Propecia (Finasteride) is the first and still the only FDA approved internal medication used to treat hair loss and balding in men. The only other FDA approved medication to treat hair loss is called Rogaine (minoxidil), which is applied topically to the scalp in the thinning areas.

Propecia was discovered to have hair restoration qualities quite by accident. Several years ago, patients taking a pill for prostate health were noted to be regrowing hair on their heads.

After noticing this, scientists discovered that the active ingredients in Propecia worked to block the production in the body of a certain hormone in the male body called dihydrotestosterone (also known as DHT). It has been shown that men who suffer from male pattern baldness have increased levels of DHT in their bodies. The DHT works somehow to cause the hair follicles to produce smaller and finer hairs, so that eventually, the thinning is noticeable and your appearance has changed.

The scientists are not sure exactly why Propecia works to control the levels of DHT, but the important thing is that Propecia works to safely and effectively help you to regrow your hair by blocking the DHT.

With the levels of DHT in your body returned to normal, your hair follicles are now free to operate in a regular fashion. They can produce strong, healthy, and thicker hair, so that your appearance is now back to normal before your hair loss started. In most cases, Propecia will help stop and reverse your hair loss, especially in the vertex (crown of the head) as well as the anterior mid-scalp area (which is the area from ear to ear along the top of your head).

PROPECIA ® is a registered trademark of Merck & Co, Inc.