Generally speaking, finasteride is stronger or more potent in that a much lower dosage is necessary to exhibit its effects. A paper from Food Science and Technology confirmed the therapeutic potential of saw palmetto. It also emphasized the importance of improving the saw palmetto extract formula in studies for more consistent outcomes (4). While finasteride and saw palmetto are widely used to manage prostate problems, studies comparing their effectiveness are lacking. You probably know it as one of the most popular ingredients in supplements that promote prostate health. Studies also show that 0.05mg has a significant impact on DHT, though not full strength.
CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) provides the option to elect favorable, low-risk, adjuvant and alternative therapies. Herein, we offer a widespread review of topical marketed formulations, natural products, and CAM treatment options for AGA. Available efficacy data show that finasteride is generally better at treating hair loss compared to saw palmetto.
When it comes to hair loss treatment, many people turn to medications like Finasteride to help combat thinning hair. However, for those looking for a natural alternative, Saw Palmetto may be worth considering. This plant extract has gained popularity in recent years for its potential benefits in promoting hair growth.
The Benefits of Topical Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto is believed to work by blocking the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can contribute to hair loss. By inhibiting DHT production, Saw Palmetto may help prevent hair follicle miniaturization and promote thicker, healthier hair growth.
Is Topical Saw Palmetto a Viable Alternative to Microdosing Topical Finasteride?
Some examples of these medications include aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, ibuprofen, enoxaparin (Fragmin), and others. Since saw palmetto may decrease blood clotting, men taking medications that also slow down blood clotting may need to avoid this supplement. On the flip side, saw palmetto is available in over-the-counter form, i.e., you don’t need a prescription. Sometimes it’s sold individually or combined with other prostate-friendly compounds.
While both Saw Palmetto and Finasteride are thought to target DHT, they work through different mechanisms. While Finasteride directly inhibits the enzyme responsible for DHT production, Saw Palmetto is believed to have a more indirect effect on DHT levels.
Some individuals may prefer Saw Palmetto as an alternative to Finasteride due to its natural origin and potentially fewer side effects. However, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your hair loss treatment regimen.
Continued research into drug-delivery, ideal topical concentration and application frequency, side effects and use for other alopecias will help to elucidate the full extent of topical FNS’ use. More large-scale and more extended studies are necessary to establish saw palmetto as first-line therapy for hair loss. Even though saw palmetto is widely regarded as safe, there are a few side effects that have been reported for both topical as well as systemic forms.
The usual terminal half-life of finasteride in men between 18 and 60 is five to six hours, but it is eight hours in men over 70. It is expected that hair growth will stop within a year of stopping systemic FNS treatment for AGA. Due to their sensitivity to sexually harmful side effects, male patients are generally unable to afford these side effects [5]. Although robust efficacy data are lacking, SP extract in either topical or oral formulations may have a role in the treatment of hair loss disorders such as AGA or TE, demonstrating modest improvement in hair regrowth. However, as many of the current trials are lacking in quality (descriptive, qualitative measures, small sample sizes, inadequate product content description, long-term results, etc.), the majority of outcomes should be interpreted with caution.
Figuring out the functional sequence alternate in or around the AR gene will lead to the dedication of the exact variation in AR proteins between bald and non-bald people. By this proficiency, treatments can be arranged that the point and reverse these inequalities, through that impeding exact hair loss mechanism. Now recent pharmaceutical treatments for androgenic alopecia do not mark the particular cellular mechanisms in this procedure. Rather they impede the activity of the enzyme which boosts the AR in the balding scalp, thus they are abolishable than curative, with different success rates. As a result, patients who do not see significant improvements in hair growth with conventional therapy often turn to CAM.
