Finasteride Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia

Finasteride is effective for treating male pattern baldness (MPB) with minimal side effects, and topical finasteride is similarly effective. Dutasteride is also effective but less understood, and Minoxidil is less effective than Finasteride.

A 27-year-old male physician improved hair density using minoxidil 5% foam and finasteride 1mg every other day, with initial sexual side effects that subsided. He recommends trying finasteride for a year but warns against dutasteride due to potential liver effects.

The conversation is about managing allopregnanolone deficiency caused by 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors like finasteride or dutasteride. Specific treatments discussed for hair loss include Minoxidil, finasteride, and RU58841.

A 26-year-old shared their 5-year experience using finasteride and minoxidil for hair loss, noting initial improvements but later experiencing reduced libido and erection quality, leading them to switch from oral to topical finasteride. They advise starting with a low-dose topical solution and emphasize making informed decisions, acknowledging that while finasteride is effective, it can have side effects.

A 22-year-old male experiencing diffuse hair thinning has been using finasteride, initially at 0.5mg and then 1mg daily, but sees no improvement. Despite correcting a vitamin D deficiency and noticing some new hair growth, he questions the effectiveness of finasteride.

Finasteride's effectiveness and side effects may vary based on male phenotypes, with some users noting differences in response related to body and facial hair characteristics. Some users report success with lower doses, while others experience side effects, suggesting individual variability in response to the treatment.