Finasteride, the main ingredient in Propecia was first developed to treat and control benign prostatic hyperplasia BHP in men with an enlarged prostate, by shrinking the enlarged glands. It was noticed by researchers that it also helped to grow hair. Following extensive trials, a special lower dose formulation known as Propecia was developed for the control and reversal of hair loss.

The research doctors at Merck, who were familiar with the drug Finasteride, were enthusiastic over the way the drug formulation Propecia, interfered with the conversion of testosterone to another hormone called dihydrotestosterone or DHT. It was known that DHT reduces hair follicle activity, causing hair follicles to sprout thinner hairs, until finally no hair regrows.

Clinical studies showed that men taking 1mg of Propecia on a daily basis grew moderate to heavy amounts of new hair in a year. The results improved considerably after two years. It was not only Propecia’s ability to grow new hair that excited doctors. Evidence is available that Propecia prevented men from losing their hair. So although it may, in some cases, not provide a complete new head of hair, Propecia prevented men from losing what they had!

The development of Propecia was not intended to be a fast acting miracle cure. Patience must be exercised as it may take upward of three to four months before a new hair is noticed, the loss of hair did not happen overnight, and the reversal will take some time also. Similarly if you stop taking Propecia your new hair will, over time, again fall out.

Because Finasteride was originally developed as a drug to reduce the enlarging of the prostate gland, extensive research has been made into prostate cancer. In 2003, as a result of the Prostate Cancer Prevention trial, it seems to have been established that Propecia (Finasteride) is effective in reducing the risk of prostate cancer, offering benefits beyond that of appearance.