How Long Does Finasteride Take To Work?

Hair loss is a widespread, age-old issue that affects both men and women throughout their lives. Regardless of identity, hair plays a vital role in making us feel confident, attractive and empowered. The journey to fuller hair can be a lengthy one, as one tries different methods to find an effective solution. 

Loss, of any kind, of this valuable asset can lead individuals to seek advice on reviving their tresses through various methods, such as lifestyle changes, medications and surgery. 

A commonly used medication to treat thinning hair is finasteride.

But how long does it take Finasteride to work? And how does it work? 

What Is Finasteride? 

Finasteride, a popular medication on the market used initially for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), has been a mainstay in the hair loss world since its approval in 1997.

The gold standard medical management for male pattern baldness, or “androgenetic alopecia”, Finasteride is used to slow and effectively reverse hair loss by stimulating regrowth with continuous, regular use. 

How Does Finasteride Work? 

The adult human male body produces large quantities of testosterone to mature and develop fully. One such type of testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) has the unfortunate side effect of interfering with the integrity of hair follicles, thus destroying them over time. The continuous destruction of hair follicles causes them to shrink, or “miniaturise” until they eventually stop growing back.

Finasteride helps prevent the production of DHT, thereby stopping the damage to follicles and allowing them to grow undisturbed, even returning to their original thickness before the damage occurred.

How Long Does Finasteride Take To Work?

The key to achieving a solid result lies in the continuous and regular use of Finasteride. Research indicates that results may take up to a year to manifest fully, so individuals should allow sufficient time for the medication to work on their hair follicles before making further decisions based on their hair loss. 

The results of a Phase III clinical study, conducted on 1,879 men, highlighted that 48% of men experienced improvement in hair regrowth at the 1-year mark, and 66% of men experienced improvement at the 2-year mark. Even more remarkably, 83% of men experienced no further hair loss after 2 years, indicating the effectiveness of the treatment in preserving hair follicles from DHT-related damage. 

While on Finasteride, you can start to see results as soon as 6 months after continuous use, with the first signs of regrowth appearing at the 3-4 month mark, following an initial shedding phase. Improvement can continue for up to 2 years with regular doses, meaning that your hair can continue to improve and thicken for a considerable period if given time.³ 

What dose of Finasteride shall I take?

The optimal dose of Finasteride for hair loss is 1 milligram (1mg) per day. However, due to the drug’s ability to stay in the bloodstream for longer, Finasteride 1mg can be taken for a minimum of 2-3 times per week in order to still produce results. However, these results may not be robust for a daily dose regimen, 7 days a week. To reiterate, this medication must be used regularly and continuously for at least 3-6 months before evidence of regrowth can be observed. Patience and time are the path to better hair. 

The reward for this patience can be further seen in a 2008 study conducted over five years. In essence, for 1553 men with androgenetic alopecia, taking 1mg per day showed a 93% reduction in the 5-year likelihood of developing further hair loss compared to no treatment.4 This means that in those taking Finasteride to regrow and prevent hair loss, there is a significant decrease in the amount of hair one continues to lose over time. Even if complete regrowth is not experienced with long-term Finasteride use, it very much helps to halt further progression. 

Side Effects and Family Planning

Side effects whilst on Finasteride occur rarely. The most commonly reported side effects include loss of libido and erectile dysfunction. Evidence suggests that healthy, virile men with fertility levels above baseline are not at risk of having their ability to conceive tampered with. Only individuals with lower baseline fertility levels may need to consider alternative therapies if they wish to conceive in the near future .^5,6 

For more information on other medical treatments and therapies you can use in addition to Finasteride, please feel free to visit our blog here.

What happens if I stop taking Finasteride?

There are several reasons why individuals may be unable to continue taking Finasteride. It is essential to note that once Finasteride is stopped, within a few weeks, hair follicles will resume their regular cycles of hair growth and shedding, as they were before the medication was started. If this is a concern, please consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding starting and discontinuation of Finasteride, as well as its regular use. 

Conclusion

Losing your hair is a personal and potentially distressing experience; however, there is hope to regain some of what you may have lost. With time, patience and resilience, some things can be done to improve the appearance of your hair and help you feel more confident.

Get in Touch

Take the step toward a fuller hairline: schedule your complimentary consultation with our London FUE hair transplant specialists, or visit our FUE hair transplant clinic in Manchester. Additionally, we also serve Birmingham and Leicester.

Our award-winning team, including leading London hair transplant surgeons Dr Fernando and Dr Vara, is here to support you every step of the way.

References

1. Finasteride’s impact on hair follicles illustrated using BioRender.com.
2. McClellan KJ, Markham A. Finasteride: a review of its use in male pattern hair loss. Drugs. 1999 Jan;57(1):111-26. doi: 10.2165/00003495-199957010-00014. PMID: 9951956.
3. McClellan KJ, Markham A. Finasteride: a review of its use in male pattern hair loss. Drugs. 1999 Jan;57(1):111-26. doi: 10.2165/00003495-199957010-00014. PMID: 9951956.
4. Whiting DA, Olsen EA, Savin R, Halper L, Rodgers A, Wang L, Hustad C, Palmisano J; Male Pattern Hair Loss Study Group. Efficacy and tolerability of finasteride 1 mg in men aged 41 to 60 years with male pattern hair loss. Eur J Dermatol. 2003 Mar-Apr;13(2):150-60. PMID: 12695131.
5. Kaufman KD, Rotonda J, Shah AK, Meehan AG. Long-term treatment with finasteride 1 mg decreases the likelihood of developing further visible hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss). Eur J Dermatol. 2008 Jul-Aug;18(4):400-6. doi: 10.1684/ejd.2008.0436. Epub 2008 Jun 23. PMID: 18573712.
6. Overstreet JW, Fuh VL, Gould J, Howards SS, Lieber MM, Hellstrom W, Shapiro S, Carroll P, Corfman RS, Petrou S, Lewis R, Toth P, Shown T, Roy J, Jarow JP, Bonilla J, Jacobsen CA, Wang DZ, Kaufman KD. Chronic treatment with finasteride daily does not affect spermatogenesis or semen production in young men. J Urol. 1999 Oct;162(4):1295-300. PMID: 10492183.
7. Finasteride use in the male infertility population: effects on semen and hormone parameters
   Samplaski, Mary K. et al.
   Fertility and Sterility, Volume 100, Issue 6, 1542 – 1546