19-Year-Old Concerned About Finasteride Affecting Future Beard Growth

Treatments Finasteride
1

Hi everyone,
I’m 19 and have just started noticing early hair loss/thinning on my scalp. I’m planning to start minoxidil & finasteride since I caught it at a very early stage, and my family has a long history of male pattern baldness, so I know I need to act fast.

What’s worrying me is my facial hair. I barely have any beard or mustache yet — just light, thin hairs — but I come from a family (both sides) with very strong facial hair genetics. I’m Arab, and all my uncles and cousins have thick, full beards, so I know the genetics are there. I just feel like my own beard hasn’t “switched on” yet and still needs time to develop naturally.

I’m worried that starting finasteride now, since it lowers DHT, could interfere with this process and stop me from reaching my full beard potential. Has anyone here started finasteride young (before their beard fully came in) and noticed it affecting facial hair growth?

Any advice or personal experiences would mean a lot.

2

fin lowers DHT levels, which is necessary for managing hair loss due to AGA. While it’s true DHT contributes to beard development, there’s no strong evidence that fin affects beard growth significantly. Genetics play a key role, so starting fin early may not have a large impact on your facial hair. If you’re still worried, consider starting with min only and monitor your results. Check out The Beginner’s Guide for more on treatments.