What is finasteride?
Finasteride is an oral prescription medication that blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone linked to hair follicle miniaturization in male pattern baldness.
It is FDA-approved for treating androgenetic alopecia in men and can slow or even reverse hair loss in some individuals by reducing scalp DHT levels. Side effects are possible and should be reviewed with a physician.
Red light therapy is often used alongside finasteride to provide a synergistic effect — reducing DHT’s damage while enhancing follicular regeneration and cellular energy metabolism.
Related terms
Inflammatory Alopecia
Clinical Applications
Inflammatory alopecia is hair loss caused by persistent or chronic inflammation that damages or destroys hair follicles.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
Clinical Applications
PRP is a regenerative therapy that uses concentrated platelets to stimulate hair growth.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA)
Clinical Applications
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common hereditary form of hair loss characterized by gradual thinning of scalp hair.
Alopecia Areata
Clinical Applications
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes patchy hair loss when the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles.
