There is a need for face-to-face consultation with a board-certified physician who has been trained in hair loss. You need an official diagnosis to learn the cause of your hair loss before you can figure out the proper treatment. We’re seeing the illicit practice of medicine without a physician associated with [finasteride]. That’s not the proper way to practice medicine. These medications do have side effects and they need to have a physician with them.
—Is It Safe to Buy Finasteride Online? Men’s Health, April 25, 2025