Finasteride
RxTargets the hormonal driver
An oral prescription treatment that acts on the DHT pathway involved in male pattern hair loss. Typically considered for ongoing, daily use.
Explore finasteride →Hair loss
Get ahead of hair loss.
Meet online with a licensed NORBU MD physician for $29 to understand what's driving your hair loss and which prescription treatment options may be appropriate.
$29 physician visit · 100% online · Board-certified physicians · Ongoing care
Prescription treatment requires physician evaluation and is provided only when clinically appropriate. Medication cost is separate.
Timing matters
The best time to treat hair loss
is before you're sure you have it.
- Treatment generally focuses on protecting the hair you still have.
- Follicles that have been inactive for a long time respond differently than active, miniaturizing ones.
- Pattern, density and timeline help your physician understand where you are in the process.
- Starting a conversation early gives you more options to discuss, not fewer.
Why it happens
Hair loss has a biology. Not a personality flaw.
Most male pattern hair loss involves genetics and follicle sensitivity to DHT, which can shorten the growth phase of the hair cycle over time. Other factors can contribute — which is exactly why a physician looks at the whole picture first.
- Genetics
- Pattern hair loss is strongly influenced by inherited sensitivity of follicles to hormones such as DHT.
- Hormones
- DHT can shorten the growth phase of the hair cycle and gradually miniaturize affected follicles.
- Age and timeline
- Pattern loss usually progresses slowly. How long it has been happening is clinically meaningful.
- Stress and illness
- Significant stress, illness or surgery can trigger diffuse shedding that behaves differently from pattern loss.
- Nutrition and thyroid
- Iron status, thyroid function and other medical factors can contribute to shedding and are worth reviewing.
- Medications
- Some medications can affect hair. Your physician reviews your full medication list as part of the evaluation.
This information is educational and is not a diagnosis. Only a licensed physician who has evaluated you can discuss what may be contributing to your hair loss.
Hair treatments
Different pathways. One physician-led plan.
Hair loss treatments work on different mechanisms. Your NORBU MD physician stages your loss and helps determine which approach may be appropriate for you.
Minoxidil
RxSupports the follicle directly
Applied to the scalp — or, in some clinical situations, prescribed orally. Topical and oral minoxidil are different treatment decisions with different regulatory and safety considerations.
Explore minoxidil →
Customized combination treatment
RxMore than one pathway, when appropriate
Hair loss often involves more than one mechanism. Your physician may consider a customized formulation that addresses multiple pathways when clinically appropriate.
Customized (compounded) formulations are prepared by a pharmacy for an individual patient and are not FDA-approved products. Availability depends on physician judgment and clinical appropriateness.
Discuss with a physician →Exploring a treatment tells your physician what you're interested in. It does not mean a prescription will be written. Treatment is subject to physician evaluation and clinical appropriateness.
Compare approaches
Which hair loss approach fits you?
Finasteride
How it's used
Acts on the hormonal (DHT) pathway associated with pattern hair loss
Often considered by patients who
Want to address a hormonal driver of loss and are comfortable with a daily oral treatment
Minoxidil
How it's used
Supports hair growth at the follicle; used topically or, off-label, orally when prescribed
Often considered by patients who
Prefer a topical routine, or are combining approaches under physician guidance
Customized combination
How it's used
Physician-directed formulation addressing more than one pathway
Often considered by patients who
Have discussed multi-pathway treatment with a physician who determined it may be appropriate
This comparison is educational. It is not a ranking, and it does not indicate that any option is stronger, safer or better than another — or that any treatment is appropriate for you.
Not sure? Let a physician help →Simple. Online. Physician-led.
$29Physician visit
Start before you lose more.
For $29, meet online with a licensed NORBU MD physician to review your pattern, your history and the treatment options that may be appropriate for you.
Start my $29 visit →100% online · Board-certified physicians · Ongoing support
Medication and laboratory costs, if applicable, are separate.
- 01
Share your history, pattern and goals online
- 02
Meet with a licensed NORBU MD physician
- 03
Review treatment options that may be appropriate
- 04
Get a plan, then follow up as your hair changes
What to expect
Real timelines. No retouched promises.
01
Early months
Hair biology moves slowly. Most treatment approaches are evaluated over months, not weeks.
02
Shedding can happen
Some people notice temporary shedding after starting treatment. Tell your physician if you do.
03
Consistency matters
Results depend on consistent use as directed. Stopping treatment generally means losing any benefit gained.
04
Review and adjust
Your physician reviews how treatment is going and can adjust the plan when clinically appropriate.
Individual results vary. No treatment guarantees regrowth, and outcomes depend on the type of hair loss, how long it has been present and consistent use as directed.
Safety matters
Hair loss medication isn't right for everyone.
Finasteride and topical minoxidil have risks, warnings and handling requirements. Your physician reviews your medical history and full medication list before any treatment decision.
- Finasteride is not for use by women who are or may become pregnant, and pregnant women should not handle crushed or broken tablets.
- Sexual side effects have been reported with finasteride. Discuss any symptoms with your physician.
