hair
Finasteride (Oral)
The most effective preventive treatment for male-pattern hair loss. Talk to a physician about side-effect profile.
Evidence grade A
Multiple randomized controlled trials / meta-analyses
Mechanism
5α-reductase type II inhibitor — lowers scalp DHT ~60%, removing the androgenic signal that miniaturizes follicles.
Citations
- Long-term (5-year) multinational experience with finasteride 1 mg in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopeciaEuropean Journal of Dermatology · 2002
The full read
Five-year controlled data: ~90% of men maintained or improved hair counts versus 25% on placebo. Sexual side effects occur in a small minority (2–4% in trials) and typically resolve on discontinuation; discuss risks with a doctor rather than internet anecdotes in either direction. Prevention beats regrowth — starting early preserves far more hair than any later intervention recovers.
Aesthetic information, not medical advice. Verdicts reflect the cited evidence at time of writing.