Does Propecia Shrink the Prostate?

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /

does propecia shrink the prostate?

ive been hearing about pain below the belly with many Finasteride users, and found these articles interesting.

  1. Urological Sciences Research Foundation – Long-Term Effects of Finasteride on Prostate Tissue Composition (PDF file)
  2. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism – Evidence for Atrophy and Apoptosis in the Prostates of Men Given Finasteride (PDF file)

thanks for the informative website! curious to hear your thoughts on this

Propecia is a brand name for a generic drug called finasteride in 1mg strength. Proscar is a brand name for the same drug called finasteride, but in 5mg strength.

Proscar is used for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) — so yes, it shrinks the prostate. Thus, you can infer that even at 1mg strength it will have a small effect on the prostate. Recently one of my patients who had symptoms of BPH told me that his prostate problems went away after being on Propecia for a year.

The articles you posted are interesting — they are just two of the many articles that show finasteride shrinks the prostate for men with BPH.

Tags: finasteride, propecia, proscar, prostate, bph

Should I Increase My Finasteride Dose to 2.5mg a Day to Stop New Shedding?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

Dear Doctor
I have been using proscar tablets(5mg) instead of propecia, quartering the 5mg tablet & taking 1/4 tablet a day. This has worked 4 many years but now it has lost it’s effectiveness & I am shedding hair rapidly.

I have found many articles on the net were doctors suggest that patients increase the dose to 2.5 mg to stop shedding & the risk of side efects will rise only slightly. What do u think ?

Please respond,I am really depressed. Avodart is not available in Australia & regain liquid burnt my scalp & the foam isn’t available in Australia either.
Thanks in Advance.

Taking finasteride 1mg is adequate for the treatment of hair loss. Taking double dose or 2.5mg or 5mg does not mean it will be more effective. Unfortunately finasteride is NOT a complete solution for hair loss. Your genetic fate will eventually catch up to you. Finasteride will at least postpone or prevent further hair loss, as it has its limits. I do not see a problem doubling the dose, provided that you do not develop any side effects.

I sympathize that hair loss is devastating to many people, but if you are that depressed you should see someone professionally about it.

Tags: propecia, finasteride, proscar, hairloss, hair loss

Avodart vs Hair Transplant

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /, ,

I was wondering if you give prescriptions for avodart. I had some frontal transplants in early 90’s but continued to lose behind transplant..i now wear a hair system and Have learned to live with it…i need to keep what hair i have in the back and on the crown so my systems do not have to be made any larger..I have been doing alot of research about avaodart..i was able to get a sample pack (2 weeks) from a dr friend..but need prescription to get more…

Avodart (dutasteride) should not be the first line for you unless you are sure that Propecia (finasteride) is not working. I would be happy to evaluate you, but the few times I have prescribed Avodart, I had good reason to do it. The side effects on Avodart are more than the side effects of Propecia. If you have a void now developing behind the old transplants, have you considered fixing this (it is relatively easy)? It may allow you to get rid of your hair system. In any event, you need to have miniaturization analysis before any treatment to know what is happening to you.

Tags: avodart, dutasteride, hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant, hair transplant, finasteride, propecia

Can ProCede Hurt My Hair?

/by William Rassman, M.D./2 /

Hi, I’ve had thin hair all my life and just recently I noticed its getting a little worse and I saw the procede commercial and so I ordered it because it sounded like just what I needed, “to make my hair thicker” so I have it right now but im afraid to use it because I keep reading peoples comments on it. I’ve read some good comments but also some bad and I was wondering if you know anything about it? Whether it hurts your hair or what? thanks

I have been reading the same material as you are and it is clear that there are people who love it and some people who find it causes more hair loss. I really do not know myself, as I have no direct experience with it. It is an interesting approach to marketing where the company claims one application every 90 days. Just be careful considering the many reports of scalp/hair damage that are discussed in various posts on the internet.

Tags: procede, hairloss, hair loss, thickening, thick

Green Tea and Hair Loss

/by William Rassman, M.D./2 /

hi doctor
i was wondering about green tea and that if it does indeed affect the 5a-reductase type I enzyme then surely there would be more testosterone that would be converted into dht with the type II enzyme? which isn’t being affected leading to maybe more hair loss depending on which type is more responsible for hair loss?

thanks for your time

I do not know of any studies that shows green tea affects 5a-reductase type I or type II enzymes. I have heard of many positive benefits of green tea, but even those claims are not well substantiated to my knowledge. It may sound dismissive or pessimistic, but herbal products are an unregulated field (since they are natural food products). I do enjoy green tea!

