Also called Propecia, Proscar, Stercia
The best-studied pill for male pattern loss. Works while you take it.
28 treatments and conditions, from Rx drugs to shampoos, sorted by where they act.

No recession. The juvenile hairline.
All zones
Also called Propecia, Proscar, Stercia
The best-studied pill for male pattern loss. Works while you take it.
Also called finasteride spray, fin solution, topical fin
A scalp-applied option with lower blood levels. Not side-effect-free.
Also called Avodart, Dutarid, dut
A stronger DHT blocker used off-label when finasteride is not enough.
Also called minoxidil tablets, minoxidil pills, LDOM
Off-label tablet with growing evidence. Body hair is the common trade-off.
Also called Aldactone, spiro
An anti-androgen some derms use for female pattern loss and PCOS.
Also called Regroe, Rogaine, Kirkland minoxidil
The first-line topical for men and women. Expect a shed before growth.
Also called Nizoral, Dermazole, keto shampoo
The go-to for balakubak and seb derm. A small add-on for pattern loss.
Also called Selsun Blue, Head and Shoulders, Clear
Good for mild dandruff and for rotating with ketoconazole.
Also called derma roller, dermapen, derma stamp
Promising add-on to minoxidil in small trials. Technique and hygiene matter.
Also called PRP hair treatment, vampire hair
An expensive add-on with mixed trial results. Not a replacement for the basics.
Also called ExoScalp, exosome hair treatment
Heavily marketed, thinly studied. No PH first-hand reports found.
Also called FUE, FUT, DHI
Moves your own hair; it does not stop future loss. Stabilize first.
Also called laser cap, laser comb, red light therapy
Some trial support as an add-on. Devices vary hugely in quality.
Also called Serenoa repens
Weaker than finasteride in the one head-to-head study. Popular in PCOS stacks.
Also called vitamin B7, hair vitamins
Helps only if you are deficient, which is rare. Can skew lab tests.
Also called ferritin test, thyroid test, TSH
Worth checking in diffuse shedding. Correct a deficiency before buying serums.
Also called rosemary hair oil
One small trial against 2% minoxidil. Oiling can worsen seb derm.
Also called gugo bark, Zenutrients gugo
A traditional cleanser. No trial evidence for hair loss; some users report itch.
Also called androgenetic alopecia, AGA, MPB
Genetic, DHT-driven and progressive. Earlier treatment keeps more hair.
Also called FPHL, female androgenetic alopecia, Ludwig
A widening part with the hairline kept. Very treatable when caught early.
Also called TE, stress shedding, post-illness shedding
Sudden all-over shedding 2 to 4 months after a trigger. Usually temporary.
Also called post natal hair loss, postpartum hairfall
Starts about 3 to 4 months after birth and usually settles by the first birthday.
Also called polycystic ovary syndrome hair loss
Androgen-driven thinning on top. Needs both an OB-GYN or endo and a derm.
Also called AA, spot baldness, patchy hair loss
Round, smooth patches from an immune attack on follicles. See a derm.
Also called seb derm, SD, severe dandruff
Greasy, itchy flaking that heat makes worse. Controllable, not one-and-done.
Also called flakes, dry scalp
The mild end of seb derm. Usually fixed with the right shampoo used properly.
Also called rebond damage, bleach damage, traction alopecia
Rebond, bleach and tight styles break hair or pull it out. Stop the cause.
Also called hair breakage, split ends
Shed hairs have a white bulb at the root; broken hairs do not.
“Normal ba 'tong hairfall ko?”
Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. Heavy shedding two to four months after a fever, birth or crash diet usually settles on its own. Patches, pain or scarring are different. Six questions tell you which guide fits, and when a dermatologist is the next step.
Take the 1-minute checkFinasteride, minoxidil, dutasteride and transplants. Trial data, side effect rates and what the pills cost at Mercury versus TGP.
Is it normal shedding, postpartum, PCOS or rebond damage? Gentle, practical guides and what to ask your derm.
We read the r/PhHairloss, r/beautyph and r/PCOSPhilippines threads. These are the fears that come up most, in readers' own words.
Fakes are a real risk, and the PH FDA has issued advisories against unregistered minoxidil and finasteride products. Check the product on the FDA verification portal, buy from a pharmacy or an official store, and inspect seals, batch and expiry. The home bleach test cannot rule out a diluted fake.
In the main finasteride 1mg trials, sexual side effects were reported by a small minority of men, only slightly more often than with placebo, and most resolved after stopping. Expecting side effects can itself cause them (the nocebo effect). ED means erectile dysfunction: trouble getting or keeping an erection. If it happens, see a doctor rather than adjusting the dose yourself.
Extra shedding in the first weeks of minoxidil is common and listed on the product label. Minoxidil pushes resting hairs out so new growth can start. Most people judge results at about 4 months, not at month 2. Shedding that is patchy, painful or lasts beyond that window is a reason to see a dermatologist.
