Since I first wrote this post all the way back in 2014, dozens of online vendors have started selling their own compounded version of topical finasteride. Often with other add-on enhances such as high-strengh-Minoxidil and Latanoprost.
Buying Options for Topical Finasteride in 2026
Numerous local and online doctors and clinics can already prescribe topical finasteride for you. Some will also compound their own version of the product via in-house or partner pharmacies. However, such localized products will never be substantiated by expensive clinical studies. Almirall’s ALM12845 spray, which was released in 2011 (see the bottom half of this post), is the only topical finasteride product that has gone through clinical trials.
In any event, the below online companies and brands have become popular for their topical finasteride products. Especially in the US. Costs can vary significantly, and most offer monthly subscription plans. Make sure to read online reviews and ratings of these companies on Reddit and on hair loss forums before considering a purchase. Dosages currently range from 0.20%-0.30%.
- Ulo Finasteride + Minoxidil Plus — A new product that contains Finasteride 0.2%, Minoxidil 7%, Tretinoin 0.01%, Melatonin 0.01%, Caffeine 0.2% and Cetirizine 1%.
- HairStim — Finasteride plus various personalized compounds, including Minoxidil 6-7%, Spironolactone, Resveratrol and Latanoprost.
- Triple Hair Therapy-07 — Finasteride, Minoxidil and Latanoprost. Currently sold via prescription from a third party compounding pharmacy. Triple Hair is also preparing for Phase 3 clinical trials.
- Happy Head — A liquid solution that includes Finasteride 0.25%, Minoxidil 8% and Retinoic Acid 0.01%.
- Hims — A spray that includes Finasteride 0.3% and Minoxidil 6%.
- Keeps — A gel that includes Finasteride 0.25% and Minoxidil 5%.
- Roman — Their 3-in-1 Hair Solution Rx spray is compounded with Finasteride, Minoxidil and Tretinoin.
- Almirall — Caretopic and Finjuve brands depending on country. This is the only topical Finasteride product that has gone through rigorous clinical trials over many years.
- Hair Science Formula 82F — A liquid solution that includes Finasteride 0.25% and Minoxidil 5%.
- XYON Health — Nanoparticle SiloxysSystem™ gel technology.
- Roots by Genetic Arts — An interesting company that does a genetic test on you and offers a custom topical solution. They have options that include Finasteride, Dutasteride, Minoxidil, Latanoprost, Melatonin, Caffeine, Cetirizine and Vitamin D3.
- Strut (link out of order) — Gel and solution options, customized to include up to 0.25% Finasteride, 7.5% Minoxidil, 0.0125% Tretinoin & Biotin).
Topical Finasteride for Hair Loss
Recent reports suggest that topical finasteride results in similar increases in hair count compared to oral finasteride. With fewer side effects due to less systemic absorption. Topical finasteride is typically compounded in gel or solution form. The oral version can come in pill, capsule or tablet form.
The manufacturer of Propecia (Merck) applied for a patent for topical finasteride in 2002. However, the company has to date never tried to develop an actual product.
This is all the more surprising when considering that Propecia has been getting significant negative publicity of late. Many users suffering from long-term sexual side effects have filed a class-action lawsuit against Merck.
It should also be noted that the original Merck patent for Propecia has a number of sentences mentioning topical formulations as likely being effective.
Topical Finasteride Side Effects
The main reason that people are so excited about topical finasteride is because of potentially fewer side effects in comparison to oral finasteride. Due to less systemic absorption of the drug, serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) inhibition will likely be significantly lower with topical finasteride versus with oral finasteride. At the same time, scalp DHT inhibition should remain similar with both delivery mechanisms. In fact one doctor told me that scalp DHT inhibition is higher with topical finasteride than with oral finasteride.
Sexual side effects will be less likely with topical finasteride. However, it should be noted that different formulations will result in different levels of DHT inhibition. It is therefore imperative to be very careful if you are purchasing this product from any compounding pharmacy.
References and Studies
There have been many studies done in the past that concluded favorable results from topical finasteride.
For example, a 2009 study from Iran concluded: “the therapeutic effects of both finasteride gel and finasteride tablets were relatively similar to each other.” Nothing is mentioned regarding side effects in the abstract of that study.
A 2012 study from Thailand concluded that a 3% minoxidil plus 0.1% finasteride lotion (“MFX”) was superior to just 3% minoxidil (“MNX’). There is also an increasing amount of new research on better ways to deliver topical finasteride, especially via nanocarriers.
A 2018 systemic review of topical finasteride shows consistent reduction in hair loss. Both scalp and plasma DHT levels decreased significantly. Also see Dr. Nicole Rogers’ comments on these findings.
An April 2020 study found topical finasteride to be more effective than topical 17α-estradiol (a type of estrogen) in women suffering from female pattern hair loss (FPHL).
Almirall ALM12845 Topical Finasteride Spray Updates
Spain-based Almirall finally released its much anticipated ALM12845 topical finasteride spray in 2021. This is the first ever topical finasteride product that has done through all three phases of clinical trials. I have covered it for the past decade on this blog. Note that this product was previously known as Polichem’s P-3074. Almirall purchased Polichem in 2015.
Almirall announced that it will not directly sell or market this product. Instead, it will launch the product via licensing partnerships in various countries. So far, it has announced the following ones:
- Difa Cooper of Italy will produce and market it in parts of Western Europe under the brand name “Caretopic“.
- Hikma Pharmaceutical will sell it as “Finjuve” in the Middle East and North Africa (announced in November 2021).
- Boryung Pharmaceutical will sell it as “Finjuve” in South Korea (announced in January 2022).
- Cutia Therapeutics has licensed it for the Hong Kong market via the name CU-40102. At the end of 2024, they will also offer it in mainland China. Update: August 2024 — Successful Phase III clinical trials of Cutia’s CU-40102 topical finasteride spray for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in China.
The company filed for a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in September 2019. The ALM12845 product is described as a cutaneous spray solution for the topical treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia. I am not sure if they will be able to get FDA approval to market in the US as yet.
Update: October 2021 — Almirall summarized its 458-person Phase 3 trial results for its topical finasteride spray. It concluded that the spray causes improved hair growth to the same degree as oral finasteride. Moreover, the topical version led to markedly lower systemic exposure. The below topical finasteride spray application image is from the study.
Maximum plasma finasteride concentrations were >100 times lower with topical finasteride spray solution. Mean serum DHT concentration was lower (34.5% vs 55.6%), with topical versus oral finasteride. There is a smaller risk of systemic adverse sexual side effects with topical finasteride.
Polichem’s P-3074
The original research and trial work on Almirall’s topical finasteride was undertaken by Polichem. The company released its P-3074 Phase 3 clinical trials results in 2019. P-3074 is described as a new topical finasteride solution with hydroxypropyl-chitosan as the film-forming agent.
In earlier stage trials for P-3074, the results were also favorable. For example, Polichem said the following about P-3074 at the 7th World Congress on Hair Research in 2013:
“These findings show that DHT concentration in the scalp, after 7-day treatment course of P-3074 once daily, was more reduced (about 40%) than after 1 mg oral finasteride administration for the same treatment period.”
Topical Dutasteride
What I am really hoping for are more topical dutasteride related studies, trials and products. The main reason for this is that while finasteride primarily inhibits type II 5α-reductase, dutasteride also inhibits type I 5α-reductase. Type I 5α-reductase isoenzymes are more prevalent on the scalp. Type II 5α-reductase isoenzymes are more prevalent in the prostate. I would therefore not be surprised if topical dutasteride’s superiority over topical finasteride is even greater than the superiority of oral dutasteride over oral finasteride.
