Hirsutism, DHT, Finasteride, etc.

[str8flexed]

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So I know males with balding take Finasteride to lower DHT, and therefore "try" to grow more hair or prevent hairloss.

But women with hirsutism can also take finasteride to reduce hair growth?

The conclusion I found from googling is that DHT causes "male pattern hair growth." This would mean more hair on the face, chest, back, everywhere. This "male pattern" also includes male pattern balding. So, DHT would cause balding in men, and hair growth in women (and let's just assume they don't get to the male pattern balding part). Is this correct?

 

[McGillGrad]

You are focusing on a synthetic antiandrogen (finastride) instead of focusing on the mechanism of the drug (type II 5-alpha reductase inhibitor) and how the results affect the male and female hormonal axes in respect to the specific sites of action.

In other words, you are barking up the wrong tree with this question.

 

[str8flexed]

I don't understand. Finasteride inhibits 5-alpha reductase, so lowers the conversion of testosterone to DHT, so I always assumed DHT caused male pattern hair loss. However, when Finasteride is used in women, it reduces hirsutism?

Can you tell me how the male and female hormonal axis is affected?

 

[McGillGrad]

5-alpa-reductase inhibitors are not often used for hirsutism (although blocking DHT does prevent secondary male characteristics in females), because using an androgen receptor blocker (such as spironolcatone) is more effective at blocking all androgens instead of just blocking the conversion of free test to DHT.

In short, for females (where free testosterone is normally low) DHT = hirsutism
But for males (where free testosterone is normally high) DHT = male pattern baldness & BPH