TLDR Finasteride is a medicine used to treat enlarged prostate and prostate cancer, and it works by changing how testosterone works in the body.
Finasteride is an antiandrogen that works by inhibiting type II 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). As of 12 years ago, it was used in low doses to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and in higher doses to treat prostate cancer. It was marketed under various names including Proscar, Propecia, Fincar, Finpecia, Finax, Finast, Finara, Finalo, Prosteride, and Gefina.
November 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride 1 mg every other month works as well as daily dose for hair loss maintenance.
June 2019 in “Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics” Finasteride effectively treats hair loss and prostate issues with minimal side effects.
April 2013 in “e-Jurnal Medika Udayana” Finasteride effectively treats male pattern baldness.
January 2013 in “China Medical Abstract of Dermatology” Finasteride effectively reduces acne with minimal side effects.
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October 2004 in “PubMed” Finasteride, especially in a 1mg dose, effectively slows hair loss and improves hair growth in Japanese men with male pattern hair loss.
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June 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” Finasteride effectively improves hair growth and slows hair loss in men with male pattern baldness.
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June 2001 in “PubMed” Finasteride is effective in growing hair and stopping hair loss in men with mild to moderate alopecia.
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October 1995 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Finasteride helps treat skin issues like acne and baldness by blocking testosterone conversion.
