, it boosts hair growth and reduces hair loss on the head. It does not affect hair growth in other parts of the body.
You can buy finasteride as a topical cream that’s applied daily to the scalp. Like the tablet, it also helps to reduce hair loss and promote hair regrowth by lowering levels of DHT. It can be found in hair loss products that combine finasteride with topical minoxidil. Minoxidil is another hair loss treatment found in products like Regaine. This can be effective for maintaining hair regrowth once you stop taking the oral tablet.
Hair loss shampoos
Some anti-DHT shampoos contain the antifungal agent ketoconazole. Some studies show that combining finasteride tablets with such shampoos can better inhibit DHT that damages hair follicles and causes hair loss.
When taking finasteride, a 1mg dose per day is prescribed for hair loss treatment. This treatment is often prescribed long term, so you may choose to keep taking it for several months or years, as when you stop, the hair loss will likely start again.
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