What is the difference between minoxidil and finasteride?

[jambri]

Often on this forum I see the following comments:

1. minoxidil encourages hair to remain in anagen for longer, and will increase the thickness of hairs, though does not address the *cause* of hairloss (DHT).

2. By contrast, finasteride will block the DHT from binding to the androgen receptor(s), thereby preventing hair loss in the first place.

So far so good, but it's not very easy to grasp what is being said to be honest. In layman's terms, what is the actual difference between each medication? i.e. what would you SEE if you could analyse the actions of finasteride versus minoxidil under a microscope at the follicular level?

I suspect that minoxidil will clear the DHT "build up" (or whatever it may be) from the follicle root, thereby allowing the hair to continue it's growth in an unrestricted way. I think the finasteride would help to prevent the build up of DHT, so the follicles are less likely to become clogged.in the first place.

If my simplistic idea about this is even slightly along the right lines, then why should anyone need to take finasteride, say, if minoxidil was doing it's job well for you?

 

[chuckfrasher]

Often on this forum I see the following comments:

1. minoxidil encourages hair to remain in anagen for longer, and will increase the thickness of hairs, though does not address the *cause* of hairloss (DHT).

2. By contrast, finasteride will block the DHT from binding to the androgen receptor(s), thereby preventing hair loss in the first place.

So far so good, but it's not very easy to grasp what is being said to be honest. In layman's terms, what is the actual difference between each medication? i.e. what would you SEE if you could analyse the actions of finasteride versus minoxidil under a microscope at the follicular level?

I suspect that minoxidil will clear the DHT "build up" (or whatever it may be) from the follicle root, thereby allowing the hair to continue it's growth in an unrestricted way. I think the finasteride would help to prevent the build up of DHT, so the follicles are less likely to become clogged.in the first place.

If my simplistic idea about this is even slightly along the right lines, then why should anyone need to take finasteride, say, if minoxidil was doing it's job well for you?

Finasteride blocks the formation of DHT. That's it. Minoxidil mimics the effects of nitric oxide which triggers regrowth. It's that simple.

 

[jambri]

it sounds like the mean effect on the follicle itself is more or less indentical then?

minoxidil clears the follicle to allow regrowth.
finasteride stops the follicle getting blocked in the first place.

Is this right? If so, minoxidil is definitely my preferred choice.

 

[techprof]

jambri, there is a catch there.
finasteride will stop dht for ever (if you keep taking it).
minoxidil will induce regrowth temporarily. You will not get the same growth for life with minoxidil, once dht creates the follicular fibriosis which is not reversible.
so you might a hair grown from minoxidil, once it falls, there is no guarantee that it will regrow.

 

[Bryan]

Let's do the drill one more time:

In my opinion, the best available evidence seems to indicate that minoxidil simply provides an offset of extra growth, without actually interfering with the fundamental balding process.

Finasteride, on the other hand, DOES interfere with the fundamental balding process. So in the long-term, finasteride will inevitably out-perform minoxidil. It's about as simple as that.

Bryan