Can Finasteride permanently stop hair loss? Finasteride is a clinically-proven medication used to treat male pattern hair loss. But one of the most common questions that men ask is what happens when they stop taking Finasteride? Will their gains be lost? Let’s take a look.
What is Finasteride?
The primary role of Finasteride is to prevent the conversion of testosterone to DHT, which is the naturally-occurring male hormone responsible for male pattern baldness. Researchers have found that just 1mg of Finasteride can decrease the levels of DHT on the scalp by up to 60%, provided it is taken daily over a long enough period of time. As a result, it significantly slows the progression of baldness in most men and may even stop it altogether.
What happens if you stop taking Finasteride?
Finasteride is a medication that forms a family known as 5a-Reductase inhibitors. It works by blocking the enzyme that is responsible for the growth of DHT and therefore only works when it is present in your body. Shortly after stopping your dose of Finasteride, your body will resume converting testosterone to DHT. As a result, your hair follicles are likely to return to pre-treatment levels. Evidence shows that once you stop taking Finasteride after a period of treatment, you’re likely to lose your hair gains within 12 months.
So, can Finasteride permanently stop hair loss?
Taking Finasteride daily presents your best opportunity to combat hair loss in the long run. However, you need to take it continually for it to work. If you regularly miss doses or are stop-start with your application, you allow testosterone to be converted into DHT, which leads to the miniaturisation of your hair follicles. Therefore, instead of regarding Finasteride as a cure for male pattern hair loss, you should think of it as a long-term treatment.
Is it safe to take Finasteride for a long time?
To successfully treat male pattern baldness, you will need to take Finasteride in the long term. Several studies have shown that Finasteride is safe to take over the course of a five-year period, with little to worry about in regards to side effects. The researchers concluded that “Finasteride was generally well tolerated, and no new safety concerns were identified during long-term use.” As such, it’s safe to take Finasteride in the long term to treat male pattern hair loss.
Get started with Finasteride today
People often ask about if the effects of Finasteride wear off. Men can become immune to it, on average people get a response for about 10 years, however those starting at a younger age tend to respond well for longer than those starting later in life. After this, hair loss may gradually resume and those seeking a more permanent treatment for hair loss at this point may choose to get a transplant.
At Sons, Finasteride is one of our most popular treatments for male pattern hair loss. It’s also available as part of our Full Works treatment plan, which combines Finasteride with Minoxidil, Biotin, and saw-palmetto DHT-blocking shampoo to increase your chances of success.
We make it easy for you to plan your course of treatment, offering flexible subscriptions that ensure you can take Finasteride for as long as you need it. Schedule a free online consultation, and one of our physicians will be in touch to discuss the best plans for you.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
