Can You Take Finasteride Propecia for Diffuse Patterned Alopecia (DPA)?
1. Have DPA young patients (Early 20´s) more oportunities with finasteride in comparasion with a MBP who have a normal patron (NW 6).
2. Have you ever seen a early 20´s with DPA who have a good response to finasteride for a long time (10 years)?I am a 21 years old and I have taken finasteride since I was 18 years.. My dermatologist prescribed it to me.
Here you have photos of mine when I start the treatment (2012) and now
(2014).
Diffuse Pattern Alopecia (DPA) is basically the same as Male Pattern Balding otherwise known as Androgenic Alopecia. DPA, as the term implies, shows up as diffuse hair loss that occur in a “pattern” such as you see in male pattern balding but the permanent zone on the back and side of your head not impacted.
Finasteride (Propecia) is used for the treatment of this condition (DPA, AGA, MPB – they are all the same).
There is another condition called Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA), which may be genetic, but does not respond to the drug finasteride (Propecia). DUPA is uncommon; however, it is critical to have your doctor make this diagnosis before being considered a candidate for hair transplant or medication. These DUPA male patients often get a failure of the transplant, even if on the drug finasteride.
I cannot make a diagnosis with your photo and this blog is not a place for making diagnosis. I also cannot predict what will happen in 10 years. I am not a fortune teller. I have seen men in their early 20’s start finasteride for male pattern balding and has kept most of their hair. I have also seen them lose their hair rapidly despite being on finasteride as their genetic predisposition overtook the drugs ability to slow things down. It doesn’t mean that the drug didn’t work.
Hey doc, is there a before photo too?
Thanks