How Soon Might Side Effects Show Up if I Get Them from Propecia?

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

Hi, I’m 18 and I’m about to go on Propecia. If I were to experience side effects, how soon would I be experiencing them? (within the first month)

If I do indeed see side effects, should I ‘push through’ them to see if my hormones re-adjust, or should I stop immediately?

Side effects from drugs can show up any time, though generally within the first week to month. Depending on the side effect, some people on Propecia continued to take it and the side effects subsided. Some take half the dose and the side effects subsided. Some just stopped taking and the side effects subsided.

The decision to start or stop the medication is for you and your doctor to make. Remember, it’s a prescription medication so keep an open line of communication with your prescribing doctor.

Tags: finasteride, propecia, hairloss, hair loss

In the News – Actress Kate Hudson’s Hair Loss Following Pregnancy

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

Snippet from the article:

Kate HudsonKate [Hudson] told Redbook magazine: ‘When I had Ryder, I was 24 and didn’t really experience any changes to my hair or skin.

‘But with my second child, I got acne, all my hair fell out after he was born, and I definitely had to work out to drop the weight. No pregnancy is easy to bounce back from.’

Read the rest — Kate Hudson reveals she suffered hair loss and severe spot breakouts while pregnant with baby

Hair loss in women following childbirth is usually temporary and can be common with the hormonal changes and stress.

Tags: actress, hollywood, kate hudson, female hair loss

Race and Hair Count

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

Your blog has stated Asians typically has an average of 80,000 hair while Caucasians have 100,000 hair on their head.

I am from North India quite fair skinned. What would I be classified as? Indians, I believe, are genetically classified as Caucasians.

Unless I am getting too old not to notice the continents drift apart, last time I checked India is part of the the Asian continent. In England, they refer to Indians as Asians. There is some debate about whether racial categorizations are medically valid, but if we measure race based upon hair count, we see groupings by geography. Asians cover Korea, Japanese, and all of China and points south. There, the average total count for hairs on the head measures 80,000 hairs.

Most Europeans average 100,000 hairs on their head. As our geographic tour takes us south into North Africa, the total hair counts start mixing between 80,000 – 100,000 total hair count. Moving more into Asia, the hair counts seem to move towards the 80,000 number.

Taking our tour south into the African continent and the dark skin, kinky hairs starts showing up, the hair counts drop further to the 60,000 range. One can rationalize that the African kinky hair type, reflects accommodations to the heat of the African savannah, where the scalp is a major heat loss organ, acting like a radiator which allows air flow through the hair to dissipate heat.

Tags: race, hairloss, hair loss, hair count

Why Did My Hair Look Better for Months After Starting Medication, But Now I’m Shedding?

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

I have been taking Propecia for 6 Months and Rogaine for 5. My hair in the first 4 months looked so much better. Now at Month 6 my hair is beginning to thin and I am experiencing shedding. is this normal? What is going on? Also what is the best hair loss shampoo?

As we’ve written over and over again, you need to have a doctor examine you and establish clinical baselines before you go on medications. If you did that, you (and your doctor) would know where you were (exactly) 5-6 months ago before you went on the Propecia and Rogaine. Then when you ask “What is going on?“, any good doctor would be able to tell you this. I clearly do not have any idea where you were 5-6 months ago and where you are now. Start off by establishing a good baseline (better now than never) and forward looking, we both might know what is happening to you.

Shampoos have nothing to do with your problem, so I wouldn’t recommend grasping for a simple solution where there may not be one.

Tags: propecia, finasteride, rogaine, minoxidil, hairloss, hair loss

Are The Finasteride Patient Photos You Posted For Real?

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

doctor rassman and pak, are the before and after pictures of some of the finasteride users legit? such as these. especailly the first one. propecia did all that, and not even a hair transplant?

  1. Propecia Patient Results
  2. Remarkable Result from 2 Years on Propecia
  3. One Year of Propecia Use
  4. Are Minoxidil and Propecia Worth Using?
  5. Reversal of Frontal Hair Loss from Propecia

All of them are absolutely legit. What reason would we have to lie about it? If they were surgical patients, we would’ve said that in the postings.

