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
Crown Thinning
Clinical Applications
Crown thinning refers to hair loss that occurs at the top rear portion of the scalp, often an early indicator of male pattern baldness.
Folliculitis
Clinical Applications
Folliculitis is the inflammation or infection of hair follicles, typically caused by bacteria, fungi, or physical irritation.
Hair Density
Clinical Applications
Hair density refers to the number of individual hair strands per square centimeter of scalp.
Lichen Planopilaris
Clinical Applications
Lichen Planopilaris (LPP) is a rare inflammatory condition that results in scarring alopecia.
