Finasteride Shedding: Facts About This Phase of Treatment
Finasteride is a popular prescription treatment for male pattern baldness (also known as androgenetic alopecia).
But here’s the twist: When you first start taking finasteride, your hair might actually seem to shed more. Cue the panic, right? If the goal is thicker, fuller hair, why does it look like more is falling out?
This phenomenon is called finasteride shedding. While it can be unsettling, it’s typically a normal, temporary part of the regrowth journey. In fact, this side effect is often a sign that the medication is beginning to work.
In this article, we’ll explain what causes finasteride shedding, how long it usually lasts, and why it happens in the first place. We’ll also share tips to help you support your hair through the early stages of treatment.
Why Does Finasteride Cause Shedding?
To understand finasteride shedding, it helps to know how the medication works.
Also known by the brand name Propecia®, finasteride treats male pattern baldness. This hair loss medication is available as an oral and topical treatment.
Finasteride works by blocking the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. This enzyme is responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — a hormone that, while essential during puberty, can wreak havoc on adult hair follicles.
When DHT binds to receptors in the scalp, it can shrink hair follicles over time, leading to thinner strands and slower regrowth. Eventually, this leads to pattern hair loss, which often looks like a receding hairline or thinning hair at the crown.
By reducing DHT levels, finasteride protects your existing hair from this damage. One long-term study found that more than 99 percent of men who used finasteride saw no further hair loss over a 10-year period — a compelling stat, even if the results don’t appear overnight.
That’s where finasteride shedding comes in. In the first few months of treatment, it’s not uncommon to notice increased hair fall. And yes, we know — it’s confusing to see more hair in your brush when you’ve just started a treatment that’s supposed to stop shedding.
While the exact reason isn’t fully understood, experts think this temporary shedding may be related to the natural hair growth cycle.
Hair grows in a cycle made up of four phases:
Anagen phase, or the growth phase
Catagen phase, a transition phase
Telogen phase, the resting phase
Exogen phase, which is where hair sheds
At any given time, about 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is in the anagen, or growth, phase — which can last several years.
When DHT shortens this phase, fewer hairs stay in active growth, and more shift into resting and shedding phases prematurely.
Once you start taking finasteride, and DHT levels drop by as much as 70 percent in some cases, dormant follicles may be prompted back into the growth phase. To do that, they first have to shed the old, weakened hairs to make room for stronger, healthier ones.
It’s a bit like rebooting your hair cycle. The temporary fallout? Finasteride shedding. But the upside? A healthier scalp environment for future regrowth.
Finasteride is available in both topical and oral formats — and in case you’re wondering, both topical finasteride and oral finasteride can cause shedding.
Learn more about finasteride results.
Finasteride and Minoxidil Shedding
If you’re using both finasteride and minoxidil, you might notice more shedding than expected early on—and yes, it can be alarming.
Minoxidil, a treatment that stimulates hair follicles and boosts scalp blood flow, encourages hair to enter the anagen (growth) phase. It seems to improve blood flow in the scalp, which may provide your hair follicles with more nutrients needed for healthy hair growth.
Oral and topical minoxidil can be used to treat many types of hair loss, including male pattern hair loss. It may even promote hair regrowth.
Like finasteride, minoxidil can also trigger temporary shedding as it pushes out old, weakened hairs to make way for new growth. So, when both treatments are used together, the initial shedding may feel more intense.
This is often a sign that the medications are doing their job — essentially jumpstarting your follicles into a healthier cycle. The key is to keep going.
Stick with finasteride (and minoxidil) as directed. Most men begin to see improvements in hair density and growth within three to four months, with more noticeable results around the six- to 12-month mark.
Patience is part of the process — but you’re likely on the right track.
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How Long Does Finasteride Shedding Last?
The good news? The finasteride shedding phase doesn’t last forever.
For most men, any increase in hair loss after starting finasteride is temporary — usually resolving within a few months. During this early stage, you might notice your hair looks thinner in certain areas, particularly under bright lighting or when it’s wet.
But this initial shedding phase is typically followed by noticeable regrowth. In one clinical study published in the European Journal of Dermatology, men using finasteride for hair loss showed clear improvements in hair density after just six months of treatment.
Put simply: By the six-month mark, any extra shedding is often outweighed by new growth.
The same goes for minoxidil shedding, which usually subsides within a few months as hair follicles adjust to the treatment and re-enter the growth phase.
If you’re experiencing finasteride shedding, try not to panic. Stay consistent with your daily treatment, and focus on the long game. Over time, the thin spots you're noticing now may begin to fill in with thicker, healthier strands as your hair follicles regain momentum.
What if I’m Noticing Finasteride Shedding After a Year?