That first link shows a man with a line drawn in the before photo because he came in to discuss possible surgery, but was put on the medication and ultimately decided he didn’t need a hair transplant.

Tags: propecia, finasteride, hairloss, hair loss

My Husband Developed Bumps On His Scalp and Ears

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

Hello Doctors,

My husband (42 y.o.)is bald, and about a year ago he developed some bumps/sores on his head. They started at the top of his head, and worked their way from there to the back left and back right side of his head. They progressed to his ears, eventually on both sides, and came together at his nose. They are quite painful, itchy, and red. Often they develop dry skin patches with them, especially on his ears. They have never pussed up, but will at times open up and then scab over.

He has seen a dermatologist 4 times, and has been on 3 rounds of Monicycline, which seemed to help some. He’s tried creams; has changed to shaving with a straight razor, using a new and clean blade daily; has used Hibicleanse daily for months. He’s been off of the antibiotic for 3-4 weeks and now the bumps on his nose and the back left of his head have returned.

I am concerned that this could be cancer. We do not know what type of doctor to turn to at this point, and would be deeply grateful for your help.

Many thanks

I do not know how much I can be of help if your husband already has seen a doctor. Perhaps he should seek a second opinion from another doctor. Some people suffer from chronic infections of the hair follicles and may need a biopsy.

Tags: scalp bumps, infection, dermatology

Can Propecia Possibly Thicken Hair or Is a Transplant Necessary?

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

HI Doc,

I am a 30 year old Hispanic male who is currently experiencing significant hair loss. I’ve always had thin hair, but recently it’s very noticeable. I also have scalp psoriasis and sometimes use shampoo that contains salicylic acid, which I know weakens hair shafts. My question to you is: Can I use something like Propecia to thicken my hair or do I need a hair transplant to regain thickness (fullness)? Also, If hair transplant is needed, how many grafts does it look like I need. Please help, I’m willing to do anything to get my hair somewhat back to normal.

I have attached a picture of my hair/scalp. I give you permission to post my pic if you’d like.

Thanks

Click the photo to enlarge:

 

Propecia (finasteride) does not “thicken” hair that is thinning due to medication, but works for those who have thinning due to genetic male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia). The medication does not work to thicken transplanted hair but will often slow down or stop further hair loss. If you have early hair loss, it’s possible that Propecia could be helpful to even regrow some of the top and crown, but I wouldn’t expect too much regrowth in the hairline. You should really talk to a doctor about your options after an in-person examination.

If you want a telephone consultation, send good pictures with your hair pulled back and your frontal forehead wrinkled upward. That will show me where the hairline belongs. Just based on a single photo, I can’t tell you if a transplant is in your future or how many grafts you’d need.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant

I’ve Seen Superb Results from Finasteride But I Have Mild Breast Pain Around Nipple

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

Dr. Rassman &/or Dr. Pak,

I am contacting you to seek clarification with regard to something that you have already written about in the past. Here’s the link to the information I’m referring to.

I’ve been on finasteride (1 mg) for over 5 months and have experienced superb results. Unfortunately, I have been experiencing breast discomfort. The mild pain that I experience daily get is not confined to one breast and seems to be centered at the nipple. I remember experiencing this pain back in April, but don’t really remember ever noticing or, at least, worrying about it during the months of June or July. I talked about it with my doctor today and he told me to get off of finasteride (1 mg) for two weeks so that we can see if, in fact, finasteride (1 mg) has anything to do with the breast pain.

I’m 21 years old and have not experienced breast enlargement. Further, I have a stress or anxiety disorder that I’m thinking of dealing with by taking Prozac, which my doctor prescribed today. Also, I have functional scoliosis, which I’ve been dealing with for over two years by seeing an osteopath. Although great progress has been made with regard to my back, I still get pain and must exercise everyday. Aside from my psychological problems and my back (which is flexible and healthy, really), I am relatively healthy. I am very slim and jog regularly.

