Propecia (Finasteride) was initially created and marketed to treat prostate conditions in men under the brand name Proscar. It was known to slow or even stop the formation of DHT, one of the main contributors to prostate cancer and male pattern hair loss.
Later research showed that only a 1mg daily dose of Propecia (Finasteride) was sufficient enough to control hair loss for nearly 83% of men taking it after two years of unstopped treatment. Since 1998 the pill that many people know of that has been marketed for hair loss in men is called Propecia. Propecia remains the only prescription drug currently approved by the FDA that is specifically made to treat hair loss in men. The reason that Propecia is approved only to treat men's hair loss is because of the dangers that finasteride can present to an unborn male fetus. There aren't many physicians who would prescribe Propecia to women, but women of child bearing age should consult with their physician before considering the use of this drug.
The main effect of Propecia is its ability to stop hair loss and maintain the hair coverage that is left. This is the reaon Propecia is very popular with younger males who want more control over their hair loss at an early stage. Of course, men of all ages use Propecia along with over the counter (OTC) hair loss treatments like Minoxidil to achieve a better results and to encourage new hair growth.
Propecia prescriptions work by interfering with the process of androgenetic hair loss which usually follows in this process:
1. High levels of an enzyme known as 5-alpha-reductase occur in cells of the hair follicle.
2. This enzyme converts testosterone into DHT.
3. DHT causes miniaturization of robust terminal hairs.
4. This results in fine, soft vellus hairs that provide limited scalp coverage.
5. The growth phase gradually shortens until these hairs are lost permanently.
Propecia also inhibits the formation of DHT as mentioned earlier in this article and over a period of several months Propecia also reduces the levels of DHT sufficiently enough to minimize its effects on the hair follicle. In other words,the less DHT you have in the scalp, the better for proper hair growth.
As with any drug, Propecia (finasteride) could cause minor side effects to a small percentage of users. The FDA clinical trials reported that about 2% of men using Propecia had varying side effects but that these tended to lessen as their body adjusted to the drug over a period of a few months. Although Propecia or cheaper generic Propecia versions can easily be obtained on the Internet, it's recommended that you seek the advice of your doctor to make sure it's right for your particular case.
