Is it smart to take finasteride for just minor recession or as a preventative?

[Axolotl]

Asking because I've read stories how young guys hop on finasteride as a prophylactic but it ends up making things worse for them.

[pkipling]

This is tricky, because Fin can cause a temporary shedding, so you may temporarily end up with less hair than you have now. There's also no guarantee to what extent it would help you, not to mention the (albeit small) risks involved with taking it. I think there are definitely circumstances where taking it as a preventative at the very first signs of MPB is a good idea. It really just depends on how young you are, what you think the likelihood is that your hair loss will progress and to what extent, how much your hair in its current state affects you, and how comfortable you are with the risks of side effects. These are all excellent things to discuss with a doctor, preferably someone who is very well versed in MPB, hair restoration, and can test the miniaturization levels of your hair to get a good idea of what the future of your hair looks like.
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I am a patient advocate for Dr. Parsa Mohebi in Los Angeles, CA. My views/opinions are my own and don't necessarily reflect the opinions of Dr. Mohebi and his staff.