Propecia and Acne?

hi doc, i just had a quick question for you. im 23 and i started losing or at least noticing my hair loss this year, so i have been taking propecia for 2 months now, my question is does propecia cause acne, because for some reason my acne has got really bad, but my sex drive seems to be normal, should i continue to take propecia and hope that my acne is from other causes? because i dont want to go to my doctor and waste time if you can help me? please respond back, thank you.

I do not believe acne is a common side effect of Propecia (finasteride 1mg). Your question is very peculiar though. You are obviously concerned about your thinning hair and have hair loss to a degree that has made you desire to invest time and money in taking Propecia. Acne and early hair loss have a common thread — they happen to occur at about the same age. I believe that if there is a connection, it is with the age of the patient. According to a published study titled 5 alpha-reductase and finasteride in pattern alopecia and acne, “There remains debate whether 5 alpha-reductase will additionally also prove beneficial for acne”

This research is still ongoing, but if Propecia is a source of your acne, are you willing to stop taking it to halt your acne? In other words, are you willing to lose hair for clear skin? That’s entirely up to you.