Some hair fall is normal. It’s common to shed about 50 to 100 hairs a day, according to the NHS.
But after a year of consistent finasteride use, you shouldn’t be shedding a significant amount of hair.
If you’re still losing hair after a year on finasteride, it could be that:
Your hair loss isn’t caused by male pattern baldness, but another type of hair loss. Remember, finasteride only helps with male pattern baldness.
You’re taking the wrong dosage or using it inconsistently.
You’re experiencing hair breakage and need to improve your hair care routine.
It’s a good idea to contact a healthcare professional. They can help identify the cause of your hair loss and revisit your treatment regimen.
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How to Cope With Finasteride Shedding
Are you worried about your hair shedding while taking finasteride? There are a couple of things you can do to improve your results and maintain hair growth.
Below, we’ve shared several tips that you can use to improve your finasteride results and more easily maintain any hair growth you experience while using this medication.
Use Finasteride With Minoxidil
Using minoxidil alongside finasteride may help maximise regrowth. Minoxidil (available as a foam or solution) works at the scalp level to stimulate follicles and encourage hair into the growth phase.
As mentioned, minoxidil can also cause temporary shedding. But in the long term, your hair will thank you for it.
In one study, nearly 94 percent of men using both treatments together saw improvements in 12 months. In comparison, that figure was 59 percent for men who only used minoxidil and 84.1 percent for men who only used finasteride.
We offer minoxidil serum online, as well as a convenient finasteride and minoxidil combo kit.
Use a Hair Loss-Prevention Shampoo
Washing your hair with a hair loss shampoo may help further prevent hair thinning and keep it in optimal condition.
Shampoos with ingredients like ketoconazole or saw palmetto may help maintain scalp health and reduce DHT at the local level.
However, it’s worth noting that although these ingredients appear to be effective, the scientific evidence for them isn’t as strong as it is for finasteride or minoxidil.
Take a Hair-Friendly Vitamin Supplement
If you have a deficiency in certain nutrients, it may lead to a form of temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium.
Try to eat a balanced, healthy diet full of foods that promote hair growth. And if you have a deficiency, take a supplement.
Supplements like biotin (vitamin B7) and other hair-healthy vitamins support the strength and resilience of your strands. They won’t reverse male pattern baldness, but they may help support hair health.
Take Photos to Track Your Progress
It can take up to one year for finasteride to produce significant results, meaning you’ll generally need to use this medication for some time before your hair loss stops and new growth occurs.
To keep yourself motivated, it can help to take photos of your hairline and scalp to stay on top of any changes that occur in your hair.
Our guide to taking finasteride before and after photos explains how you can keep track of new hair growth while using finasteride.
If You Smoke, Kick the Habit
Smoking isn’t just harmful to your heart and lungs — it can also damage your hair follicles and contribute to hair loss.
In fact, a study carried out in Taiwan found that regular cigarette smoking was associated with an elevated risk of developing moderate or severe hair loss in men. This happens because smoking can impair blood circulation and damage hair follicles.
If you’re a smoker, consider quitting. Not only can kicking the habit improve your general health — it may also help you to grow thicker, stronger hair.
How Long After Stopping Finasteride Will Hair Fall Out?
If you stop taking finasteride, the hair you’ve worked to preserve or regrow may not stick around for long.
Research has shown that once you stop taking finasteride treatments, your DHT levels return to normal within 14 days. You might notice renewed hair shedding within a few months of stopping finasteride, often reverting to their pre-treatment hair state within six to 12 months.
This happens because finasteride doesn’t cure male pattern baldness — it manages it. So when you remove the medication, the underlying cause (DHT) resumes its effect on your follicles.
If you’re considering pausing finasteride treatment, speak with a healthcare provider first. They can help you weigh the risks and benefits, and potentially explore other options to maintain your results.
Learn about coping with the side effects of finasteride.
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The Bottom Line on Finasteride Shedding
Finasteride is a clinically backed treatment for male pattern hair loss — and yes, finasteride shedding is a normal (and usually temporary) part of the process.
While early shedding can be disheartening, it’s often a sign that your hair follicles are shifting into a healthier growth cycle.
Key takeaways:
Finasteride shedding usually happens early in treatment. This temporary shedding is a sign that your follicles are shifting into a healthier growth cycle.
There are ways to enhance results. Try combining finasteride with minoxidil or other supportive products to support healthy hair growth.
Patience and consistency are key. With consistent use, many men see less hair fall and noticeable regrowth within six to 12 months.
Curious about your options? Explore our hair loss treatments or check out our guide to male pattern baldness for more support.
We offer finasteride as part of our range of hair loss medications, following an online consultation with a licensed healthcare provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.