Finasteride
Finasteride tablets are a medicine used to treat male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). When taken once a day, it allows the hair follicles to grow to their regular size. Moreover, Finasteride 1mg tablets stimulate hair growth or, in the worst-case scenario, stop further hair loss. It's suitable for adult males over 18 and contains the active ingredient finasteride.
Finasteride is the generic form of Propecia which is used in the treatment of male pattern baldness (hair loss), a common condition amongst men. The medication works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Side effects
There are risks of possible side effect when taking finasteride, as with any medication. Most side effects quite mild and subside over time. Others can be more serious and, in this stance, should be reported to your GP right away when using finasteride. Feel free to contact a member of our team if you have any questions regarding the side effects and use of finasteride.
Common side effects can include:
· Headache
· Sexual dysfunction
· Palpitations
· Breast tenderness and enlargement
· Loss of sexual interest
Some patients may experience depression whilst taking finasteride. If this is the case they should stop taking finasteride, contact their GP or a member of our team
What is male pattern baldness?
Although there are many causes of hair loss for men, the most common is Male Pattern Baldness also known as Androgenetic Alopecia.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the testosterone which causes hair loss. It attaches itself to hair follicles causing them to shrink over time, becoming thinner and thinner until you are bald on the top of your head. This condition can either be genetic or environmental, meaning it could have been passed down by a family member or it may be down to a person’s lifestyle choices, for example, stress or diet.
Our tablets for hair loss prevent DHT being created, allowing hair follicles to grow to their normal size. Hair has been shown to re-grow or prevent further hair loss. See our hair growth tablets below.
Causes
Up to 95% of guys with thinning hair can blame it on this condition. It’s caused by genes you get from your parents.
Scientists think the gene may affect how sensitive your hair follicles are to a hormone called DHT, which makes them shrink. As they get smaller, the hair that grows back tends to be finer, thinner, and shorter. Eventually, it takes longer for hair to grow back. Then, the follicles will shrink so that no hair grows at all.
Male pattern baldness shows up in a telltale shape: a receding hairline with thinning strands around the crown of your head. Over time, that area will go bald, but you’ll still have a horseshoe pattern of hair above your ears circling to the lower back of the head.
Men with this trait can start to lose their locks as early as their early teens. In general, the sooner it starts, the greater the loss will be.
Other types of hair loss tend to happen faster than male pattern baldness.
Spot baldness, or alopecia areata, makes your hair fall out in smooth, round patches, but it usually grows back. The condition is a type of autoimmune disease, which means your body attacks itself. In this case, it destroys your hair.
Scarring alopecia is a rare disease that destroys your hair follicles and makes scar tissue form in their place. Hair will not grow back.
When your locks fall out suddenly, instead of gradually thinning over time, it’s usually from something other than male pattern baldness. Other causes include:
- Diseases like anemia or a thyroid problem
- Radiation or chemotherapy treatments
- Medications, such as blood thinners, high doses of vitamin A, and steroids that some men take to help build muscle, called anabolic steroids
- Scalp infections
- Problems with your diet, like getting too little iron or too much vitamin A
- Stress
- Keeping hairstyles like tight ponytails, cornrows, or braids for many years
For most of these issues, your hair will grow back once you take care of what’s causing it.
How to prevent hair loss?
Most instances of hair loss are either temporary or just a general part of aging. If you are losing hair because of a medical condition, we suggest seeking professional help to find the best course of action to prevent further hair loss. However, if you are suffering from male pattern baldness you may need to explore medications such as Finasteride to help stimulate hair growth.
Before taking Finasteride, or any medication it is essential always to read the patient information leaflet. This provides information on side effects, potential interactions, and how to take Finasteride correctly.