Finasteride Beard: Does It Help Beard Growth?

So, you’re proactively keeping your hairline intact with finasteride or considering asking for a prescription from your healthcare provider. Good call. But now you’ve got another hairy question on your mind about possible finasteride beard effects: Does finasteride affect beard growth?

If you take finasteride for hair loss, it makes sense to wonder whether it’ll affect your beard. While there’s nothing to suggest that finasteride slows beard growth, it also probably won’t boost beard growth. Minoxidil for beard growth might be more promising.

Below, we’ll get clear on what finasteride does and doesn’t do for facial fuzz.

Finasteride (sold as Propecia^®) is a medication prescribed to slow down hair loss from male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia).

As an FDA-approved hair loss treatment, finasteride works by blocking an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase (5AR), which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the hormone primarily responsible for genetic hair loss on the scalp.

DHT causes androgenetic alopecia because it attaches to receptors in the scalp and miniaturizes hair follicles. Over time, hair follicles get smaller and smaller until the hair they produce is so fragile and thin that it can’t penetrate the scalp — so it can’t grow.

The result? Male pattern hair loss, which usually starts with thinning hair on the crown or a receding hairline.

Because finasteride reduces DHT levels, it can treat male pattern hair loss.

Finasteride is also prescribed for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). For this purpose, the brand name is Proscar^®.

You might think that if finasteride promotes scalp hair growth, why wouldn’t it give your beard the same VIP treatment?

Unfortunately, hair growth isn’t quite that straightforward. Facial hair and scalp hair don’t play by the same hormonal rules.

Here’s the kicker: Although DHT can cause scalp hair loss on the head, it doesn’t affect the beard.

This means that finasteride and other DHT blockers can’t directly help beard growth because beard hair loss isn’t caused by DHT.

So, does finasteride help beard growth? The short, clinically backed answer is no.

Probably not.

Since finasteride reduces levels of DHT, it’s fair to wonder if it might negatively impact beard growth. Fortunately, facial hair growth is primarily driven by testosterone, not DHT.

Clinical research hasn’t shown that finasteride significantly slows beard growth or thickness.

Research on Finasteride Beard Growth

A 2024 retrospective trial looked at the effects of finasteride and dutasteride (another DHT blocker) on beard hair growth. It found that neither seemed to impact facial hair growth.

However, some anecdotal stories float around online with guys claiming finasteride changed their beard’s growth pattern. Despite these personal reports, there’s no solid scientific evidence proving finasteride negatively impacts facial hair density or growth rate.

In short: Clinically speaking, finasteride doesn’t slow beard growth. But if you’re on finasteride and have noticed some beard thinning, it might be a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional — they can help you figure out the cause of it.

It’s worth mentioning that finasteride, like all other medications, comes with potential side effects.

For oral finasteride, possible side effects include:

• Decreased libido (sex drive)

• Erectile dysfunction (ED)

• Breast tissue enlargement (gynecomastia)

• Mood changes or depression

If you use topical finasteride, the side effects may include: 

• Skin irritation

• Itching

• Redness

However, these aren’t extremely common side effects. Many men who take finasteride experience little to no adverse effects.

We’ve covered how to reduce finasteride side effects in our blog.

Since finasteride isn’t an effective treatment for beard enhancement, you might wonder what is. Your best bet? Minoxidil, also known by the brand name Rogaine^®.

When it comes to facial hair, minoxidil is your wingman. FDA-approved for scalp hair regrowth, this over-the-counter topical treatment boosts blood flow to hair follicles, potentially helping them grow thicker and fuller.

Minoxidil is also used off-label to stimulate beard hair follicles and increase facial hair growth. But there isn’t a lot of research on it.

Research on Minoxidil for Beard Growth

A 2016 letter to the editor in The Journal of Dermatology detailed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that looked at minoxidil use for beards. Those who applied 0.5 milliliters (mL) of a 3% minoxidil formula had thicker beards after 16 weeks of treatments.

A 2024 case report looked at a set of identical twins and found that applying minoxidil regularly might improve beard hair growth. One twin applied a 5% topical minoxidil foam to his beard once a day, while the other didn’t use minoxidil. After over a year of use, the twin who used minoxidil had a visibly thicker beard.

If you’re serious about maximizing your beard’s potential, minoxidil could be worth a shot. You can buy it online — without a prescription — in the form of minoxidil foam and minoxidil liquid solution.

Another pro tip: Healthy beard-care habits could also improve the general state of your beard, helping it look thicker and healthier.

You might try: 

• Using beard balms or oils to keep your facial hair healthy

• Gently cleansing your beard on a regular basis (possibly with dandruff shampoo if it gets flaky)

• Trimming your beard regularly to keep it neat

• Eating a healthy, balanced diet to ensure your body has the vitamins it needs to grow facial hair

Healthy beard care — plus minoxidil, if necessary — can help you get the full, thick beard of your dreams.

Lastly, if you have a vitamin deficiency, you might consider using a hair-growth supplement for your beard. Read about biotin and beard growth in our blog.

Taking finasteride is a proven way to help keep your scalp hair intact. But when it comes to growing a beard, it’s simply not the right medication.

Facial hair and scalp hair thrive (and perish) on different hormones, and finasteride’s method of action just doesn’t align with enhancing beard growth.

Let’s summarize finasteride beard effects, once and for all:

• Does finasteride help beard growth? Not according to current medical science.

• Does finasteride slow beard growth? Probably not. Limited anecdotal reports on the internet suggest minor effects for some individuals, but a thinning beard could have many other causes.

• What alternatives can improve beard growth? If you want to improve facial hair regrowth, minoxidil is your best bet. Minoxidil can also be used on your scalp hair.

Minoxidil or other targeted beard-growth options are the way to go. You might also benefit from reading our guide on how to grow a beard.

If you have a patchy beard and feel self-conscious about your facial hair, it might be a good idea to make an appointment with a healthcare professional. They can help you figure out the best way forward in terms of treatments.