Will Propecia Diminish My Body Hair? I Hope So!

Hello Dr. Rassman,

I would like to ask you 4 things about Propecia.

1. I am not worried much about the sexual side effects of this drug. I am worried, though, about the possibility of getting gynecomastia – as I already have it to some degree from my teen years and I am very self-conscious over it. I know what the percentages are for getting sexual sides, but do you know what the risk is for possibly getting gynecomastia?
2. Also, do you think I may be at an even higher risk – since I have already acquired it once? I wouldn’t want to make it worse and if I decide to get surgery to reduce it, I don’t want to spend the money and get it again!
3. Is there any type of test, whatsoever, that might show if I am at risk of getting this condition from the drug before I take it?
4. I noticed when I started to thin about 5 years ago, I also started growing more ear, nose and chest hair. I guess this is the “DHT Paradox.” I am wondering….if I take Propecia to regrow my scalp hair, do you think it will diminish my ear, nose and chest hair? I am hoping it will, because the only place I want to be hairy is my head. I had heard that dht causes hair-loss on the head, but actually stimulates it pretty much everywhere else (the paradox.) If this is true, do you think I’ll stop growing excessive hair in my nose and ears by being on it, in addition to helping with hair-LOSS on my scalp?

Thanks!!!!

The side effect of gynecomastia is hormonal when it occurs from Propecia. If you had it before, I do not know if it will happen again, but if that was in your teen years, the risks (although present) should not be great. I wouldn’t worry about the other side effects, as one of the great advantages of this drug is if you try it and experience anything untoward (other than gynecomastia), the side effects go away very quickly since the drug is largely out of your body in 24 hours. There is no test that I know of that will tell you if the gynecomastia will return or if you are sensitive at this time in your life to getting it back.

With regard to ear hair, nose hair, and body hair, this is caused by DHT… so welcome to the world of many curses. Propecia can slow or stop these in some men, but as it works differently in each person, I couldn’t say for sure how it will control your non-scalp hair, if at all.