Finasteride

Hair loss can result from various factors, including genetics, medical conditions, hormonal changes, and certain medications or treatments. Here are some common causes:

• Genetics and Hereditary Hair Loss: Hereditary hair loss, also known as male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia, is the most common cause of hair loss. It tends to worsen with age and is characterised by a receding hairline or bald spots.

• Medical Conditions: Hair loss can be triggered by medical conditions such as alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, and trichotillomania. Alopecia areata involves the immune system attacking hair follicles, while telogen effluvium is often temporary and linked to stress or illness. Trichotillomania is a compulsive hair-pulling disorder.

• Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations in hormones can lead to hair loss. For example, changes in thyroid hormones or imbalances in androgens like dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can contribute to male pattern baldness.

• Medications and Treatments: Certain medications, such as those used in cancer treatment, can cause hair loss as a side effect. Additionally, tight hairstyles like braids or ponytails can lead to scalp hair shedding.

Treatment for hair loss may involve medication, therapy, or a combination of approaches. It's essential to identify the cause of your hair loss to determine the most effective treatment. If you're experiencing hair loss, consult with your doctor or consider starting a free hair loss consultation with Hims for personalised guidance.

Sources: American Academy of Dermatology, National Center for Biotechnology Information

It may be easy to determine the cause of hair loss, or a doctor or dermatologist may need to run tests to determine the root cause.

For men who are experiencing a receding hairline, patchy hair loss, or hair loss that worsens slowly with age, the condition may be a result of male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness is a permanent hair loss type with no cure, but there are several hair loss treatments available to help slow hair loss and even regrow hair.

However, it is recommended that men who are suddenly noticing bald patches with no apparent cause or pattern seek medical attention to determine the cause. These cases of sudden hair loss may be caused by a medical condition, such as alopecia areata, vitamin deficiency, or the side effect of a medication. The good news is that these types of hair loss are typically temporary and resolve when the medical condition is treated.

Learn more about the types of hair loss, like male pattern baldness, alopecia areata, and traction alopecia in our blog.

While the best type of medical treatment depends on the cause of hair loss, male pattern hair loss can be treated with clinically-approved medications:

• Minoxidil, the generic for Rogaine®, is a topical treatment that is applied directly to the scalp. Minoxidil is best for new hair loss or to treat mild to moderate balding because it works by stimulating hair regrowth. For men who are experiencing thinning hair, minoxidil can help to restore some hair density.

• Finasteride, another medication for male hair loss, is an oral medication that treats hair loss by blocking the hormones that inhibit hair growth. Finasteride can help to prevent additional balding and can even stimulate hair regrowth.

If you’re looking for over-the-counter or non-drug options to help with your hair, there is a surgical option called a hair transplant. As for non-medical aids (besides wigs and toupees), there are supplements like our biotin gummies, and hair care products like our hair thickening shampoo.

Note: men experiencing hair loss due to stress, a mental health disorder, or a vitamin deficiency should treat the hair loss by treating the root cause. With any hair loss, consult a doctor, dermatologist, or other qualified medical professional to determine the proper hair loss treatment.

There isn’t a cure for hair loss, but there are effective medications and hair restoration treatments. While these medications or procedures may slow hair loss or even reverse balding, beware of any company claiming to “cure” your hair loss, as there is no complete cure for hair loss.

Yes. In fact, studies have shown minoxidil and finasteride to be more effective when used together versus individually. Finasteride works by preventing the breakdown of testosterone into DHT, while minoxidil works as a vasodilator to stimulate blood flow to the scalp and generate increased hair growth.

Since normal hair grows approximately 1.25 cm per month, hair regrowth also takes time. If you are using finasteride and minoxidil for hair loss, it may take 3-6 months before you start to notice early results. This means that you’ll start blocking the conversion of testosterone and have lower DHT levels as soon as the first dose of finasteride gets into your system. However, your hair grows through a multi-phase process that’s referred to as the hair growth cycle. This means that even though finasteride and minoxidil start working immediately, you shouldn’t expect to see any changes in your hair for several months. Rest assured that finasteride and minoxidil are actively working long before you can see the results.

While oral finasteride has been shown in robust clinical trials to have therapeutic effects in treating hair loss, some men worry about the risk of side effects. Clinical studies suggest that topical treatments have a lower risk of systemic side effects, such as sexual dysfunction, because they are applied topically to your scalp rather than taken orally. If you are concerned about sexual side effects such as erectile dysfunction, talk to a provider to see if a topical solution could be a good choice for your hair restoration.