Both of these medications have been used to treat male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, for decades.
But, do either of them work? If so, which is the most effective option for regrowing hair and stopping hair loss?
We’ve broken down how minoxidil and finasteride work, as well as how effective each hair loss medication is at treating male pattern baldness and stimulating hair regrowth.
We have discussed how you can use minoxidil and finasteride separately or in combination to stop hair loss and grow a fuller, thicker head of hair.
Although hair loss is a frequent ailment that both men and women experience. Finasteride and minoxidil may help decrease male and female-pattern hair loss, and in certain situations, may even stimulate hair growth.
What Is the Difference Between Minoxidil and Finasteride?
Minoxidil and finasteride are two of the most widely used hair loss treatments. Both treatments are supported by scientific research, but there are several significant differences between the two drugs.
The most significant distinction between minoxidil and finasteride is the dosage form each medication takes.
Minoxidil is a topical medication that comes in the form of a liquid solution or foam. It’s designed to be applied directly to your scalp and promotes local hair growth.
Finasteride, on the other hand, is available as a tablet. It has a systemic effect throughout your body rather than working locally to promote hair growth on your scalp.
What is Minoxidil and who should use it?
Minoxidil is a vasodilator that is available as a prescription medication. Minoxidil, according to researchers, works by widening the blood vessels in your scalp and increasing the rate of blood flow to your hair follicles.
It also promotes hair growth by extending the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle.
Minoxidil, in theory, does not prevent hair loss. Instead, it actively promotes hair growth by causing resting hairs (known as the telogen phase) to shed and being replaced by new hairs in the growing (or anagen) phase.
Because minoxidil disrupts your hair growth cycle, you may shed a few more hairs during the first few months of use.
In Fact doctors do not fully understand how it slows hair loss and encourages hair regrowth, but increased blood flow may play an important role.
Finasteride: How Does It Help In Hair Growth?
Finasteride is an alpha-reductase inhibitor, which is a type of medication. It works as a hair loss treatment by inhibiting the alpha-reductase enzyme, which is responsible for the conversion of testosterone into DHT in your body.
DHT, as previously stated, is the primary hormone responsible for miniaturising your hair follicles and causing male pattern baldness.
Finasteride reduces DHT levels by preventing testosterone from converting into DHT and preventing this hormone from binding to your hair follicles and causing damage.
While minoxidil acts as a hair growth agent, finasteride acts as a shield that prevents the hair follicles in your scalp from being exposed to the effects of DHT in the first place.
Finasteride is an oral prescription medication that was first prescribed to treat an enlarged prostate. Finasteride helps male and female-pattern baldness by reducing DHT levels. This reduces or eliminates hair loss by preventing the hormone from damaging the hair follicles. It will not work for other types of hair loss, such as hair loss caused by chemotherapy, stress, medication, or hypothyroidism, because it targets DHT.
Is Finasteride with Minoxidil Effective?
Simply put, yes. Both minoxidil and finasteride have been scientifically proven to help either stop or promote hair growth in some men. Numerous studies have shown that finasteride works.
It is discovered that finasteride increased hair growth on the scalp by more than 15% after two years of treatment.
So as seen earlier it is true that Finasteride & Minoxidil does work for hair loss and as said you can consult from a dermatologist before applying any of these but where can you find these products but if you wonder where to buy FDA approved genuine minoxidil and finasteride you may find several options on the internet but skinorac.com is among the few that sell authentic products with quality assurance.