I am 15 years old and am losing hair. Can I take finasteride?

Depending upon your bone maturation, it may not be unreasonable to use the drug finasteride, but first where you are on YOUR growth curve (e.g. bony maturation) plus other factors relating to your hair loss are critical to understand. I belong to a group of 60 doctors who share a common email and the subject of young boys 15 and up and the use of finasteride has come up. With proper doctoring, this can be an option. The HAIRCHECK test is a critical first step in evaluating the degree of hair loss that you have. Many doctors may not want to use this drug on you so it is a careful discussion with you, your parents and your doctors that is critical in making such decision.

William Rassman, M.D.