- Finasteride can affect PSA levels used in prostate cancer screening. Tell any clinician who orders that test that you take it.
- Topical minoxidil can cause scalp irritation, dryness or unwanted hair growth in areas of contact.
- Sudden, patchy or rapid hair loss should be evaluated — it may not be pattern hair loss.
- Tell your physician about all medications, supplements and health conditions before starting treatment.
Important Safety Information
Every prescription medication has risks, warnings, contraindications and possible interactions. Review the full prescribing information for any product prescribed to you, and tell your NORBU MD physician about all medications, supplements and health conditions before starting or changing treatment. Seek medical care promptly for any symptom that concerns you.
The NORBU standard
A hair plan should start with a physician.
Hair loss is medical care, not a subscription box. NORBU MD starts with a licensed physician who evaluates your health and helps determine which options may be appropriate for you.
- Evaluation before treatment
- Every NORBU MD hair plan starts with a board-certified physician reviewing your history — not a checkout page.
- Staged, not guessed
- Your pattern and timeline are assessed before treatment options are discussed.
- Honest about outcomes
- No guarantees, no retouched before-and-afters. Just what treatment can and cannot reasonably do.
Questions
Hair loss treatment, answered.
What causes male pattern hair loss?
Pattern hair loss is largely genetic and involves follicle sensitivity to DHT, a hormone that can shorten the hair growth cycle and gradually miniaturize affected follicles.
Is hair loss reversible?
It depends on the type of loss and how long it has been happening. Treatment generally focuses on slowing further loss and supporting the hair you still have. Only a physician who has evaluated you can discuss what is realistic in your case.
How early should I start treatment?
Many clinicians consider hair loss easier to address earlier, because active follicles respond differently than follicles that have been inactive for a long time. A physician can help you understand where you are.
How does finasteride work?
Finasteride acts on the pathway that converts testosterone to DHT, the hormone associated with pattern hair loss. It is a daily oral prescription medication.
How does topical minoxidil work?
Minoxidil is applied to the scalp and is thought to support follicular activity and blood flow at the follicle. It is used consistently over time.
Can I use finasteride and minoxidil together?
Some patients are treated on more than one pathway. Whether a combination is appropriate for you is a clinical decision made by your physician.
How long before I might notice a change?
Hair biology is slow. Treatment is usually evaluated over several months rather than weeks, and results vary from person to person.
Will I shed hair after starting treatment?
Some people notice temporary shedding when starting treatment. Tell your physician if it happens so they can review it with you.
What happens if I stop treatment?
Benefits from hair loss treatment generally depend on continued use. If treatment stops, hair loss typically resumes its previous course.
Are there side effects?
Yes. Finasteride has reported sexual side effects and other risks, and topical minoxidil can cause scalp irritation. Your physician reviews risks with you before any treatment decision.
Does finasteride affect PSA testing?
Finasteride can lower PSA levels used in prostate cancer screening. Tell any clinician who orders that test that you take finasteride.
Can women use these treatments?
Finasteride is not for use by women who are or may become pregnant, and pregnant women should not handle crushed or broken tablets. Hair loss in women should be evaluated individually by a physician.
Is my hair loss definitely pattern hair loss?
Not necessarily. Sudden, patchy or rapid loss can have other causes, including thyroid issues, iron deficiency, medications or scalp conditions. That's part of what a physician evaluates.
Do I need blood work?
Sometimes. If your history suggests a contributing factor such as thyroid or iron status, your physician may recommend laboratory testing. Laboratory costs are separate.
What does the $29 visit include?
The $29 fee covers the physician visit. Medication, pharmacy and laboratory costs, if applicable, are separate.
Am I guaranteed a prescription?
No. Prescription treatment is provided only when a board-certified physician determines it is clinically appropriate for you.
Do I need insurance?
No. The $29 visit is paid directly and does not require insurance.
Is this available in my state?
NORBU MD has physician coverage in 47 states (not Alaska, Mississippi or New Jersey). Treatment depends on your physician's evaluation.
What is a compounded or customized formulation?
A compounded medication is prepared by a pharmacy for an individual patient. Compounded formulations are not FDA-approved products and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or manufacturing quality in the same way approved products are.
Can my plan change over time?
Yes. Hair care is ongoing. Your physician can review how treatment is going and adjust the plan when clinically appropriate.
Hair loss resources
View all articles →
Staging hair loss before treating it
Pattern, timeline and contributing factors decide which pathway your treatment should target.
4 min read
Finasteride vs. minoxidil
Two different mechanisms, two different treatment considerations — and why it isn't always either/or.
Comparison guide
Finasteride: how it works
What the DHT pathway has to do with pattern hair loss — and what treatment can reasonably do.
Treatment guide
Topical minoxidil, explained
How a topical approach supports the follicle, and what consistency has to do with results.
Treatment guide
Sources & medical references
- Hair Loss (Alopecia) — Overview — National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH)
- Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drug Products — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Keep more of it.
Starting today.
Meet online with a licensed NORBU MD physician and find out which hair loss treatment options may be appropriate for you.
Online · Physician-led · $29 visit