Monthly cost swings widely by channel: branded 1mg finasteride from Mercury, generics, Regroe, imported foam and telehealth bundles can differ by more than ten times. We keep a peso-per-month table so you can compare like with like before you commit.
Unwanted facial and body hair is the most common side effect of low-dose oral minoxidil, reported by about 15% of patients in the largest safety study. It matters more for women. Topical minoxidil causes it less often. This is a planning decision to make with your doctor before starting.
Minoxidil has no known effect on fertility; that one is a myth. Finasteride can lower semen volume and, in some men, sperm counts, which reversed after stopping in studies. Men actively trying to conceive should raise this with their doctor.
The same drug can cost ten times more depending on where you buy it. Every figure links to its source.
| Item | Price | Per month | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic finasteride 5mg, Generika or TGP | ₱21.75 to ₱26per tablet | Not monthly | User report |
| Stercia finasteride 1mg, Mercury Drug | ₱60per tablet | ₱1,800 | User report |
| Propecia finasteride 1mg, Mercury or Watsons | ₱85 to ₱89per tablet | ₱2,550 to ₱2,670 | User report |
| Regroe minoxidil 5%, 60ml | ₱600 to ₱900per 60ml bottle | ₱600 to ₱900 | User report |
| Kirkland minoxidil foam (imported) | ₱800 to ₱900per monthly can | ₱800 to ₱900 | User report |
| Dailys oral minoxidil plus finasteride | ₱2,997per month | ₱2,997 | Brand site |
| Dermatologist consult | ₱400 to ₱1,000per consult | Not monthly | User report |
| Hair transplant, about 3,000 grafts | ₱160,000 to ₱200,000per procedure | Not monthly | User report |
Topical minoxidil 5% is sold without a prescription in the Philippines, mainly as Regroe at Watsons and Mercury Drug for about ₱600 to ₱900 per 60ml bottle, which lasts about a month at the labelled dose. The 6% strength is tagged prescription-required, and oral minoxidil needs a doctor. Expect extra shedding in the first weeks and judge results at about four months.
Prescription treatmentFinasteride is sold in the Philippines as branded 1mg tablets (Propecia, Stercia) for hair loss and as generic 5mg tablets for prostate enlargement (BPH), and both are prescription medicines. The labelled hair loss dose is 1mg a day. Branded 1mg costs about ₱60 to ₱85 to ₱89 a tablet at Mercury and Watsons, while generic 5mg sells for ₱9 to ₱12 to ₱21.75 to ₱26.
Legit checkLook the product up on the FDA Philippines verification portal, then check the box for an intact seal, a batch or lot number, an expiry date and a registration number that matches the portal. Buy from a pharmacy or an official brand store, because the home bleach test cannot rule out a diluted fake. The PH FDA has issued advisories against unregistered minoxidil and finasteride products.
ComparisonRocky (GoRocky), &you, Dailys and Dima all sell prescription hair loss medicine after an online assessment reviewed by a doctor, with delivery included. Of the four, only Dailys publishes hair prices on its own site, at ₱2,499 a month for oral minoxidil. A dermatologist consult at about ₱400 to ₱1,000 plus a pharmacy prescription is usually cheaper month to month, so the telehealth premium buys convenience, not a better drug.
Transplant pricesUsers on r/PhHairloss report paying ₱160,000 to ₱200,000 for about 3,000 grafts in the Philippines, and advertised prices across PH clinics span ₱70,000 to ₱750,000. The final price depends on graft count, technique (FUE, FUT or DHI) and the surgeon. Most surgeons want your hair loss stabilized with medication first, because a transplant does not stop future loss.
Scalp and dandruffNizoral is a brand of ketoconazole shampoo, an antifungal that treats dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis (seb derm) by cutting down the Malassezia yeast on the scalp. It works best when you lather and leave it on for about five minutes before rinsing, a few times a week. Cheaper ketoconazole brands like Dermazole contain the same active ingredient, and it is a scalp treatment first, not a proven regrowth product.
The same map as a list. Every treatment and condition, grouped by where it acts.
Where male pattern loss usually starts: the temples recede first, then the front line moves back (Norwood 2 to 3).
The swirl at the back of the head. Crown thinning is common in men (Norwood 3 vertex and up) and is hard to see without a mirror.
Female pattern hair loss usually shows here first as a widening part, while the front hairline stays (Ludwig I to III).
Hair that falls from everywhere at once, not one patch. Usually telogen effluvium after illness, birth, crash diets or stress, or a thyroid or iron problem.
Balakubak, seborrheic dermatitis, oily or itchy scalp and folliculitis. Inflamed skin can add to shedding, so scalp care matters even in pattern loss.
Patchy loss in the brows or beard can be alopecia areata. Minoxidil is also used off-label for beard growth.
This guide is for information. Talk to a doctor or dermatologist before starting any prescription treatment.