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Finasteride

Ingredient · In our Finasteride Tablet, Follicle Fix and Hair Regrowth Capsule

Finasteride

Finasteride lowers DHT, a hormone made from testosterone that can slowly shrink hair follicles. It's approved for hair loss in men. For women it's an off-label option, and because of the risks in pregnancy it's generally used by women who can't become pregnant, such as after menopause.1,5

Abstract amber glass ring, illustrative ingredient artwork
Finasteride

Photos are illustrations, not the medicine. Finasteride is made in a lab.

Off-label, mixed evidence in women

Finasteride is FDA-approved for male pattern hair loss, and its label says it is not indicated for women.1 Prescribing it for women is off-label, which means it's a clinician's judgment call. The evidence in women is mixed, and we'd rather show you that than smooth it over. Our Follicle Fix and Hair Regrowth Capsule are compounded by a licensed pharmacy, and compounded versions are not FDA-approved.7

FDA-approved for this useWell studied, used off-labelEarly evidenceLittle or no human data

The studies below used FDA-approved products or other forms. Our compounded version hasn't been studied in trials, and results may differ.

What it is

An enzyme called 5-alpha reductase turns testosterone into DHT. In follicles that are sensitive to it, DHT can make each hair grow back thinner and shorter over time. Finasteride blocks that enzyme, which lowers DHT levels.1

Why it's in this product

Some hair thinning is driven by androgens like DHT. Finasteride targets that hormone side of hair loss, and it's often paired with minoxidil, which works in a different way.

Finasteride TabletFollicle FixHair Regrowth Capsule

What the studies in people show

  • Randomized trial1 mg didn't beat placebo after menopauseIn a year-long trial of 137 postmenopausal women, finasteride 1 mg a day did no better than placebo on hair counts, photos or scalp biopsies.3 A Cochrane review reached the same conclusion for the 1 mg dose.2
  • Uncontrolled studyHigher doses looked more promisingIn 87 women taking 5 mg a day for a year, hair density rose from about 90 to 107 hairs per square centimeter, and 81% looked improved in photos. There was no placebo group, so we can't tell how much of that was the drug.4
  • Randomized trialOn the scalp, paired with minoxidilIn 30 postmenopausal women, a scalp solution of finasteride plus minoxidil thickened hairs more than minoxidil alone over 24 weeks. No whole-body side effects were reported, but blood DHT levels did drop, so some of it is absorbed.5

What we don't know yet

A review of 65 studies found that most finasteride research in women focused on unwanted facial and body hair, not scalp thinning, and that longer, better studies are needed.6 The best dose for women, and how well it works long term, are still open questions.

Safety, in plain English

Finasteride must not be used if you are or could become pregnant, because it can harm a male baby's development. Pregnant women shouldn't even handle crushed or broken tablets.1 In the 5 mg study above, a few women reported headache, irregular periods, dizziness or extra body hair.4 The men's label also lists breast tenderness and, after approval, reports of depression and suicidal thoughts, so tell your clinician about any mood changes.1

A licensed clinician reviews your health history and decides whether finasteride is appropriate for you. Exploring it here never means you'll get a prescription.

Curious about finasteride?

Start with a free assessment. A licensed clinician reviews your health history and decides whether treatment is appropriate. No pressure, and no prescription unless it makes sense for you.

See Finasteride TabletHow care works

Sources

  1. U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. Propecia (finasteride) tablets: prescribing information. DailyMed
  2. van Zuuren EJ, et al. Interventions for female pattern hair loss. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;(5):CD007628. PubMed 27225981
  3. Price VH, et al. Lack of efficacy of finasteride in postmenopausal women with androgenetic alopecia. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;43:768-776. PubMed 11050579
  4. Yeon JH, et al. 5 mg/day finasteride treatment for normoandrogenic Asian women with female pattern hair loss. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011;25:211-214. PubMed 20569283
  5. Suchonwanit P, et al. Efficacy of topical combination of 0.25% finasteride and 3% minoxidil versus 3% minoxidil solution in female pattern hair loss: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2019;20:147-153. PubMed 30206824
  6. Hu AC, et al. The efficacy and use of finasteride in women: a systematic review. Int J Dermatol. 2019;58:759-776. PubMed 30604525
  7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers. FDA

Sources checked November 8, 2026. This page is general education, not medical advice, and it doesn't mean any treatment is right for you. Photos: Unsplash (Noah Grossenbacher, Amadej Tauses).