AGA/FAGA Treatment Medications
AGA (Androgenetic Alopecia) is characterized by hair loss occurring mainly at the frontal hairline and around the crown at the top of the head, with thinning hair progressing gradually over time.
Once AGA develops, the progression of thinning hair cannot be stopped naturally, so starting treatment at an early stage is recommended, and finasteride, dutasteride and minoxidil can be expected to be effective.
FAGA (Female Androgenetic Alopecia) refers to “hair loss that occurs when female hormones decrease and male hormones become dominant”, and it is said to be a cause of thinning hair and hair loss in women that has been attracting attention in recent years. Spironolactone and minoxidil can be expected to be effective.
For those living far away, we offer telephone consultations and a delivery service.
About AGA
Causes of AGA
AGA develops when the bad male hormone “DHT (dihydrotestosterone)” binds to male hormone receptors in the scalp.
When bad male hormone (DHT) binds to male hormone receptors, the division of hair matrix cells in the frontal and crown areas is suppressed, shortening the growth phase of the hair cycle.
As a result, hair enters the regression phase before it has grown sufficiently, leading to thinning hair and hair loss.
AGA Treatment
Treating AGA requires suppressing the bad male hormone (DHT).
DHT is known to be produced when testosterone (male hormone) is converted by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, so suppressing DHT means undergoing treatment (oral medication and topical medication) that inhibits this enzyme (5-alpha reductase).
Finasteride and dutasteride act on 5-alpha reductase, returning the hair cycle to a normal state and creating an environment in which hair can grow thick and long.
Minoxidil supports the production of substances such as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which promote cell growth and development and the formation of new capillaries. This activates hair matrix cells and can be expected to be effective for hair growth and regrowth.
For AGA treatment we offer 4 medications: finasteride, dutasteride, minoxidil in oral form and minoxidil in topical form (all treatment medications are prescribed as self-pay care).
Effects: Returns the hair cycle to a normal state so that hair can grow thick and long.
Side effects: Initial shedding, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction (ED)
Dosage and administration: 1 tablet once a day
Effects: Its pharmacological action on 5-alpha reductase (type II) and its hair-increasing effect are said to be 3 times those of finasteride.
Side effects: Initial shedding, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction (ED)
Dosage and administration: 1 tablet once a day
Product: Minoxidil 5mg (MINOXIHEART)
Effects: Promotes the division of hair matrix cells that produce hair and promotes blood flow to the scalp to deliver nutrients to hair matrix cells, making hair easier to grow.
Side effects: Initial shedding, initial shedding, scalp rash, skin symptoms (redness, itching, irritation), excessive hair growth, lowered blood pressure
Dosage and administration: 1 tablet each time
Product: Minoxidil topical solution 5% (Fuji Chemical Industry, Class 1 pharmaceutical)
Effects: Promotes the division of hair matrix cells that produce hair and promotes blood flow to the scalp to deliver nutrients to hair matrix cells, making hair easier to grow.
Side effects: Initial shedding, scalp rash, skin symptoms (redness, itching, irritation)
Dosage and administration: Apply 1ml twice a day to areas with thinning hair
Transgender Men and AGA
We are receiving an increasing number of questions about AGA from people taking male hormones (particularly trans men).
Taking male hormones can cause hair reduction, among other effects.
In particular, WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) also recognizes that AGA medications are effective against hair reduction caused by male hormone administration.
At our Gender Affirmation, we can comprehensively adjust male hormone dosage and provide AGA prevention and treatment.
About FAGA
Female Pattern Hair Loss and FAGA
Female pattern hair loss is a general term referring to all hair loss conditions that occur in women.
Female pattern hair loss includes FAGA (Female Androgenetic Alopecia), alopecia areata, traction alopecia, postpartum alopecia and hair loss caused by scalp problems, each of which is treated differently.
Female pattern hair loss refers to hair loss in women as a whole, while FAGA refers specifically to “hair loss that occurs when female hormones decrease and male hormones become dominant” within female pattern hair loss, and minoxidil and spironolactone can be expected to be effective.
Female pattern hair loss is classified into 4 representative types, of which the most common is FAGA (Female Androgenetic Alopecia).
