Can a Woman Use Topical Finasteride for Frontal Baldness?'

Name: Minu

Question: hello.....i have suffering frontal baldness from 2-3 yrs and started with treatment after consulting dermatologist. he recommended me minoxidil 3% with 0.1% finasteride (product name Mor-F). Its effective to me but i came across that finasteride can cause infertility in female. Is it true and should i stop the treatment?

Answer: Hi, Minu. We do not use Mor-F, the hair loss product you mention here, at Belgravia however we understand this to be a topical medication that contains a low dose of minoxidil alongside finasteride.

Finasteride 1mg is a drug prescribed as an oral tablet for the treatment of male pattern hair loss and is not considered suitable for women. Although in the last two years it has also been recommended by some doctors for women, generally those who are post-menopausal, tests are still being carried out into its suitability for women.

Following trials, topical finasteride has been categorised as not being effective in relation to hair loss. Furthermore, the side effects of topical finasteride use have not yet been fully investigated but the tablets have been linked with sexual deformity of the foetus if pregnant women are exposed to it.

As you are not a Belgravia client we cannot advise you on whether to stop using your treatment - this is a decision you would need to take with your dermatologist once you have amassed all the information regarding the treatment you are currently using. What we can tell you, for your information purposes, is how our specialists would treat your hair loss.

First we would need to establish the hair loss condition that is affecting you.


There are two likely reasons for frontal baldness in women and these are: Traction Alopecia, which can often be successfully treated, and Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, which is a form of scarring, making it far more difficult to regrow hair.

In the first instance, if your receding hairline is the result of years of wearing damaging hairstyles, such as tight braids or hair extensions, then there are likely to be occasional small 'fuzzy' hairs around your hairline despite it having receded. There are certain treatments available to help correct this.

If you are experiencing complete baldness in a band around your hairline that measures anything up to five inches deep, this is Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia. It is a form of scarring, or 'Cicatricial' Alopecia, in which the hair loss is caused by destruction of the hair follicles, often due to inflammation. The viable treatments for this condition are currently extremely limited although research is moving quickly into developing potential options with a new stem cell breakthrough in Japan proving extremely encouraging. Some doctors elect to treat frontal fibrosing alopecia with oral doses of finasteride 5 mg - this is not something we treat at Belgravia - but the most common option, in suitable cases, is hair restoration surgery.

We recommend you discuss the situation and your concerns with the person who prescribed your treatment and if you would like a second opinion, having a personal consultation with a hair loss specialist may be worthwhile.