Does Finasteride Stop Hair Loss Long Term?

[TheRomanEmpire]

Hello,

I am a 22 year old who is in the early stages of balding (Norwood 2). I have been on Finasteride and Oral Minoxidil for over a year at this point and I have been able to thicken up my hair and halt any future hair loss. I was hoping to continue on the meds for a few more years and get a hair transplant to fill in the corners when I reach the age of 25. However, I would only do that if I had the confidence that I could halt any future hair loss. I am willing to switch to dutasteride to make sure. 

Are there any people here who have halted their hair loss for long periods of time (5+ years) with finasteride or dutasteride?

[NARMAK]

The simple answer to your question is nobody knows.

Some people get really lucky and barely lose anything for the rest of their life on the medication whether it's Finasteride or Dutasteride. Some still see hair loss over the years but at a much slower rate than if they weren't using it to the point it's considered a success at doing what the medication is designed for. Slowing hair loss. Not stopping it.

The final group are those that you might call unlucky to the point it seems like the medication didn't work because their hair loss is so aggressive. 

Just imagine you're in the middle group like the majority and using it for prevention. That said, you are on 2 medications which are Finasteride and Minoxidil which alters the equation quite a bit as one is to try halt hair loss as much as possible and one is to try help regrow it. Depending on whether you're taking Finasteride everyday and same for Minoxidil, you're 100% doing the most you can medication wise short of switching to Dutasteride if you notice further hair loss.

Also, maybe look into Microneedling once a week at 1mm to 1.5mm with a derma pen. It boosts Minoxidil results and those apparently are a touch more permanent but still need study.

I don't know how many members have been on Finasteride tracking their progress for the full 5 years, but hopefully others can answer that specific. I've been on Dutasteride everyday more or less since May 2021, so over 3 years and felt within the first year I got a sign the loss was halted and hair were getting stronger. I'm hoping it keeps working well as now I have a hair transplant towards the frontal hairline, it's probably much harder to stay tracking the native hairline and loss until it really gets bad for most people.

 

[TakeAction]

For the vast majority of people, yes. Even if there is slow loss over time, it tends to be very minimal compared to what it would have been. In many cases, hair continues to improve over time.

The idea that you will DEFINITELY lose hair while on meds, which is often propagated in these communities, is not supported by the research. While it can happen, that's not the case for most. And even in those cases, you can always use dutasteride up to 2.5 mg daily which will block much more scalp DHT than finasteride.

[Gatsby]

@TheRomanEmpire good on you for starting on meds early. So many people choose not to take meds only to regret this after they have lost a significant amount of hair years later. Just remember to stay on the meds as once you stop you will loose all of your gains. All the best! 👍

[EmilyJohnson]

On 9/2/2024 at 5:18 AM, NARMAK said:

The simple answer to your question is nobody knows.

Some people get really lucky and barely lose anything for the rest of their life on the medication whether it's Finasteride or Dutasteride. Some still see hair loss over the years but at a much slower rate than if they weren't using it to the point it's considered a success at doing what the medication is designed for. Slowing hair loss. Not stopping it.

The final group are those that you might call unlucky to the point it seems like the medication didn't work because their hair loss is so aggressive. 

Just imagine you're in the middle group like the majority and using it for prevention. That said, you are on 2 medications which are Finasteride and Minoxidil which alters the equation quite a bit as one is to try halt hair loss as much as possible and one is to try help regrow it. Depending on whether you're taking Finasteride everyday and same for Minoxidil, you're 100% doing the most you can medication wise short of switching to Dutasteride if you notice further hair loss.

Also, maybe look into Microneedling once a week at 1mm to 1.5mm with a derma pen. It boosts Minoxidil results and those apparently are a touch more permanent but still need study.

I don't know how many members have been on Finasteride tracking their progress for the full 5 years, but hopefully others can answer that specific. I've been on Dutasteride everyday more or less since May 2021, so over 3 years and felt within the first year I got a sign the loss was halted and hair were getting stronger. I'm hoping it keeps working well as now I have a hair transplant towards the frontal hairline, it's probably much harder to stay tracking the native hairline and loss until it really gets bad for most people.

Yes, many people have successfully halted their hair loss for extended periods using Finasteride or Dutasteride. Finasteride has been effective for many users over 5+ years, stabilizing hair loss and even promoting regrowth. Dutasteride, being more potent, has also shown promising results in long-term use. However, individual responses can vary. It’s great to hear that you’re considering your options carefully. Consulting with a specialist can provide personalized insights based on your progress and goals. With the pressure of academic life, services like academized.com/write-my-personal-statement can offer valuable support. Providing a range of writing services, including essays and dissertations, the platform emphasizes originality and allows for free revisions, helping students meet their academic needs.

Thank you for answering. I appreciate you for taking the time to write it in brief.

Edited 3 hours ago by EmilyJohnson