Androgenic alopecia, or more commonly known as male pattern baldness to common men, is a common condition found in men, particularly those who are in their late forties. This condition is brought about by the androgenic thinning out of hair follicles. The condition usually begins with hairs getting thinner, followed by hair loss at a much wider scale. This allows the scalp to be more exposed than it normally is.
Androgenic alopecia is hereditary which means that if a close male member of the family is suffering from the condition, say a father or brother, then there is a high chance that other male members of that family will be exposed to the same condition. Male pattern baldness usually starts during the late teens and becomes progressive at the age of forty and fifty. At the age of sixty, there will be a significant degree of hair loss with a possibility of even total baldness.
Each individual is different which is why some may take their hair loss very lightly and are not even the least bit affected by it, there are some however who are totally embarrassed of the condition they have. While there is really nothing to be ashamed of the condition as it is a hereditary trait, still, others go through great emotional distress with the mere thought of others seeing them bald. In fact, some even go through the state of depression due to this condition. It is somewhat fortunate for men suffering from this condition these days as there is now a cure that can totally prevent the progression of hair loss caused by male pattern baldness.
Finasteride is the generic name of the cure for male pattern baldness. Originally, finasteride, particularly the 5mg dosage, was made for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, it was found out that at much lower doses, 1mg to be precise, it serves as a cure for male pattern baldness. This side effect was discovered when patients taking the finasteride 5mg dosage reported the ceasing of hair loss and the growing of thicker hair. The discovery of this side effect proves to be a miracle cure for those who want to stop the progression of their pattern baldness.
Androgenic alopecia occurs due to the presence of high levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the scalp. This DHT is responsible for the androgenic thinning out of hair follicles. However, by inhibiting the enzyme that converts the hormone testosterone into DHT, you therefore stop the cause of androgenic alopecia at the root cause. This makes this drug truly effective in the fight against hair loss. Possibly the best thing about it is that it works 90% of the time regardless of race and ethnicity.
In order for finasteride to work effectively, you need to use it continuously throughout. The effects of it won’t even show until after about three months. This is because it usually take a longer period to keep DHT levels at low to allow hair follicles to recover and possibly grow back new hair. Ceasing the medication after several years of use just because you got your hair back growing normally the way it has always been means that after a couple of months, DHT levels will rise up again and thin out your hair follicles, going back to the balding phase again. This is why the use of finasteride should continue throughout for many years, as long as you mind not having any hair in your scalp.
Since the use of finasteride is considered a long term investment, the question is, is it all worth it? If having hair in your forehead means a lot and that you are not subjected to hair loss matters, then the answer would be a resounding yes. However, if you want to go cheap and not intervene whether you get bald or not, then the answer is a likely no.