Finasteride or Minoxidil: Which Is Better? | Psychreg

Antidepressants made me gain a ton of weight — and it took me almost five years to lose that weight after stopping treatment. Virtually all the research indicates finasteride is a safe and well-tolerated drug. Your Mental State Men with serious psychological conditions such as severe depression or anxiety are often advised against using finasteride. The drug is known to cause psychological side effects nocebo.

But they are the two treatments that have been proven, time and time again, to effectively address the condition. A few of those options include: Dutasteride The nuclear option.

Laser Therapy Surprisingly, laser therapy has been shown to mitigate hair loss to some degree. But research shows light therapy can reboot thinning hairs and slow the balding process in men and women. Ketoconazole Shampoo Will any shampoo stop hair loss altogether? Probably not. But shampoos with the active ingredient ketoconazole may deliver some mild benefits.

Mild being the operative word. To learn more about Ketoconazole or any of the other top hair loss treatments on the market, check out my in-depth post on the best ways to attack balding in Finasteride is, by far, the more potent solution that works for 9 out 10 men.

For men over 30 year with mild hair loss, such as a simple receding hairline, minoxidil alone may be sufficient. I hope this post helped you as you explore your treatment options and begin fighting the good fight against hair loss. Robert Price Robert Price is a writer, consumer advocate, and hair loss nerd with thousands of hours of experience in the field. His goal is to keep you out of the hair loss rabbit hole, underworld, or whatever you want to call it.

He founded Hair Loss Daily , the unbiased hair loss blog, in You can learn more about Robert in the my story section of this website. So, you will need to take into consideration if you are aiming for more regrowth, or more maintenance measures for your current hair when choosing between the two medications. Mechanism of action These two medications function in very different ways even though they are both approved for the same male pattern hair loss indication.

Minoxidil is a vasodilator, so that means that it opens up the vessels under the skin in the scalp to increase blood flow to the area. And, since this increased blood flow will likely bring more oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles, this is thought to be the mechanism behind how Minoxidil increases hair growth. One thing to keep in mind with Minoxidil is that when these hairs start regrowing, it will sometimes start by pushing out tiny hairs that are in the resting phase to then grow new hairs which are in the growth phase, leading to potential increase loss of tiny hairs just in the beginning of treatment to make way for a thicker head of hair.

Finasteride has a completely different mechanism that focuses on the hormonal aspect of male pattern hair loss. Finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone into another hormone called DHT. DHT is a normal hormone that plays a role in certain manly attributes in normal amounts, but in high amounts it causes damage to the hair follicles, eventually leading to them shrinking and stopping the growth of hair.

By Finasteride blocking this overproduction of DHT in the scalp, it helps keep the hairs you have in place as well as giving your locks a fighting chance to regrow. For both medications, the treatment needs to continue for hair improvements to continue. The hairs which were maintained with treatment will be shed if treatment is discontinued. Who can use them Minoxidil is a medication that can be used in both men and women. Finasteride is only for use in men due to the hormonal aspect of its mechanism.

Women and children should not use Finasteride, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not even handle the tablets as it may cause hormonal imbalances and deformities in the developing male infant. How you can take them Minoxidil is a topical medication when used for hair loss, so it can be applied to the scalp as a liquid, foam, cream, or gel. You normally apply Minoxidil once or twice daily, depending on your product.

Finasteride is mainly found as an oral medication that you take by mouth in tablet form once daily. But, you may sometimes come across formulations made by compounding pharmacies that also mix Finasteride into a prescription topical medication that is applied to the scalp once or twice daily. What else they treat Interestingly, both of these medications started their medical lives by treating conditions other than hair loss, and stumbled upon their hair loss medication powers when people were using them for other reasons.

Minoxidil started out as a blood pressure treatment, and Finasteride was originally used as a treatment for an enlarged prostate. Minoxidil was originally used as an oral medication taken by mouth when it was treating high blood pressure, but it is not used very often for this indication any longer.

Finasteride for an enlarged prostate is still used quite often. It can be found for BPH in a tablet form under the name Proscar. Potential side effects Although these medications tend to be well tolerated by most users, as with most medications, they do have their risks of side effects. Minoxidil is applied to the scalp and does not get into the rest of the body in very high amounts, so its most common side effects include burning, itching, or redness at the application site.

Oral Minoxidil for Hair Loss: Off-Label Use of the Drug, Explained

And it's not just Dr.

Here's what to know about using minoxidil orally for growth loss—and how to bring it up to your dermatologist. Anagen Restart Exogen : Shedding phase. This is when your hair hair quickly move from the anagen to the telogen phase due to trauma or stress. While human hair grows in phases, the growth pattern is not cyclical. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as genetics, age, and lifestyle choices.

This type propecia hair loss typically causes the follicles to enter the telogen phase and shed their hair. A hair transplant involves removing small pieces of loss still able to grow hair, and transplanting them onto balding or thinning areas of the scalp.

And it's not just Dr. Excessive hair breakage is usually by weak and brittle hair due to a lack of proper hair care which includes: over-treatment, neglect, excessive application of product, and tension on hair in the form cycles braids or other hair designs, and poor nutrition.

