Common Topical Finasteride Side Effects
There are quite a number of nice hair loss treatments, and also, there are ineffective ones. Hair loss treatments come in different forms and shades. One of them is the topical form, and this is produced as creams, gels, or soaps.
Topical finasteride treatments are often used to treat hair loss or infections in specific places. This form of treatment has gained popularity over the years, especially among men who are looking to revive their hair.
Suppose you are about 30 with quite a huge degree of hair loss or a large decrease in hair mass, this could could be traced back to male pattern baldness and androgenetic alopecia which are the number one forms of hair loss common to men in the age bracket of thirty and above.
According to research, Male Pattern Baldness is the most hair loss dysfunctionality that affects almost two-thirds of men. For some, it starts earlier. Furthermore, male pattern baldness is often initiated by a hormone known as Dihydrotestosterone. This hormone causes thin and fragile hair. Not only that, but it also causes hair to lose strength and firmness.
When all these are missing, the recipient loses hair. In the case of hair loss, finasteride is quite effective as it has been proven over time to prevent hair loss and baldness. This makes a lot of men fall in love with it as it is the first go-to in treating hair loss.
The effects topical finasteride has therapeutically on hair loss are high and commendable as it has been designed to reduce hair loss to the barest minimum. This gives a ray of hope to people that plan on revamping their hair.
The result of the different studies carried out on the effectiveness of topical finasteride proves that it is safe, and secure to use.
Note that before the popularity of topical finasteride treatments, oral Finasteride was in vogue for persons trying to revamp their hair and this has been quite effective over the years.
When using oral finasteride, you cannot rule out some side effects that can occur. Somehow, this is typical of most of the drugs and health products we have around.
There is hardly any drug or health product without side effects, perhaps, when it is overused. Most times, when some persons have some side effects after taking topical finasteride, they tend to halt their treatments abruptly, or perhaps, stop treatment altogether. As stated above, only a few of the persons utilizing tropical finasteride ever complain about its side effects.
In addition, it is advisable that persons that are below 18 should not consider taking on tropical finasteride. You could try out some other good products till you are old enough to use topical finasteride.
Some people opt to take an oral DHT Blocker, like HAIRIFNITY DHT Blocker and Healthy Hair Formula. This enriched formula features Saw Palmetto, a powerful DHT blocker, clinically proven to help stop hair loss and promote hair regrowth. Also includes Biotin which promotes the growth and maintenance of existing hair.
How Does Topical Finasteride work?
In a report gathered from the journal of Plastic and reconstructive surgery, baldness in men is caused by the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is a major androgen, the male sex hormone. Men with quite high DHT levels often have their hair on the scalp reduce, which induces baldness.
However, topical Finasteride plays the role of an inhibitor which prevents the rate at which the testosterone converts to dihydrotestosterone as this prevents men from losing more hair which may occur from the root. Moreso, oral finasteride works by having effects on crucial parts of the system. For example, every part of the body has a feel of it by absorbing it. The skin, hair, liver, and so on.
Topical finasteride on the other hand gives some sort of fair treatment. It has a reduced absorption rate when a comparison is done with the oral treatment. As approved by the FDA as one of the best hair loss remedies, it has a huge ability to halt hairlines that decrease, thereby helping to make them grow.
However, oral Finasteride has been proven to be the formula for ensuring hair is regained and alongside topical Minoxidil, they are globally known to be the best products for hair loss in men. However, there are pieces of evidence and proof to suggest that topical Finasteride could also be of great assistance where oral finasteride stops.
To help you know how both the topical and oral finasteride work, here are a few reasons. Whether topical or oral Finasteride, whichever one you have chosen, the process seems to have been the same. Finasteride works by inhibiting the production of the hormone which happens to be a by-product of testosterone that damages hair follicles, causing them to miniaturize and gradually disappear. Those men with naturally higher levels of DHT are more likely to lose their hair. With consistent use and a combination of other treatments, Finasteride can have a positive impact on your hair loss.
Oral tablets are the most common method of consuming Finasteride and are often paired up with other medications to maximize the results of hair growth. As mentioned previously, oral tablets are easier to consume than topical Finasteride and only need to be taken once a day. In terms of side effects, less than 4% of oral Finasteride users experience mild symptoms, which will stop after stopping use.
There are also a variety of studies that have found evidence of oral Finasteride’s use, especially in combination with topical finasteride. A group of researchers discovered that 84.44% of participants who used this combination managed to maintain a good hair density throughout the trials. Whether oral or topical, Finasteride has evidence to back up its effectiveness.
