What to Expect from Your Hair Growth Treatment?
Finasteride is the only FDA-approved hair growth treatment. Let’s talk about when you’ll start seeing results!
Research has shown that 60% of men will experience some type of hair loss by the age of 35, and over half of men have experienced moderate to severe hair loss by the end of their 40s. Male pattern baldness is a common issue that the majority of men will experience at some point in their life.
Do Hair Growth Treatments Actually Work?
If you’re battling hair loss and have looked into the different hair growth treatment options, you’re probably wondering if they are worth the trouble. The great news is, YES, FDA-approved hair regrowth treatments, such as finasteride, are effective for most men experiencing male pattern baldness. The key is staying consistent and using the products as directed by your doctor.
What Is Finasteride?
Finasteride, approved by the FDA in 1997 under the name Propecia, is the most popular hair growth treatment. It stops the conversion of the male sex hormone (testosterone) into dihydrotestoterone (DHT), the hormone that causes male pattern baldness.
DHT is a byproduct of testosterone, so if you’re experiencing male pattern baldness, DHT has bound to the receptors in your scalp and has caused your hair follicles to shrink gradually. This can result in everything from a receding hairline to (almost) complete baldness in the long run. Finasteride can be taken orally or as a topical solution.
How Long Does Finasteride Take to Work?
Yes, finasteride is effective, but it doesn’t work overnight. To see results, you will need to use it for a few months consistently. While some patients see results after as little as three to four months, it can take 12 months or longer to experience the full benefits of finasteride.
However, this is not because the medicine is slow or fails to work properly. As a matter of fact, finasteride starts working and reduces DHT levels once your body absorbs it. It takes time for your hair to grow, and therefore, it’s important to be patient and allow the medication to do its work before expecting noticeable results.
Finasteride Results Timeline
Finasteride Starts Working: 1-3 Months
During the first 1-3 months of taking finasteride, you probably won’t notice too much of a change in the way your hair looks. Your hair thickness won’t be dramatically different. However, remember that this is not because finasteride is not working, but because your hair needs some time to start growing. After your body metabolizes finasteride, it will begin minimizing the amount of DHT in your body. Research has shown that finasteride can reduce DHT in your system by 70%, which is enough to slow down or reverse hair loss significantly.
It’s important to remember that hair recovery takes time. In the first couple of months, you have to take finasteride every day, even though you may not see any results. Rest assured, finasteride is doing its magic. You’re just too early in the process to see results.
Initial Results: 3-6 Months
After you’ve been taking finasteride for three to six months, you might notice that your hair loss somewhat stopped, and there is no noticeable thinning. This is usually when early results from taking finasteride start to appear. Keep in mind that the results you will spot in this period of 3-6 months using finasteride are not final – the best is yet to come!
Noticeable Results: 12 Months
After taking finasteride for about a year, most men will see significant improvement in their hair count and hair thickness. However, considering that everyone converts DHT differently, it may take more than a year to truly understand how finasteride works for you.
Results depend on your body and the consistency in which you take finasteride. In some cases, it’s easy to notice results after just a few months. In others, there may not be noticeable changes in terms of regrowth after a full year, but the medication successfully prevented future hair loss.