Is Finasteride 1mg Suitable For Treating a Receding Hairline?'

Name: Ali


Question: I have a receding hairline and losing hair on top of my head I’ve been using Finasteride for a month! Do you think it could help?

Answer: Hi Ali, finasteride 1mg has been proven to be effective at blocking the hormone DHT, which latches on to follicles around the top of the scalp and hairline in cases of Male Pattern Baldness leading to thinning hair and hair loss. Whilst this is useful in treating hair thinning - like that which you say you are experiencing along your vertex - its efficacy in relation to treating a receding hairline is unknown.

There is another MHRA licensed and FDA approved treatment for male pattern hair loss besides finasteride 1mg - high strength minoxidil - which is applied topically to the affected areas of the scalp and encourages hair growth.

Particularly in relation to stubborn areas such as a receding hairline or a thinning crown, it may be useful to take a two-pronged approach, using both of these recognised medications.

Generally it is advisable to wait at least three-to-six months after starting treatment in order to see what results it starts to provide - though this timeline depends on how advanced the shedding was when treatment was first started.

This waiting period is because, due to the natural timing of the hair growth cycle, it is unlikely that you would see any significant progress before this. It is also worth noting that the temporal regions are the slowest areas of the scalp to regrow hair.

However, as you are only using one of the key clinically-proven treatment options, you can certainly explore adding in applications of high strength minoxidil, as well as additional hair growth boosters, at any time in order to help maximise your approach, should you wish.

If you would like any guidance as to what may be best suited to your specific pattern and level of shedding, a consultation with a hair loss specialist may be beneficial.