What are finasteride and Regaine? 

Finasteride and Regaine extra strength foam for men (topical minoxidil) are two hair loss treatments that have been proven to help slow, and for some men, reverse hair loss.

Both finasteride and Regaine are two types of hair loss treatment, used to treat hereditary hair loss (male pattern baldness).

Finasteride contains the active ingredient finasteride. Whereas Regaine foam contains the active ingredient minoxidil. As this is a foam applied to the head, it’s sometimes called topical minoxidil.

Finasteride can only be obtained if you have a prescription, whereas you can buy Regaine over-the-counter. As this bundle contains both treatments, you will require a prescription if you wish to use the finasteride tablet and Regaine foam bundle to treat your hair loss.

What's the difference between finasteride and Regaine?

Finasteride (commonly known by its branded name, Propecia) is available as a tablet, which is taken daily to stop hair loss by blocking DHT. DHT is an enzyme that stops your hair follicles absorbing the nutrients needed for healthy growth. As well as stopping hair loss, taking finasteride can cause hair regrowth.

Regaine’s primary ingredient is minoxidil, which is available as both a foam and a liquid. This is applied to your head twice a day to help reverse hair loss. It can promote hair growth by improving blood flow to your hair follicles, which stimulates them into a ‘growth phase’.

Can you use finasteride tablets and Regaine foam at the same time?

Yes, using both treatments together might help tackle your hair loss in different ways.

Finasteride and minoxidil are commonly used together for hair loss, and there’s no evidence to suggest any negative interactions when using the two treatments at the same time.

How do finasteride tablets and Regaine foam work together for hair loss?

By taking finasteride and using Regaine together, you’ll be treating your male pattern baldness from two different angles. Research has shown that combining treatments can be more effective than relying on just finasteride or Regaine alone to treat pattern hair loss.

How does finasteride work?

Finasteride works by:

• Blocking DHT (a hormone which affects hair follicles and causes hair loss)
• By reducing the effect of DHT, the hair follicles can return to a normal growth cycle
• This slows (and in some cases can reverse hair loss)

How does Regaine work?

The active ingredient in Regaine, minoxidil, works by:

• Increasing blood supply to the hair follicles
• The expanded blood supply increases the flow of nutrients and stimulates growth.  

How effective are Finasteride and Regaine (topical minoxidil) together?

There’s no evidence yet to suggest the combined effectiveness of using finasteride and Regaine for men together. But we do know that these treatments work:

• Finasteride has been shown to be effective in slowing hair loss in up to 90% of men
• Finasteride effectiveness means two thirds of men will see regrowth (over two years)
• Regaine extra strength foam for men, which contains topical minoxidil, can also help reverse hair loss in 9 out of 10 men

How to use finasteride

Finasteride is a tablet which you take daily – as soon as you stop taking it, it effects will stop, and your hair loss will resume.

How to use Regaine

Regaine extra strength foam for men is applied to the scalp twice a day. You massage it onto any exposed scalp and once it’s dry, you can simply style your hair as normal. Like with finasteride, as soon as you stop using the treatment, it will stop having an effect and hair loss will return.

How long should I take finasteride and Regaine?

• When will my hair start to grow back?

  As finasteride and Regaine are two separate treatments, you’ll see results from each at different times.

• How long does finasteride take to work?

  You can generally expect to start seeing results from finasteride after 3-6 months

• How long does Regaine take to work?

  Regaine can take up to 16 weeks to start showing hair growth (though some men have seen results in 8 weeks)

• Will finasteride and Regaine work faster if I increase the dosage?

  Do not increase the amount of Regaine or finasteride you are taking – this will have no effect on how quickly they work and will increase your risk of experiencing side effects.

• How long should I keep using finasteride and Regaine?

  Neither finasteride or Regaine will offer instant results. It’s important to be patient and give any new hair time to grow. That being said, if you haven’t seen any results after the following time frames it is unlikely that the treatments will work on your hair loss:

  • Finasteride - One year
  • Regaine - 16 weeks

  “Finasteride and Regaine, while effective, will not provide immediate hair growth – in finasteride’s case it can take up to a year to see the final results. It might be dispiriting, but stay patient to see the potential benefits of these treatments” - Dr Bhavini Shah

Potential side effects of using finasteride and Regaine

Use of both finasteride and Regaine can results in potential side effects - we've collected some of the most notable in the table below:

For more information on side effects, please consult the patient information leaflets for both finasteride and Regaine.

There is currently no evidence to suggest that use of finasteride will increase the likelihood of patients suffering potential Regaine side effects, and vice versa.

If you are experiencing side effects from using either finasteride or minoxidil, please talk to your GP. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms please stop taking finasteride and Regaine and talk to your GP immediately:

• Allergic reaction symptoms (facial swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, hives)
• Depression or suicidal thoughts
• Changes in breast tissue (lumps, pain, enlargement)
• Chest pain
• Low blood pressure
• Fast heartbeat or palpitations
• Faintness or dizziness
• Sudden unexplained weight gain
• Presistent local redness or rash
• Change in hair colour or texture
• Hair loss for longer than two weeks
  

What to avoid when taking finasteride and Regaine together

Please avoid the following when using Regaine:

• Shampooing your hair for up to four hours
• Using any other skin products on the treatment area
• Using Regaine on a sunburned area
• Shaving your scalp
• Applying hair products to unwashed hair
• Using Regaine 24 hours before and after a hair treatment procedure

Currently there are no foods, drinks or treatments that will change the safety and potency of finasteride tablets. However, the NHS has reported that taking St John’s wort (a herbal remedy for depression) can stop finasteride from working as well as it is supposed to.

Please talk to your GP if you are taking any other treatments alongside the finasteride and Regaine bundle.