The Dark Side of Finasteride and Minoxidil: Hair Growth Risks

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• Finasteride and Minoxidil are common treatments for hair loss, available as prescription pills or over-the-counter solutions, yet they may lead to adverse side effects.

• Finasteride may cause various side effects, including sexual issues like decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and low semen volume, as well as potential complications during pregnancy and inaccuracies in prostate cancer testing.

• Minoxidil's side effects may include skin irritation, eczema, allergic contact dermatitis, abnormal body hair growth, low blood pressure, dizziness, cardiac arrhythmia, and severe allergic reactions.

Finasteride and Minoxidil are popular medications used to combat hair loss. Finasteride, available as a prescription pill, and Minoxidil, accessible over the counter, come in the form of a solution or foam. Both of these medications help slow hair thinning and encourage hair growth. However, they act on the hair follicles in different ways and these treatments can come at the cost of some troubling side effects.

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Finasteride

Finasteride is an FDA-approved pharmacologic agent for treating benign prostate hyperplasia and androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) in men. Finasteride has also been used to treat signs of hyperandrogenism, such as hirsutism, and may be used in transgender women in combination with estrogen for its anti-androgen properties.

In the early days, Finasteride was used to treat benign prostate hyperplasia but was later discovered that the side effect of taking the medication was hair growth – and thus also used as an oral medication to treat hair loss. It was found that Finasteride works by stopping the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. Studies show that people with male pattern baldness have higher levels of DHT in the scalp. DHT causes miniaturization of your hair follicles, where hairs become thinner and shorter, eventually leading to hair loss. By blocking DHT production, finasteride helps slow hair loss and promotes hair regrowth. The results of Finasteride will gradually be seen after a continuous use for 3-6 months. However, once the intake of the medication is put to stop, your hair starts thinning and hair fall symptoms may return. As Finasteride works by inhibiting DHT, it is only effective for males.

Side Effects Of Finasteride

• Decreased libido or sex drive

• Erectile dysfunction

• Low semen volume

• Impotence

• Breast enlargement in males (gynecomastia)

• During pregnancy, it could cause the child to have abnormal genitals

• For prostate cancer patients, Finasteride could result in a false negative of prostate cancer detection

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Minoxidil

Minoxidil was originally designed as a “Antihypertensive” medicine for patients with hypertension. The main action of this medication is vasodilation – the enlarging of blood vessels which ultimately reduces blood pressure. It was however discovered to have the important side-effect of increasing growth or darkening of fine body hairs; this led to the development of a topical formulation as a 2% concentration solution for the treatment of female androgenic alopecia or 5% for treating male androgenic alopecia. The results of Minoxidil will gradually be seen after a continuous use for 3-6 months.

Minoxidil is usually not used for baldness at the front of the scalp or receding hairline in men, and it is not recommended for sudden or patchy hair loss, unexplained hair loss (e.g., if you have no family history of hair loss), or hair loss after giving birth. It is also not suitable for those who are 18 years old or younger. It is important to note that the measurable changes for hair growth disappear within months after the discontinuation of treatment.

The mechanism by which it promotes hair growth is not fully understood. However, it is speculated that, by widening blood vessels and opening potassium channels, it allows more oxygen, blood and nutrients to the follicle. This can also cause follicles in the telogen phase to shed, usually soon to be replaced by new, thicker hairs in a new anagen phase. Minoxidil needs to be applied regularly, once or twice daily, for hair gained to be maintained, and side effects are common.

Side Effects Of Minoxidil

• Irritation

• Eczema

• Allergic contact dermatitis

• Abnormal hair growth on the body (oral minoxidil stimulates hair growth throughout the body, potentially leading to increased hair on the arms, legs, chest, back, and face, especially in individuals with preexisting body hair)

• Low blood pressure (hypotension)

• Dizziness

• Lightheadedness

• Faintness

• Cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat)

• Severe allergic reactions (tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, swollen mouth and tongue)

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Choosing Safe and Natural Solutions for Hair Growth with Ooosh!™

When striving for lush and healthy hair, it's crucial to weigh the potential risks of Finasteride and Minoxidil for hair growth. Opting for natural and safe hair growth solutions, free from the potential side effects associated with these medications, offers peace of mind.

Our mission at Ooosh!™ is to deliver sustainable, non-invasive and pain-free solutions for natural hair regrowth, specifically tailored to combat hair loss. To uphold this commitment, our range of hair growth products and supplements is exclusively crafted with 100% natural and botanical ingredients.

Make a choice that brings you the desired results while keeping your health at the forefront of your journey. Never compromise on your health and safety. Contact us to find out what you can do about your hair loss naturally.

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This article has been authored by Ong, a licensed pharmacist and the director of Ooosh!™ Bangkok, set to launch in November 2023.