Finasteride blocks DHT — the hormone that shrinks your hair follicles. 87% of men see improvement. Under $1/day. Here's everything you need to know.
The science is straightforward. Your body converts testosterone to DHT, and DHT shrinks hair follicles. Finasteride blocks that conversion.
In genetically susceptible individuals, DHT (dihydrotestosterone) binds to hair follicles and causes them to shrink over time. This is androgenetic alopecia.
Finasteride inhibits 5-alpha reductase — the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. This reduces scalp DHT by approximately 64–70%.
Without DHT attacking your follicles, miniaturization stops. Many follicles recover. 83% of men maintain or improve hair at 2 years.
DHT levels drop within weeks. You may experience temporary shedding — this is normal and often a good sign.
Shedding slows. Hair loss stabilizes. Some early signs of improvement may appear.
Visible improvement for most responders. Thicker hair, better coverage, increased density.
Peak results. Continue treatment to maintain gains. Benefits last as long as you stay on treatment.
We believe in transparency. Here's what clinical trials found — the real numbers, not fear-mongering or minimization.
The most discussed concern. Here's the data from Phase III trials:
The difference is real but small. Most side effects resolve with discontinuation.
Studies show patients informed about potential sexual side effects report them at 3x higher rates than uninformed patients (43.6% vs 14.3%).
Awareness itself can trigger symptoms. This doesn't mean side effects aren't real — but context matters.
| Decreased libido | 1.8% (vs 1.3%) |
| Erectile dysfunction | 1.3% (vs 0.7%) |
| Decreased volume | 0.8% (vs 0.4%) |
| Resolving on stop | Most cases |
Source: FDA prescribing information, Phase III data
Dutasteride blocks 90–99% of DHT (vs finasteride's 70%) by inhibiting both Type I and Type II 5α-reductase enzymes.
Inadequate response to finasteride after 12+ months
Plateau in hair gain after initial finasteride improvement
More aggressive hair loss requiring stronger DHT suppression
Comfortable with off-label prescribing (common medical practice)
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