FACT CHECK: Is finasteride really better than minoxidil for hair loss?
FACT CHECK: Is finasteride really better than minoxidil for hair loss?
Blog Article
FACT CHECK: Is finasteride really better than minoxidil for hair loss?
A randomized trial found that after one year, 80% of men taking finasteride experienced increased hair density, compared to 52% of men using a 5% minoxidil solution
Read here: https://firstcheck.in/finasteride-vs-minoxidil-best-hair-loss-treatment/
CLAIM: Finasteride is better than minoxidil for hair loss
FACT: Partly true. Studies do show that finasteride has produced better results than minoxidil, but both have different uses. Finasteride is useful to maintain existing hair and minoxidil is used to stimulate hair follicles for new hair.
Finasteride and minoxidil are the two most widely prescribed treatments for male pattern baldness. Recently a fitness influencer, Jitendra Chouskey, claimed on Nikhil Kamath’s WTF Podcast that he preferred Finasteride over minoxidil for its effectiveness in treating hair loss. He contended that minoxidil’s alcohol content might make it unsuitable for long term use. A person by Chouskey’s side bats for finasteride saying it is better at maintaining existing hair and preventing further loss.
“Finasteride, it’s for hair. No, not to reverse (hair loss). It’s basically a DHT Blocker. It protects what (hair) you have. Minoxidil is more like caffeine. It will stimulate hair follicles but the amount of alcohol they put in minoxidil is not good for you,” the video says.
Finasteride protects existing hair
Dr Sujay Khandpur, professor at the department of Dermatology and Venerology at AIIMS, New Delhi told First Check that the claim is partially true.
“Finasteride is an oral prescription drug that works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for shrinking hair follicles in genetically predisposed men,” Dr Khandpur explained. ” It targets to lower DHT levels, maintains existing hair and can even promote regrowth in many users.”
Minoxidil, he added, is a topical solution or foam applied directly to the scalp.
“It acts as a vasodilator, increasing blood flow and nutrient delivery to hair follicles, which stimulates hair growth and prolongs the hair’s active growth phase,” Dr Khandpur said.
Clinical studies consistently show that finasteride is more effective than minoxidil for male pattern hair loss. A randomized trial found that after one year, 80% of men taking finasteride experienced increased hair density, compared to 52% of men using a 5% minoxidil solution.
“Traditional minoxidil solutions use alcohol (ethanol or propylene glycol) as a copyright to help the drug penetrate the scalp,” Dr Khandpur said. “This might cause side effects such as dryness, redness, itching, and irritation, especially with higher-strength formulations. In practice we have seen that some users may develop allergic contact dermatitis from alcohol-based minoxidil.”
However, according to the dermatologist comparing minoxidil to caffeine is not entirely accurate.
“While both can stimulate hair follicles, minoxidil is a vasodilator that increases blood flow to the scalp, promoting hair growth and prolonging the growth phase of hair follicles. Caffeine-based topical products are marketed for hair growth, but minoxidil is FDA-approved and has more robust clinical evidence supporting its use,” Dr Khandpur said.
He continued: “Finasteride is more effective for maintaining existing hair, while minoxidil is a proven topical option for stimulating hair growth.”
Also read: Fact Check: Can drinking too much coffee trigger hair loss? — First Check
(Do you have a health-related claim that you would like us to fact-check? Send it to us, and we will fact-check it for you! You can send it on WhatsApp at +91–9311223141, mail us at [email protected], or click here to submit it online)
Report this page