Tags: green tea, tea, hairloss, hair loss

Scalp Tingles After Using Rogaine Foam

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

I have been using Rogaine foam for about 4 months. My hair loss has stopped and I believe I have experienced more fullness and some growth. However, the top of my head (the area with the most loss) “tingles” off and on throughout the day.

Please advise.

You are probably developing irritation from the drug. This is a known side effect of minoxidil.

Tags: minoxidil, rogaine, tingle, irritation, hairloss, hair loss

Regrowing Hair on a Scar

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /, ,

I have this bump on my scalp for years so i decided it to get it removed. so now i got a scar and hair doesnt grow on it. can you regrow hair on a scar and if it can be done when u cut your hair will hair grow back again? please help

Scars can be effectively transplanted. The hair that grows is the hair that was moved, not the original hair that was there before.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, scar, hairtransplant, hair transplant

I Want My Hairline Lowered an Inch

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /, , ,

(female)
I’m 16 years old born with a high hairline just about 3 inches. I’ve saved about $5,000 to get the procedure to lower my hairline and was wondering about how much would it be to take off half an inch to an inch. i have a widows peak and wonder if you can fix that too. what would be an estimate and could there be any payment plans. i’d love to have this procedure done before i turn 21.

The fee for a hairline lowering procedure is $8,000 (icludes all anesthesia and facility charges). The hairline lowering procedure is like a reverse brow lift and this is often the way women get a lower hairline. The widow’s peak would have to be assessed separately.

Alternatively, hair transplants could lower the hairline as well. This is, of course, what we do regularly with men and the fees are based upon how much hair is moved (price per graft). I would be happy to review your case confidentially if you send in a picture. Please reference this post if sending.

For more about hairline lowering, see Dr. Kabaker

Tags: kabaker, hairline lowering, hairloss, hair loss

I’ve Been Taking 1 Dutasteride Pill a Week for 2 Years

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

Hi Dr,
I have used dutasteride for about 2yrs now, I did think I saw a reduction in shedding shortly after beginning its use but dont know if thats in my head or it was a pattern I wouldve went through if i was on it or not, Here is my question, ive begun to get very conscientious(hope thats spelled right) about the supplements or medications & what not that i use, so i am concerned of causing some side effect either short term or down the road from using dutasteride, i take 1 pill a week, and my question is what kind of doctor can i go to to monitor and make sure everything is fine and there are no side effects or anything at all that would be unhealthy from using the dutasteride?

Thanks

For a general assessment the side effects, you can see your primary care doctors. If you want to get on board with a Master Plan, your hair loss or gain progress should be followed by an experienced hair specialist. Periodical microscopic examination of your scalp for miniaturization should be part of the standard diagnosis for any patients who are using medications for treatment of their hair loss. By taking yearly measurements, you will know if the process is under better control.

Tags: dutasteride, avodart, hairloss, hair loss

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and Hair Loss

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

I am a white/female diagnosed with AML in 1998 at 33 yrs old-lost my hair twice but came back reasonably soon with same thickness. 8 years later I have much thinning, first on top then on back and now on sides, for over 6 months now. My thick hair is now turning thin and I am afraid I will loose it all. Is there any indications that high-dose chemo patients will go through a loss phase approx 8 years after the chemo-any help will be appreciated. Thank you

As we answered a similar question before, the hair loss following chemotherapy is usually temporary and it could reverse within a few months after completion of treatment. Chemotherapy can also aggravate the underlying male or female pattern baldness. Examination by an expert could be helpful to differentiate these conditions.

Tags: chemo, chemotherapy, aml, leukemia, hairloss, hair loss

Best Sutures for Donor Area After Transplant?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

What form of sutures do you recommend for the donor area after surgery? My first transplant was a 1900 graft procedure, and my doctor used absorbable sutures which took more than two months to absorb. I would prefer the non-absorbable that would be removed after two weeks. What are the pros and cons of each? Does either one promote better healing? I live a few hours from my surgeon, so I understand that is why he probably used the absorble suture. I am a 39 year old male. Thanks for your advice.

Speak with your doctor. Absorbable sutures vary (some get absorbed quickly and some slowly), while removable sutures or staples are usually out in less than 2 weeks. The decision is between you and your surgeon as there is no ‘correct’ answer for everyone.

