In 5-year data, finasteride 1mg/day stabilised or improved hair in ~90% of men with AGA.

In 5-year data, finasteride 1mg/day produced these outcomes in men with androgenetic alopecia:

• 48% saw improved hair count vs. baseline • 42% saw stabilisation (no further loss) • 10% experienced continued loss despite treatment

Combined: roughly 90% of men maintained or improved their hair on finasteride over 5 years. The placebo arm continued progressive loss.

The drug doesn’t cure AGA. Stop it and the gains reverse over 6–12 months as DHT levels return to baseline. But for most men who stay on it, finasteride changes the trajectory.

Full comparison with dutasteride: regrowthindex.com/articles/finasteride-vs-dutasteride