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Answer · Hair Restoration

Can you use PRP and finasteride together?

Short answer

Yes, and many men do. Finasteride lowers DHT, the hormone that shrinks follicles, while PRP delivers growth factors to the follicles that remain. Dermatology reviewers advise continuing finasteride or minoxidil during PRP because PRP does not block the hormonal driver of pattern loss. Trials pairing PRP with minoxidil beat either alone; direct data on PRP plus finasteride are thinner.

By the Ultimate Male team · Updated October 8, 2026

Man running his fingers through his hair

Why combine PRP and finasteride at all?

Because they act on different parts of the problem. Male pattern hair loss is driven by DHT, a hormone made from testosterone that gradually shrinks genetically sensitive follicles. Finasteride slows that process, and PRP tries to strengthen the follicles that are still working.

Finasteride PRP
What it targets The enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT Weakened follicles in thinning areas
How A daily 1 mg tablet; the label reports about 65% DHT suppression within 24 hours Growth factors from your own concentrated platelets, injected into the scalp
Time to benefit Generally three months or more of daily use Usually measured at three to six months
If you stop Effect reverses within about 12 months Gains fade without maintenance

The figures for finasteride come from the Propecia label. The authors of a 2019 review of PRP studies recommend PRP as an add-on and encourage patients to continue topical or oral treatments such as minoxidil and finasteride, precisely because PRP does not suppress the hormonal side of pattern loss.

What do studies of combined treatment show?

Most of the combination research pairs PRP with minoxidil, and those results favor the combination over either treatment alone.

  • A 2020 study of 69 men split into PRP, minoxidil and combined groups found PRP beat minoxidil, and the combination beat both minoxidil alone and PRP alone.
  • A 2024 meta-analysis of 6 randomized trials with 343 participants found PRP plus minoxidil improved hair density and hair diameter more than either alone, with higher patient satisfaction.
  • A 2023 network meta-analysis of 27 trials ranked minoxidil plus PRP above minoxidil alone and PRP alone for density at 24 weeks, although minoxidil plus microneedling ranked highest of all.

For finasteride specifically, these pooled analyses do not answer the question, because they focus on minoxidil. The case for pairing PRP with finasteride rests mainly on their different mechanisms and on the reviewers’ advice, rather than on a large body of head-to-head data. That is worth knowing, and it is also why progress photos matter so much in a combined plan.

How is a combined plan usually staged?

A sensible combined plan sets a clear baseline, adds one change at a time where possible, and judges results on a fixed timeline. A typical sequence looks like this:

  1. Baseline. Photos in consistent light and, if shedding looks unusual, labs to rule out other causes.
  2. Medicine first or already in place. Many men are already on finasteride or start it after discussing side effects. The label notes that daily use for three months or more is generally needed before benefit shows.
  3. First PRP series. About three sessions a month apart, added while the medicine continues.
  4. Six-month review. Photos compared against baseline to decide whether both treatments are earning their place.
  5. Maintenance. PRP spaced out according to how well gains hold, with the medicine continued if you are tolerating it.

Your provider sets any medicine dose and schedule. Starting both treatments on the same day is common too, but it makes it harder to tell later which one is doing the work.

Mainly the side effects and one lab quirk. In the trials behind the Propecia label, 3.8% of men on finasteride reported a sexual side effect such as lower libido, erection problems or less ejaculate, compared with 2.1% on placebo. The label also lists reports of sexual problems that continued after stopping, and of depression and suicidal thoughts. Our answer on whether finasteride side effects are permanent looks at that evidence in detail.

Finasteride also lowers PSA readings, which matters for prostate screening; see PSA on finasteride. If you are considering a compounded topical version, know that the FDA flagged adverse event reports with those products in 2025.

How Ultimate Male builds a combined plan

PRP is the core of hair restoration at our San Gabriel and Downey clinics. If you already take finasteride, the provider factors it into your timeline and photos. If you are thinking about starting it, you get a straight conversation about benefits, side effects and the PSA effect, and the decision stays yours.

The consultation is an evaluation, so the plan you leave with may be PRP alone, PRP alongside a medicine, or a suggestion that something else fits better. For more on the two treatments head to head, read PRP versus finasteride, and for the pill itself, see finasteride for hair loss.

questions

Related questions.

Can you use PRP and finasteride together?

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Should I stop finasteride before a PRP session?
Not as a rule. The label notes that the effect of finasteride reverses within 12 months of stopping, so keep taking it as directed unless the clinician managing it tells you otherwise.
Can PRP replace finasteride if I get side effects?
It can be an alternative, but not a like-for-like swap. PRP does not lower DHT, so the underlying process keeps going and maintenance becomes more important.
Is topical finasteride a good partner for PRP?
As of the FDA's April 2025 alert, there was no FDA-approved topical finasteride, only compounded versions. That alert described adverse event reports with compounded topical products, so discuss it carefully before choosing it.

Sources

  1. Platelet-rich plasma for androgenetic alopecia: A review of the literature and proposed treatment protocol (2019) · International Journal of Women's Dermatology, via PubMed Central
  2. Comparative Evaluation of the Clinical Efficacy of PRP-Therapy, Minoxidil, and Their Combination with Immunohistochemical Study of the Dynamics of Cell Proliferation in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia (2020) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences, via PubMed
  3. Meta-Analysis of Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma Combined with Minoxidil for Androgenetic Alopecia (2024) · Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, via PubMed
  4. Relative Effects of Minoxidil 5%, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Microneedling in Pattern Hair Loss: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis (2023) · Skin Appendage Disorders, via PubMed
  5. PROPECIA (finasteride) tablet label · DailyMed, National Library of Medicine
  6. FDA alerts health care providers, compounders and consumers of potential risks associated with compounded topical finasteride products · U.S. Food and Drug Administration

This page is general education, not medical advice. A licensed clinician must review your symptoms, history and labs before any treatment decision. For chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of stroke or an erection lasting over four hours, call 911.

Keep reading

Answer How long does PRP take to work for hair? Expect months, not weeks. Shedding may ease within the first few months of monthly sessions, trials have measured density gains at three and six months, and improvement can keep building for up to a year. Answer How many PRP sessions do you need for hair loss? Most plans begin with a first series of about three sessions spaced a month apart; Ultimate Male typically starts men with three to four. Answer Is PRP for hair loss FDA approved? No. The FDA clears the centrifuge systems used to make PRP through its 510(k) device pathway, and nearly all are cleared for mixing with bone graft material in orthopedic surgery. Medication guide Topical Minoxidil for Men: Foam, Solution and Shedding Topical minoxidil is an over-the-counter, FDA-approved treatment for male pattern hair loss at the crown, sold for men as a 5% foam or solution. Treatment option PRP for diffuse hair thinning Diffuse thinning means hair is getting thinner evenly across the scalp rather than at the crown or temples. Article Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? The Study Behind the Myth There is no good evidence that creatine causes hair loss. The idea comes from a 2009 study of 20 rugby players in which DHT rose during creatine loading, but that study never measured hair.

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