Tags: suture, absorbable, hairloss, hair loss, hairtransplant, hair transplant

Propecia Has Made a Huge Positive Effect on My Life

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

Firstly, thanks for such an informative website and advice. I’m a 35 yo male with hair receding to the temples and thinning to the top (but not back of the crown). I’ve noticed a few negative posts recently about propecia and my own experience is very far from that (now 2 1/2 years of use). There were minimal negative side effects initially which fully cleared in 8 weeks. I used to shower every morning and literally count hairs up to 100 on my hands. This completely slowed to a negligible amount after 3 months of propecia use and whilst I am sceptical about any substantial re-growth in my case, this drug has made a huge positive effect on my life by vastly slowing down my hair loss. Thanks again for the great site!

Thanks for sharing your experience. It should get better after a year.

Tags: finasteride, propecia, hairloss, hair loss

Can I Put Rogaine in a Spray Bottle?

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /

Hi Dr. Rassman, I sent you an email where I included a link to the Luce LDS 100 study. I am on propecia for about 2 weeks now and I have started my Luce treatment a week ago. I know you said you don’t reccomend using rogaine and propecia at the same time because you don’t know which is the one thats working best for you but I am trying to save my hair asap without it becoming noticeable. My question is since I want to start rogaine which is the best way to apply. I tried the foam which is annoying and get all over my hair and leaves a smell that people notice. The dropper is ok but so much liquid comes out at once and one location. I noticed both the foam and the dropper accentuate the thinning. The dropper is less obvious. Is it possible to get an empty spray bottle and fill it with rogaine 5% extra strength and use it as a spray? Let me know what you reccomend. I want to have a regimen that I can do everyday without it making my hair look like it’s thinning.

It seems that you like to experiment. Go for it and let me know how it works.

Tags: minoxidil, rogaine, spray, hairloss, hair loss

A Reader’s Cure for Hair Loss — Revealed!

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

Doctor!

I have found a way to once and for all cure hair loss! It involves injecting the subject with copious amounts of testosterone. Granted, the fallout rate will increase dramatically before it gets better, but I can guarantee that within a few months they may never have to worry about losing another hair again! I belive that with this method I can reduce loss by almost 100%. How many other treatments can boast such a claim?

Think I can make any money off of this? I’m all about helping people.

Eureka!

I suspect that you are right. If you inject testosterone directly into your scalp, all of the hair may fall out. Without hair, you can not lose any from genetics! Makes perfect sense! Ha!

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, testosterone

If My Father Lost All His Hair, Am I Wasting Time Trying to Prevent My Hair Loss?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /, ,

I have slight frontal balding and some thinning at the top of my head. I have no blad spot yet but its getting close to that. I am 28, my dad was completely bald on top, a stage 7 I guess. I have been using Propecia for 3 weeks.

I have 3 questions,

  1. Is Nisim or Nizoral any help to my hair loss?
  2. Seeing my father lost almost all of his hair on top am I wasting my time trying to prevent my hair loss.
  3. Do you know of any good hair loss doctors in the Tampa, Florida area.

Thanks in advance.

If you are 28 years old and are not completely bald as your father almost certainly was, then you will probably not be following his pattern. All Class 7 men have lost most of their hair before they were 28 and if you have no bald spot now, I would doubt that you would in the Class 7 hair loss pattern. If you get your hair mapped out for miniaturization you might be able to tell where you will be losing more hair, possibly even when (short term vs long term). See an expert and find out for yourself.

The answers to your questions are as follows:

  1. I’ve said it before, but, “Nizoral is a good shampoo. I do not believe it is necessarily good at regrowing hair. There is not enough scientific data to support hair growth claims.” As for Nisim, they make yet another herbal product that is not proven by the FDA to work. As regular readers of this site should know, I do not recommend products that aren’t FDA approved for treating hair loss. You can try it if you want. They say they offer a guarantee, but I’ll leave that up to you. Buyer beware.
  2. The choice for you is to be proactive or not. I think that you are not going to follow your father’s pattern, considering you said he was a class 7 by the time he was your age.
  3. I usually do not supply referrals for transplant docs, but you can check ISHRS.org‘s physician search to find one in your area. Be sure to use the internet to research the doctor you chose.
Tags: nisim, nizoral, hairloss, hair loss, ishrs, genetic, genes