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Finasteride Hair Loss Treatment Not Advised For Females

As baldness continues to be the top cosmetic concern in the country, there are several remedies hitting the market. Rogaine, a topical ointment is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for men and women, along with Propecia, used in a daily pill form is widely prescribed for men as a finasteride hair loss treatment.

Proscar, originally developed with five milligrams average dose of finasteride, has been used since 1992 as a treatment for prostate enlargement in men. In higher dosages with is used for the treatment of prostate cancer and more recently in low dosages, of about one milligram, finasteride hair loss treatment is showing some success. However, the drug is also known to cause birth defects if taken by women, even in low doses and should not even be handled by pregnant women or those who think they may be pregnant.

With the price of Propecia higher than Proscar, some obtain the less expensive pills and cut them into sizes approximating the proper daily dosage to use as a finasteride hair loss treatment. Even the small amount potentially available to come into contact with a female, can cause birth defects and cutting the pills is not advised. Studies have shown finasteride hair loss treatment to be ineffective in women, but many contend the study was done with post-menopausal women and the hair loss could be related to lack of estrogen and not an increase in testosterone.

DHT Reduction Found In Propecia Users

The common belief that male pattern baldness is caused by an enzyme that converts testosterone into Dihydrotestosterone, which causes hair follicle to stop growing hair, can be decreased with finasteride hair loss treatment. Studies have shown no increase in DHT in the hair once a finasteride hair loss treatment has begun. Typically, a person using finasteride for hair loss, is advised they will need to continue its use forever but the manufacturer suggests other hair loss remedies available or that are expected to be available, should allow discontinuance in the future.

There are a few side effects for men when using finasteride hair loss treatment such as one percent suffering erectile dysfunction, and less than one percent experience swelling or soreness in the breasts. Side effects are said to disappear once drug use has stopped. Another side effect that some consider positive, is that in users of finasteride for hair loss also have experienced a reduced number with enlarged prostate and prostate cancer.