Changes to our hair growth cycle are to blame due to a hormone known as DHT. This gives the hair follicles great-quality growth factors and stimulates hair growth. This will often continue for upwards of four months, though it should slowly decrease as time goes on. The drug was soon discovered to hair the side effect of hair propecia, however, and it was then prescribed off-label to sufferers of pattern baldness and similar loss loss conditions.

Telogen is the resting phase. Decrease in nutrient and metabolic process result in hair growth thinner, lighter and smaller. We want to transform your thinning hair into dense, shining locks with non-invasive cycles solutions. Hairs affected by DHT grow back thinner in every succeeding growth cycle. This is called vellus hair, which is commonly known as peach fuzz.

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Of course, this led to the repurposing and redevelopment of said drug. Merck developed a medication called Proscar in 5mg doses to treat enlarged prostate glands.

As with Viagra, participants in the clinical trials reported a fortunate side effect. This time, it was additional hair growth. Because the drug was already approved for a different purpose, Merck decided to repurpose it and create the first hair loss medication in a pill form. Minoxidil was already on the market.

After additional clinical trials to determine dosage in , the FDA approved a 1mg dose to treat male pattern baldness , and Propecia was born.

Propecia became the first drug of its kind to treat androgenic alopecia and remains extraordinarily popular today. Does Propecia Actually Work? The good news is, finasteride is very effective in the majority of people who take it to treat their male pattern baldness. Study after study — totaling thousands of men observed over a period of up to five years — has shown that Propecia not only slows the process of hair loss, but it actually helps regrow some of the hair the person has already lost.

Because of its efficacy in such a large portion of those who take it, finasteride is often the first recommendation doctors give to patients experiencing male pattern baldness who are interested in seeking treatment — even before over-the-counter treatments like minoxidil. If the patient has lost too much hair, the effects will barely be noticeable. How Does Finasteride Work? This is important because 5-alpha-reductase is what creates the byproduct of testosterone believed to be the main culprit behind male pattern baldness: dihydrotestosterone DHT.

While some hair loss is caused by hormone imbalances, illness or stress, male pattern baldness is caused by hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT. DHT causes hair follicles to shrink over time, and as they shrink, they produce fewer hairs. While we often think that one hair follicle equals one hair, each follicle can produce anywhere from one to five hairs.

But by reducing the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, Propecia reduces the prevalence of DHT, which means the drug is essentially eliminating the cause of hair loss in the first place again, assuming the hair loss is being caused by DHT and not another health issue. Because finasteride consistently reduces the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, it takes some time before the effects start to become noticeable — typically about six months, but it could take up to one year.

Stopping the medication will result in increased production of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme again, which will lead to additional DHT production, and of course, hair loss. Dr Balvant Arora stresses taking the medications in the right quantities and at the right time as prescribed to get the best results. It generally works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT dihydrotestosterone. The dosage usually involves 1 mg of the tablet to be taken orally at the same time daily.

Although this is the usual dose, it is necessary to still confirm the same with the doctor. The results of Finasteride are generally visible after at least 3 months of daily usage. Precautions and side effects: There are a few precautions that must be taken while taking this medication.

Also, although very rare, there are a few temporary side effects of the medication. Finasteride must be taken only by men. It is not suitable for premenopausal women and children. Pregnant and breastfeeding women must not handle a broken finasteride tablet as it may hamper the growth of the infant baby.

A complete medical history along with whatever allergies a person has must be told to the doctor in order to understand the effects of the medicine better. It is necessary to keep the medication in usage as stopping it may result in the loss of noticed hair growth within 12 months.

Although there are no extreme or serious side effects to this medicine, a decreased sexual drive and effect upon the ejaculation quantity is noticed in some men. This is often temporary. Finasteride causing prostate cancer is highly unlikely with a dosage of 1 mg. One must stay in touch with the doctor if any symptoms or side effects prolong.

It is absolutely necessary to follow the instructions of the doctor to the word in order to avoid any side effects and have the best and long-lasting results.

Minoxidil improves blood supply to hair follicle and prolongs the anagen phase, which is the phase of active growth. It is also believed that it interferes with potassium channels of hair follicle cells and inhibits the action of DHT.

Minoxidil needs to be used as directed by the doctor or as given on the packaging. Generally, the required amount of dosage is 1 ml. It is to be applied on damp scalp generally twice a day in the morning and at night. During the treatment, you may notice a slight increase in hair fall.

This is a good sign of the action of the medicine as the older hair is gradually replaced. You should not discontinue the usage. It will take at least weeks to stop the hair fall and at least 4 months for visible hair regrowth.

The hair will also start growing longer and thicker. If at any point, the usage is discontinued, you will be back to the starting point over a period of weeks. Precautions and side effects It is necessary to know that minoxidil must be applied only on a healthy scalp. Applying it on an infected or sunburned scalp might have negative consequences There has been no study to understand the effects of minoxidil on pregnant and breastfeeding women.

So, pregnant and breastfeeding women must avoid the use of minoxidil in any case.

