If you’ve just been prescribed topical finasteride to treat your pattern balding, you may be confused about the best way to apply your treatment. Don’t panic, we’re here to help. Here are some of the most common questions we get about how to use topical finasteride treatment and some general pointers to help you make the most of your treatment.
What is topical finasteride?
You may have done your own research and already have an understanding of what topical finasteride is and how it works, but here's a quick refresher, just in case.
Finasteride is a medication belonging to the class of drugs known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blockers, or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs). This can sound intimidating, but it essentially means that finasteride blocks the enzyme that produces a hormone called DHT. In male pattern balding, this hormone plays a key role in the processes leading to hair loss. More specifically, in those with genetic susceptibilities, high levels of DHT at the scalp can cause the hair follicles to shrink and eventually fail to produce any hairs at all.
The word topical means that the medication is in a format that allows it to be applied directly to the scalp. Topical finasteride is sometimes preferred over oral finasteride for various reasons, including the fact that the medication can be applied directly to affected areas. It also may limit the amount of the active ingredient entering the bloodstream, which can help to reduce the risk of side effects.
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How to apply topical finasteride
Now that you’ve been prescribed topical finasteride for hair loss, it’s important to make sure that you’re using it correctly in order to get the most out of your treatment. Here’s some general guidance:
The first step is to press down once (all the way down) on the pump to dispense a single dose into the palm of your hand or onto your fingers. XYON’s bottles are designed to dispense a pre-measured amount of 1mL in every pump, so you don’t have to worry about using too much or too little.
Next, use your fingers to apply the gel directly to your scalp, focusing on your main problem areas (i.e., where you are experiencing thinning or balding). If you have long, curly or thicker hair, you might find it helpful to part the hair (you can even try doing this on slightly damp hair) before applying your treatment, to ensure that as much treatment as possible makes contact directly with the scalp. It’s important to avoid getting too much medication on the middle and/or ends of your hair since it needs to contact the skin to be effective.
Next, you should gently massage the product into your scalp with your fingertips for around 20-30 seconds. This ensures that the medication is spread evenly across the areas of the scalp that need it.
How often should I apply topical finasteride?
It’s important to follow the instructions of your prescribing physician when it comes to how often you should be applying your treatment. In some cases, doctors may ask patients to use their hair loss treatment less often, for example, every other day. Refer to your prescription for details.
In terms of when to apply your treatment, we typically recommend using your topical finasteride first thing in the morning. This is because it allows the medication to sit on the scalp undisturbed for as long as possible—at least 4 hours minimum. 8 hours is ideal.
You should avoid washing your hair soon after applying the treatment, since the medication needs time on the scalp to be effective. We also recommend that you avoid using the gel before bed, to prevent the risk of the medication transferring to your pillows and sheets and potentially, someone else. This is especially important if you have a female partner who could become pregnant because finasteride and related medications have the potential to harm a developing fetus. If accidental contact does occur, wash the skin immediately and thoroughly with soap and warm water.
If you miss a dose, don’t panic. We understand that it can be difficult to remember every day. Just note that you shouldn’t double up on doses. Simply continue to take your medication like you usually do, as soon as you remember.
It can be helpful to make your topical finasteride treatment a seamless part of your daily routine through techniques like applying it at the same time every day. Some people find it useful to apply their medication before brushing their teeth, since this is something you already do out of habit. Setting a daily reminder on your phone or even putting a sticky note reminder in your bathroom may also help you to remember.
After a few weeks, you probably won’t even have to think about it.
How long should you use topical finasteride?
Hair loss medication will only work for as long as you’re using it, so to maintain your hair growth results, you need keep taking topical finasteride indefinitely.
If you suffer from side effects or have any other concerns about taking topical finasteride, speak to your prescribing physician. They may be able to recommend adjusting your dose, alternative treatments or offer additional guidance in your hair loss journey.
How does XYON's topical finasteride work for hair loss?
As you might have noticed, there are countless options when it comes to choosing a treatment for hair loss. Since topical finasteride is not formally approved for the treatment of hair loss (it’s a compounded treatment that contains an FDA-approved medication), formulations can vary quite a bit.
At XYON, we carefully designed our topical finasteride to strike the right balance between safety and efficacy. Our solution uses special patented technology called SiloxysSystem Gel™ to deliver finasteride to your scalp in a controlled manner, with the aim of maximizing medication uptake by the hair follicles and limiting the amount of medication entering your bloodstream. Decreased absorption of finasteride has been associated with a reduced risk of experiencing side effects. Other topical treatments don’t feature these safeguards.
When developing our formulation, we also chose to avoid incorporating any short-chain alcohols, since these have been known to cause irritation and our goal was to create a solution that is comfortable to apply each day.
How to use finasteride and minoxidil together
A combination treatment approach for pattern hair loss has become more popular in recent years as emerging research suggests that it may be the most effective way to treat thinning hair.
Adding minoxidil into the mix can be beneficial because it treats hair loss using a different mechanism of action. While finasteride works primarily to target the hormonal causes of hair loss, minoxidil helps in several other ways including improving nutrient and oxygen flow to the scalp and encouraging hair follicles to spend more time in the active growth phase of the hair growth cycle.
But having to add another medication into your routine can feel like an inconvenience and for some, it might feel like more hassle than it’s worth.
This is why XYON has created a topical formula containing both finasteride and minoxidil in one solution. Compounded in the same SiloxysSystem Gel™ as our finasteride only treatment, topical finasteride and minoxidil can be applied in the same way to the scalp to deliver the benefits of both medications at once.
Takeaway
Applying your topical finasteride treatment should be easy. It starts with our air-less pump bottle, calibrated to deliver the right amount of treatment every time. The drip-free gel is then applied with the fingertips directly to affected areas of scalp, giving you complete control over where finasteride starts to work. Finally, the timed-released technology ensures that the right amount of medication is delivered throughout the day. With topical finasteride as part of your daily hair growth routine, better hair is just around the corner.
