The increase of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) onto genetically susceptible hair follicles is what causes male pattern baldness. Finasteride is a medication that blocks testosterone from converting to DHT by up to 70%, which helps control, stop, and even restore hair loss. Here are some facts about this medication:

• It is the only FDA-approved oral medication for the treatment of male pattern baldness.
• It is a once-a-day pill available by prescription only.
• The medication is 90% successful: 48% will have re-growth of hair and 42% will have no further hair loss.
• It takes 6-12 months to achieve a cosmetic benefit
• Of patients with male pattern hair loss that do not use Finasteride, 75% will become “much worse” within 5 years.
• Positive effects from Finasteride can help reduce the extent of hair transplantation (number of grafts required) by stabilizing future hair loss and possibly re-growing hair naturally.
• Finasteride can be used to improve the result of hair transplant surgery by stabilizing the hair follicles surrounding the transplanted hairs, allowing for a better overall result.
• Reported negative side effects are limited to fewer than 2% of patients. These side effects may be reversible on dose reduction and tend to diminish over time with continued use.