My doctor did not seem too worried about the discomfort that I experience. He didn’t even look at my breasts. Really, neither am I. I know I’m not going to get breast cancer. I don’t know of anyone on either side of my family that has developed breast cancer (including my female relatives!). This breast pain does not bother me and if it means that I have to deal with it to maintain my hair, then I would most definetly continue taking finasteride (1 mg).

What exactly is causing this discomfort? Could it be stress? Increased estrogen? I had a blood test done back in late April or early May and my doctor did not have to discuss the results with me.

Do you have any patients who have continued to take finasteride (1mg) despite having breast pain? What else do you have to say with regard to this topic?

Thanks so much! Your blog is incredible!

Breast enlargement or gynecomastia is a known (rare) side effect of Propecia (finasteride 1mg). You state you do not have gynecomastia, but have breast pain. Breast pain is a side effect of finasteride on rare occasion.

You also state your doctor did not even conduct an exam or seem concerned. I don’t know what the absolute cause of your pain and breast issues (could be the medication, could be something else), but I do think you should revisit your doctor and express concern about not being examined. Otherwise, find a doctor who is willing to at least examine your chest and conduct a proper history and exam.

Tags: finasteride, propecia, breast, gynecomastia, hairloss, hair loss

I Want to Quit Rogaine for Women After 3 Months

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

I have been using Rogaine for women for about 3 months and haven’t seen any results. I would like to quit using it a start on another regimen. How long do I need to wait after stopping Rogaine and starting another regimen?

After 3 months, a dependency probably did not develop, so you can quit anytime. I wouldn’t expect any results to be seen in only 3 months. It’s recommended to use the product twice a day for at least 4 months before any benefits might be seen.

I don’t know what else you’re going to try, but Rogaine (minoxidil) is the only FDA approved medication for treating female hair loss.

Tags: rogaine, minoxidil, female hair loss

In the News – Receding Temples or Crown Balding Means a Higher Risk of Heart Attack?

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

Snippet from the article:

People who had three to four signs of aging — receding hairline at the temples, crown balding, earlobe creasing, or fatty deposits around the eyelid — also had a 57 percent higher risk of heart attack and a 39 percent higher risk for heart disease in a study presented today at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2012.

…

Using data from the Copenhagen Heart Study, researchers analyzed 10,885 men and women 40 and older for visible signs of aging and, over 35 years of follow-up, heart disease. By the end of the follow-up period, 3,401 participants had developed heart disease and 1,708 had suffered a heart attack.

Read the rest — What Hair Loss Says About Heart Disease

Tags: heart, cardiac, heart attack, heart disease, hairloss, hair loss

Har Vokse

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

I was just curious about the new product “Har Voske”, their claims are that “in clinical studies it was shown to stop hair loss and promote regrowth in 90% of participants.” Have you ever heard of this product and would you happen to know if it is FDA approved or even effective?

Thank you.

“HÃ¥r Vokse” literally translates from Norwegian to “hair grow”. The product site says it is a blend of “marine polysaccharides”. There’s more than a few products out there that use these fish proteins and offer claims of hair loss treatment, but I would doubt that it actually does what its name implies.

There’s no FDA approval for this (or any supplement like it, since it isn’t required). The most well known product like it is probably Viviscal, and I wrote about that one many years ago here.

Finally, the site talks about a study published in the Journal of international Medical Research, but I can’t locate the study to see what they’re referring to.

Tags: har vokse, hair grow, hairloss, hair loss

HLCC Scripts Complete

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

Hi,

I have a question about a product that is a “advanced herbal alternative” to Propecia. It is called HLCC Scripts Complete: site

Can you comment on the efficacy of this product? The site mentions studies show that the product is effective, but I can’t find any information on the studies. Did they provide research that was peer reviewed? Were they funded by a non-biased third party?

Any help you can provide would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

This appears to be just another saw palmetto supplement with various ingredients. I’ve written many times about saw palmetto before, but basically there is no good science behind the claims attached to this herb for treating hair loss. The rest of the ingredients are also commonly used in herbal hair loss treatments… but remember, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

I can’t speak to whether this product was researched and published in a peer reviewed journal, but I doubt it.

