This isn't just limited to AGA treatment, but all medications come with side effects and carry risks to greater or lesser extent.
This time, we will talk about whether oral medication is necessary for AGA treatment.

Many people are resistant to taking oral medications 

Effective treatments for AGA include injections and oral medications,It seems that many people are resistant to drug treatment.
There are some preventative measures for AGA, such as head spa and scalp massage, but these only enhance the effectiveness of treatment and are not a substitute for treatment.

Since AGA is an incurable disease, once treatment begins, you will have to continue taking the medication unless you stop the treatment.
Many people are anxious and worried, saying things like, "I don't want to take that much medicine," or "Will it be harmful to my body if I keep taking this for the next 10 or 20 years?"

Types of oral medications and their effects 

Even if you consult with an AGA clinic or search online,Treatment for AGA is based on oral medicationI think you will say that.
The reason for this is that combining drugs with different functions can increase the effectiveness of treatment.

・Type of oral medication
Finasteride/Dutasteride: 5α-reductase inhibitors suppress the male hormones that cause AGA.
Minoxidil: Promotes hair growth

If you intend to undergo effective treatment, you will need to take two different types of medicine with different effects.
Especially if you are considering future treatment, I would recommend taking the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride.

▼If you would like to know more about AGA treatment drugs, please click here.

Why Finasteride is the cornerstone of AGA treatment

Many people may be wondering, "If the goal is hair growth, isn't minoxidil enough?"
Of course, using only minoxidil is not a bad idea, but as mentioned above,The two types of medication have different roles, and finasteride makes up for what minoxidil cannot do, so we recommend using them together for those considering AGA treatment.

・About taking minoxidil alone
Minoxidil has the effect of promoting hair growth, but it does not have the effect of preventing the progression of AGA, so even if you use minoxidil to promote hair growth,As AGA progresses, hair loss occurs.
To put it in a metaphor, if you keep pouring water into a bucket with a hole in it, you will not be able to fully experience the hair growth effects of minoxidil.

The reason water is leaking is because of a hole, so if you fill it with water while sealing the hole, the water will start to collect.
If it is hair, the root cause of AGA is male hormones, so firstTaking finasteride, which suppresses the progression of AGA, and minoxidil to promote hair growth will be more effective.Therefore, treatment using finasteride is said to be the basis of AGA treatment.

▼If you would like to know more about the basics of AGA treatment using finasteride, please see here.
 

 ▼The progression patterns of AGA are explained in detail in this video.

AGA treatment without oral medication

There are a certain number of people who do not want to take oral medication or who cannot take it at all.
Some people undergoing infertility treatment have been told by their doctor to refrain from taking the drug, and some athletes cannot take it because they believe it is tantamount to doping.

・AGA treatment other than oral medication
Even if you choose treatment other than oral medication after considering various circumstances,Injection onlyTreatmentBut it can be effective.
If you do not use oral medication, the synergistic effect will not be obtained as mentioned above, butInjections are a highly effective treatment, so if you continue with them once a month you will be able to see noticeable hair growth.

The importance of oral medication

・Basic AGA treatment plan
The most commonly used treatment plans for AGA are:For the first 1 months to XNUMX year after starting treatment, oral medication and injections are used in combination to slow the progression of AGA while increasing hair growth and volume.The mainstream method is to switch to oral medication alone to maintain that condition.

・The importance of continuing oral medication
AGA cannot be cured completely, so even if you continue treatment for a year,Once you stop, AGA will progress and your hair loss will return.
Taking oral medication is what allows me to maintain my hair volume.
In order to maintain the hair growth effect using injections alone, without taking oral medication, it is necessary to continue the injections regularly for the rest of your life.

▼If you would like to know more about oral medications for AGA treatment, please watch this video!
 

Summary

There are a certain number of people who cannot take medication for various reasons, who are worried about side effects and cannot take oral medication even if they have been told that it is safe to take the medication continuously, and who are resistant to it but would prefer to be treated with injections.

However, speaking from a doctor's perspective, in order to fully feel the effects of AGA treatment,I would like to inform you that unless there are special circumstances, it is essential that you take oral finasteride, which slows the progression of AGA.