6 Months After Starting Propecia, I’m Still Shedding More than Before

Hello Doctor,
At the end of summer, 2007 I began to notice some minor thinning. I briefly spoke to a dermatologist and was immediately given propecia. I began taking propecia and immediately had terrible increase in hair loss. I have read that this may happen. However, 5-6 months in, I was still losing hair. In addition, over that span it seems that my entire scalp diffused. I went to another dermatologist, who tested my iron and found out that I have very low ferritin levels and since I have Crohn’s, I started to get iron iv therapy. This dermatologist suggested strongly that I have TE. My question is, why after 6 months of being on Propecia would my hair loss be significantly worse and diffused, especially when there was no hair loss in those places. And additionally, why would it cause most of my hair to miniaturize?

Just an update: I stopped taking propecia due to the hair loss increase and breast tenderness. I have since been using Revivogen and Nizoral. What else would you recommend to get my hair growing again?

Thank you for your time

None of the other things you are taking to treat your hair loss actually have known benefits on hair loss. The presence of Crohn’s disease can induce hair loss as well as some of the medications to treat this disease (like steroids when they are used).

You need a doctor who you trust and will develop a Master Plan with to know what is happening. I always get a baseline measurement by mapping out the scalp for miniaturization before starting Propecia so I know what is happening over time, but I am not your doctor. Propecia users can go through an initial shedding phase, but it is not terribly common. Certainly, 6 months is well beyond any initial phase. Maybe you have something else wrong with you causing the hair loss? I would not want to treat you over the Internet, as that is not possible. Discuss this with your prescribing doctor.