Does topical propecia or other dht blocker work? If so, does it carry similar side effects?
Finasteride blocks 5 alpha reductase (an enzyme that is a hormone converter), so it indirectly affects several hormones "upstream" including testosterone, DHEA, and estrogen, while reducing DHT "downstream." The upstream effects are transient - which means that the body has feedback mechanisms that keep the hormone levels within normal levels. Topical finasteride is not as well studied and does not have as reliable efficacy, mostly due to the variable absorption in the scalp (which has a lot of oil glands). Other "DHT blockers" (which actually target 5 alpha reductase) like dutasteride have similar and sometimes more profound effects.