Tags: hlcc scripts, herbal, hairloss, hair loss

I Have an Increased Libido and Increased Shedding After 3 Months on Propecia

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

Dear Dr Rassman,

I’m writing to ask your opinion on my furthered use of Finasteride. I’m nearly 28 years old, around NW 2. All the men in my family (father’s side) are NW 4a by around age 40. I first noticed hairloss at the temples at age 25, at which time it was quite mild.

After suffering extensively with this emotionally (I am/was a musician), I tried 5% minoxidil for 8 months (no results).

I then consulted a dermatologist for a Finasteride prescription (5mg quartered), which I have been taking for just over three months. I have noticed a slightly increased libido and markedly increased shedding which has gotten progressively more extreme to the point where I am increasingly rapidly losing my hairline and density behind it. I am losing hair all over my head and my crown is very itchy/red/inflamed, none of which I had before starting with Finasteride. None of the men in my family suffer from crown loss.

I simply wanted to add myself to the small list of men who feel strongly that the drug is making their hairloss much, much worse and ask whether I should wait it out the suggested year or cut my losses now. My dermatologist suggested stopping the drug.

You’ve written about finasteride shedding several times and I understand your opinion is that it is something of a myth. The statistical data shows that 89% do well with the drug over a 5 year period. Nonetheless, I have seen several anecdotal accounts from men that compare with my situation (age/NW) where they claim their hairloss sped up rapidly and never returned and am unsure what to take from this.

Thanks and best regards.

Your history is atypical. Increased libido is an occasional side effect that I have seen in my patients.

With regard to your shedding, it generally stops at about 3 months, but you need to go back to your prescribing doctor and have him examine you. I hope that he did a bulk analysis of your hair to see if you are actually losing hair bulk. Applying good science tells much about what these observations mean.

Tags: propecia, finasteride, hairloss, hair loss

I’m 18 and After 6 Months on Propecia, My Hair Is Miniaturizing Quickly

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

18, been on Propecia since April. Hairline fine, diffuse thinning in crown when I started Propecia. But since April, my anterior mid scalp has started thinning too at a very quick pace. What should I do? Should I just stay on Propecia and hope for thickening? The shafts themselves are miniaturizing, not shedding.

I’m confused because Merck states ‘3 months to slow’ for Propecia…if anything, loss seems to have accelerated. Should I stay on it? People see ‘1 year to see improvement’, but I’m not sure if that means regrowth or just a stopping of loss.

There is no perfect rule that says a drug will take effect in a certain amount of time for everyone. Most men may respond in a certain time frame, but others may not. Individuals respond differently to medication. Should you stay on it after only 6 months? That’s something you need to talk to your prescribing doctor about.

Tags: propecia, finasteride, hairloss, hair loss

PCOS, Hair Dye, and Hair Loss

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

I am a female that was just diagnosed with PCOS. I would like to know if there is anything I can do to prevent hair loss in the future with my condition? Thank you

I also have a question about bleaching/dyeing. I have dyed my hair a total of 20 times (at 27 years old). I have a sensitive scalp and stopped dyeing my hair because I don’t want anything on my scalp. However, last time I got my hair highlighted, they put a color solution on my scalp. My scalp is extremely sensitive and became red and itchy after 2 minutes of this solution and I made them wash it out. Could that have caused permanent follicle damage, especially in light of my condition?

Thank you

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often produces more androgens and can cause hair loss as a result of these hormones. For a young women, Propecia (finasteride) in contra-indicated because if pregnancy should occur while on this drug, the hormone impact on the fetus will impact the sexual development of the fetus. With this in mind, doctors may make an exception in the use of this drug in a young woman; however, such a patient must not get pregnant. For this reason, I would not prescribe finasteride in a young women.

Dying of the hair should be done by professionals who know how to test for allergies. There is a high degree of allergies with the dyes used, so what you may be experiencing are such allergies.

With regard to damage to the hair follicles, I would have to know much more than what you told here and examine you as well. Get an appointment with your doctor and ask him/her about hair damage.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, hair dye, pcos