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Propecia vs. Rogaine: Head to Head

It can cause mild itching or irritation, and sometimes even eczema or acne. While minoxidil does not actively inhibit hair growth, it promotes hair growth by interrupting the hair resting state telogen phase by allowing for hair shedding and encouraging the growth of new hair follicles.

This means the hair has difficulty growing until, eventually, growth stops completely. Rogaine propecia Propecia will both help you fight your thinning hair problems, and the best way to figure out which one will work better for your individual case is by speaking with a doctor. But they have different degrees of efficacy and both carry side growth that the individual cycles consider before taking them.

Hair Minoxidil is FDA-approved for hair loss, Finasteride only has loss approval to treat enlarged prostate. Individuals who experience severe adverse reactions should seek medical attention online.

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Rogaine has shown an increase in hair weight as well as hair count, which is why so many men and women have trusted it to revitalize their thick strands. Finasteride and minoxidil prevent hair loss and hair growth. But they are the two treatments that have been proven, time and time again, to effectively address the condition. Common side effects of Propecia use include: Loss of libido.

Doing so will also help retain your hair in its current state.

If patients experience any of these symptoms, here need to contact a doctor immediately propecia seek medical treatment. Hair results from taking Propecia can occur in as little as three months or growth to one loss.

Virtually all the research indicates finasteride is a safe and well-tolerated drug. What http://www.bcaplan.com/scle/name/does-baclofen-help-with-sleep-apnea.html Rogaine and How Does it Work? What is minoxidil and how does it work?

For men over 30 cycles with mild hair loss, such as a simple receding hairline, minoxidil alone may be sufficient.

With DHT produced, it is able to attach to the hair follicles through the androgen receptor. Because women can use minoxidil, they have been studied as well and about 1 out of 5 19 percent report hair regrowth after eight months of usage.

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Minoxidil has a longer history of clinical trials with more information to draw from. A study from (the year of FDA approval) showed that 40 percent of test subjects saw moderate to dense hair growth on the crown of the head after several months of use. Another year-long study found that nearly two-thirds of men reported a decrease in hair.

This is where side effects get really challenging. If a pregnant woman so much as touches a broken tablet of finasteride it can lead to a serious birth defect in a male fetus. Needless to say using finasteride is completely forbidden to women who could become pregnant. So in addition to keeping your missus far, far away from your Propedia stash, you should consider the side effects of this medicine taken orally: chills, cold sweats, confusion, and dizziness are most common. Less common side effects are bloating, breast enlargement, hives, rapid weight gain or, conversely, rapid weight loss , and skin redness.

Short-term symptoms that more likely disappear after a while are decreased libido, sexual dysfunction, sleepiness, and sneezing. Also, keep your pate out of the sun — applying Rogaine to a sunburned scalp could mean an unhealthy amount of absorption into the bloodstream. As with finasteride, minoxidil is not recommended for women who are pregnant, could become pregnant, or who are breastfeeding.

A final note on both finasteride and minoxidil: If you plan to keep your hair the rest of your life, you will need to keep using the medication. When this occurs in the scalps of people who have a genetic predisposition toward baldness, then hair loss is the inevitable outcome.

Propecia Sold under popular brand names such as Propecia and Proscar, finasteride works by lowering the amount of DHT in your scalp. The most common side effects affect sexual function and include erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and lowered sperm count. Shedding is a normal part of the hair loss process, and, as a result, is not listed as a side effect.

Minoxidil is the go-to product for those who prefer that their hair loss cure be a less effective mysterious foam that has to be applied twice a day. Popularly sold under the brand name Rogaine, minoxidil was originally developed to be used in the treatment of high blood pressure. Soon, however, it was discovered that hair growth was a side effect. What was not discovered, however, was how exactly minoxidil works— or the perfect system for massaging hair product into your scalp twice a day and then keeping your hair from getting wet for four hours afterward BOTH TIMES.

We compare their use cases below, with the help of Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Yoram Harth, medical director of MDhair. Learn more about how hair loss and hair regrowth work in relation to these solutions, as well as some very specific precautions to take before you embark on medicinal solutions. Doing so will also help retain your hair in its current state. Genetic male-pattern hair loss primarily happens because of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which is a byproduct of testosterone.

DHT gathers at the root of the hair and effectively suffocates and shrinks the follicle. This inhibits hair growth and, when the follicle is subdued long enough, it becomes too shriveled to reproduce a new hair, even with remedies like minoxidil and finasteride. Malnourishment is another way that hair loss occurs. Efforts like proper hydration, minimal alcohol intake, no smoking, healthy dieting and adequate rest are imperative for proper hair follicle health — and for ensuring healthy full-body nourishment and circulation, which helps fuel the follicles.

When you begin a hair loss remedy like finasteride and minoxidil, you need to set your expectations properly: Whatever your hair density was a couple of years prior… that level of density is the best-case scenario.

Crown Thinning vs. As for the upper dome, you will either experience thinning on the dome or recession at the hairline. Recession can be uniform, too, or can more greatly affect the temples. In short, all of these patterns of loss differ from one guy to the next based on his genetics. It tends to be true, though, that recessed hair is more difficult to revive than crown thinning.

Minoxidil: Details and Risks Minoxidil the generic for Rogaine is most commonly a topical serum or foam treatment.