Oral Finasteride in combination with 5% topical minoxidil solution is the most effective treatment for hair loss in males and in the majority of cases is the 1st line and most effective treatment plan. Our topical Finasteride comes in the form of a spray, which should be applied to your whole scalp (especially where thinning is most prominent) on a daily basis.
While it may not be as simple as taking a daily tablet, topical Finasteride spray is still easy to apply to your scalp. However, unlike oral Finasteride, the spray is a combination of both Minoxidil and Finasteride, which happens to be the most effective way to combat hair loss. Rather than taking an oral Finasteride tablet and Minoxidil solution separately, our spray brings both together. But what does the science say about topical Finasteride?
In another review, topical Finasteride in the treatment of hair loss found that there was a ‘significant decrease in the rate of hair loss among the participants. While there’s no doubt that more research needs to be done into topical Finasteride, the study observed that its use was both ‘safe and promising’. Finally, the study also showed that topical Finasteride appeared to minimize the unwanted systemic side effects associated with oral use.
While these oral Finasteride side effects are undeniably rare, topical Finasteride may lower the risk in comparison but oral finasteride is still the clinically most effective option. Remember - whichever Finasteride type you choose, consistency is key if you want the best results. We suggest combining your daily application or consumption with other parts of your daily routine, in order to build up that consistency over the months.
The Side Effects of Topical Finasteride
In some other studies, there have been reports of very few side effects of topical finasteride, which include lightheadedness, headaches, conjunctivitis, and oropharyngeal pain.
Moreso, a study recorded in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics compared the effects of topical finasteride with oral finasteride. This study was done on twenty four men with androgenetic alopecia. The men that used 1ml of topical finasteride on their scalps for a week showed similar results to the men that applied 1mg of oral finasteride for the same period.
At the end of the study, it was discovered that the Scalp DHT was reduced by 68 percent to 75 percent in the persons that used the topical finasteride compared with 62 percent to 72 percent with the oral finasteride. Topical finasteride is also absorbed around 10-15 times lower than its oral counterpart. In another research, 20 men were grouped into three and administered topical finasteride once every day.
The persons administered the topical finasteride had lower DHT levels. Still on the side effects of topical finasteride, there have been occasional cases of alanine transaminase which happens to be quite a dangerous state where the liver is high alongside frequent daytime urination and testicular pain.
Here are other few side effects of topical finasteride:
- Mild burning sensation
According to a study carried out by a group of researchers, about two out of fifty-two patients administered topical finasteride complained about a mild burning sensation on their body. While this is not prevalent in every patient, other patients given topical finasteride could exhibit some other symptoms other than a mild burning sensation.
- Sexual Side Effects
This is one notable side effect of Topical finasteride. Studies have proven that the sexual effects of topical finasteride happen at the rates of 2.1% to 3.8%. What this translates into is simple. It simply means about 1 in 20 men that use topical finasteride experience these common side effects which includes erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, and ejaculatory dysfunction. However, over time, these side effects are temporary and could be corrected.
- Rashes and Swelling
Another common side effect of topical finasteride is the occurrence of rashes and swelling. For some persons, the use of topical finasteride induces the redness of the skin, bloating, and swelling of the face, hands, arms, legs, and feet. It also brings about skin rashes. While these could be less common side-effects, it could still be a sort of discomfort for persons using topical finasteride.
- Mental Health
Topical finasteride also has records of making some persons feel depressed and filled with anxiety. However, this is not totally true for some. According to reports, over 96 percent of topical Finasteride reports have little or no side effects at all but this cannot be true for all persons because of the differences that occur in persons. However, if you experience any side effects as an individual, it’s important to not panic as it is temporary. In the case it persists, you can decide to see a professional doctor for advice.
Conclusion
It should be noted that topical finasteride is still relatively safe to use compared to oral finasteride. If as a man, you are quite sensitive to DHT reduction, then, you may have some side effects. It should also be known that there exists no singular topical finasteride formula.
There are many different formulations in vogue. However, anyone using topical finasteride must know that its long-term effects are not popularized yet. There are millions of prescriptions for oral finasteride and at least one million men utilize it for treating hair loss.
However, physicians and patients need to be aware of the unknown side effects of using topical finasteride and to enlighten their patients on the minimal possibilities of side effects and that quite a small number of persons could encounter some side effects. Moreso, topical finasteride seems to be the first option for men seeking to restore their hair as it shows to have a track record of safety.