Female Androgenetic Alopecia (FAGA)
It is well known that AGA (androgenetic alopecia) occurs in men, but in fact it is also known to occur in women.
Women also have a small amount of male hormone, and estrogen, a female hormone, is known to prevent thinning hair.
However, when female hormones decrease for some reason, male hormones become relatively more abundant, and the resulting thinning hair is called FAGA.
Female hormones decrease due to aging, stress, worsening lifestyle habits and other reasons, but since a certain amount continues to be secreted, it is rare for all the hair to fall out, and hair loss has the following characteristics.
– Hair thins overall rather than in patches
– Hair becomes finer
– Thinning hair is noticeable at the crown
Alopecia areata
A condition in which hair falls out in circular patches at one or several places on the head; in severe cases it can extend to the entire scalp and to the whole body, including the eyebrows and eyelashes.
It is said to develop when physical or mental stress causes an abnormality in autoimmune function, and cells called T lymphocytes mistake hair roots for foreign bodies and attack them.
Treatment: “local steroid injection therapy”, “topical immunotherapy”, “topical steroid therapy” and “wigs” are recommended.
Traction alopecia
A condition in which hair falls out due to traction (pulling on the hair).
It occurs when the same area of hair or scalp is constantly burdened over a long period, such as tying hair tightly in a ponytail and placing a burden on the hair roots over a long period.
Treatment: Review of hairstyle and lifestyle habits.
Postpartum alopecia
Hair loss that occurs after childbirth.
Hormone balance fluctuates after childbirth, causing hair in the growth phase of the hair cycle to shift all at once into the resting phase, which sharply increases hair loss.
Estrogen, a female hormone, extends the growth phase of the hair cycle and temporarily suppresses hair loss, so when estrogen levels rise during pregnancy, the growth phase of hair that would normally have fallen out is extended and hair loss decreases.
However, after childbirth the increased estrogen in the body returns to its original level, so hair loss that was temporarily halted during pregnancy begins abruptly after childbirth, and as a result hair becomes thinner.
Treatment: Since the hair cycle returns to its original state over about half a year to 1 year after childbirth, we first monitor the course and carry out additional testing as appropriate for the symptoms.
FAGA Treatment
As with AGA treatment, treating FAGA requires suppressing the bad male hormone (DHT), but finasteride and dutasteride cannot be used in cis women.
For this reason, for FAGA we use the anti-androgen action of a medication called spironolactone to prevent DHT (dihydrotestosterone) from binding to male hormone receptors, returning the hair cycle to a normal state and creating an environment in which hair can grow thick and long.
Minoxidil can also be used in cis women, but for topical treatment in particular, unlike the product for men, using a 1% minoxidil topical medication makes it possible to treat while avoiding side effects such as skin disorders as much as possible.
For FAGA treatment we offer 3 medications: spironolactone, minoxidil in oral form and minoxidil in topical form (all treatment medications are prescribed as self-pay care).
Features: It is used not only for thinning hair in women but also for treating acne and excessive hair growth. Gradually increasing the oral dose allows treatment to proceed at a comfortable pace. Through its anti-androgen action, it prevents DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the cause of AGA/FAGA, from binding to male hormone receptors in the scalp.
Side effects: Electrolyte abnormalities (especially hyperkalemia), impaired kidney function, low blood pressure, frequent urination, irregular menstruation, abnormal bleeding, breast pain, etc.
We check for electrolyte abnormalities, impaired kidney function and other issues through regular blood tests, taking steps to ensure the medication can be used safely.
Dosage and administration: Depends on the degree of FAGA progression (it is common to start at around 50mg)
Product: Minoxidil 5mg (MINOXIHEART)
Effects: Promotes the division of hair matrix cells that produce hair and promotes blood flow to the scalp to deliver nutrients to hair matrix cells, making hair easier to grow.
Side effects: Initial shedding, initial shedding, scalp rash, skin symptoms (redness, itching, irritation), excessive hair growth, lowered blood pressure
Dosage and administration: Half a tablet to 1 tablet each time
Product: Minoxidil topical solution 1% (Fuji Chemical Industry, Class 1 pharmaceutical)
Features: Thinning hair and hair loss in women is said to be caused by age, stress, lifestyle habits and other factors. Minoxidil for women is specialized for women and is effective for hair growth, for preventing the progression of hair loss and for hair loss in middle age.
