Topical finasteride is a version of finasteride you apply directly to your scalp — while it doesn’t currently have FDA approval, it’s becoming increasingly popular.

Topical finasteride isn’t the only topical solution for hair loss. Minoxidil, the other FDA-approved treatment, stimulates hair growth by encouraging blood flow to your hair follicles.

While they serve similar purposes, they belong to separate drug classes and work in different ways. Minoxidil is a vasodilator, whereas finasteride is a 5a-reductase ...

According to NYU Langone, more than 80% of men and nearly half of women experience hair loss at some point in their lives. But with so much info out there, figuring out which remedies are most ...

Topical finasteride works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone primarily responsible for male pattern hair loss.

Moreover, the use of non-FDA-approved topical Finasteride has been a contentious issue in the hair loss community due to potential side effects such as scalp irritation, itching, and dryness.

Second, the use of finasteride (oral and topical) and oral minoxidil to treat female pattern PHL is off label in the U.S. Topical finasteride is neither approved nor commercially available in the US.

The FDA issued an alert warning of potential serious risks associated with the use of compounded topical finasteride, which is marketed to treat hair loss but does not have agency-approved ...

The FDA has not evaluated the safety or effectiveness of topical finasteride. Between 2019 and 2024, 32 cases of adverse events linked to compounded topical finasteride were reported to the FDA ...

The hims Topical Finasteride & Minoxidil Spray is the brand’s No. 1 best-seller that’ said to help “stop hair loss and regrow hair in one step.” ...