Finasteride
PropeciaPubChem CID 57363 · 3D model
Drag to rotate. Scroll or pinch to zoom.
Blocks the enzyme that turns testosterone into a more potent hormone (DHT), which is what drives hair follicles to shrink in male pattern baldness.
How it works
Testosterone gets converted in the body into a stronger hormone called DHT, and in men who are genetically prone to it, DHT causes scalp hair follicles to shrink over time. Finasteride blocks the enzyme that makes that conversion happen, so DHT levels in the scalp and bloodstream drop sharply — about 65% within a day of taking a dose. With less DHT around, the follicle shrinkage that drives male pattern baldness is slowed or interrupted. It doesn't act on testosterone or hormone receptors directly — it just cuts off the supply of DHT.
What it’s used for
Used by men to treat male pattern hair loss, taken as one 1 mg tablet a day. It hasn't been shown to work for a receding hairline at the temples specifically, and it's not meant for women to use.
- Mechanism
- 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor
- Drug class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- Urology / Dermatology