Effects: Promotes the division of hair matrix cells that produce hair and promotes blood flow to the scalp to deliver nutrients to hair matrix cells, making hair easier to grow.
Side effects: Initial shedding, scalp rash, skin symptoms (redness, itching, irritation)
Dosage and administration: Apply 1ml twice a day to areas with thinning hair
Prices
The prices of our AGA/FAGA treatment medications are as follows.
All are prescribed as self-pay care.
Prices of AGA Treatment Medications
Finasteride and dutasteride are described as medications that “prevent hair loss and strengthen hair”, while minoxidil is described as a medication that “grows hair”.
When using minoxidil, if it is not used together with finasteride or dutasteride, hair loss will increase while the hair growth cycle remains un-normalized.
Using a set can be expected to produce a synergistic effect, promoting hair growth as well as preventing hair loss.
| Single item / set | Medication name / form | Category | Quantity | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single item | Finasteride (oral) |
Domestic | 1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months |
4,000 yen 10,500 yen 18,000 yen 34,500 yen |
| Dutasteride (oral) |
Domestic | 1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months |
5,000 yen 13,500 yen 24,000 yen 45,000 yen |
|
| Minoxidil tablets (oral: 5mg) |
Imported | 1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months |
4,000 yen 10,500 yen 18,000 yen 33,000 yen |
|
| Minoxidil topical medication (topical: 5%) |
Domestic | 1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months |
5,000 yen 13,500 yen 24,000 yen 45,000 yen |
|
| Finasteride set (oral) |
Finasteride (oral) |
Imported (combination) |
1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months |
6,000 yen 16,000 yen 27,000 yen 50,000 yen |
| Minoxidil (oral: 5mg) |
||||
| Finasteride set (topical) |
Finasteride (topical) |
Imported (combination) |
1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months |
7,000 yen 19,000 yen 33,000 yen 60,000 yen |
| Minoxidil (topical: 5%) |
||||
| Finasteride set (topical + oral) |
Finasteride (topical) |
Imported (combination) |
1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months |
10,000 yen 27,000 yen 48,000 yen 90,000 yen |
| Minoxidil (topical: 5%) |
||||
| Minoxidil (oral: 5mg) |
Imported | |||
| Dutasteride set (oral) |
Dutasteride (oral) |
Imported (combination) |
1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months |
7,000 yen 19,000 yen 33,000 yen 60,000 yen |
| Minoxidil (oral: 5mg) |
||||
| Dutasteride set (topical) |
Dutasteride (oral) |
Domestic | 1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months |
9,000 yen 25,500 yen 46,000 yen 85,000 yen |
| Minoxidil (topical: 5%) |
||||
| Dutasteride set (topical + oral) |
Dutasteride (oral) |
Imported (combination) |
1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months |
11,000 yen 30,000 yen 54,000 yen 100,000 yen |
| Minoxidil (oral: 5mg) |
||||
| Minoxidil (topical: 5%) |
Domestic |
Prices of FAGA Treatment Medications
| Medication name / form | Category | Quantity | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spironolactone (oral) |
Domestic | 50mg 100mg 150mg 200mg |
2,500 yen/month 5,000 yen/month 7,500 yen/month 10,000 yen/month |
| Minoxidil tablets (oral: 5mg) |
Imported | 1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months |
4,000 yen 10,500 yen 18,000 yen 33,000 yen |
| Minoxidil topical solution (topical: 1%) |
Domestic | 1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months |
4,500 yen 12,000 yen 22,000 yen 42,000 yen |
Consultation Flow
The consultation flow for prescribing AGA/FAGA treatment medications at our clinic is as follows.
Doctor's Medical Interview and Consultation
After consulting with the doctor, we consider which medication suits you.
Prescription and Payment
We hand over the AGA/FAGA treatment medication at the reception desk. A consultation fee applies for the first visit, but from the second time onward medication can be prescribed without a consultation (and no consultation fee is required).
We also provide testing and treatment for STIs, vaccine administration of various types (including for those traveling overseas) and consultations regarding gender. For details, please see the page below.