Fin Response Timetable

[giantanddwarf]

I've been on fin for 6 months now and my temples are significantly thinned and slightly receded. My forelock probably has more volume and more robust hair than before, though it's hard to say for sure on either count. Ditto my crown. Certainly neither region (crown/forelock) has gotten worse. Maybe the forelock has receded ever so slightly but the other improvements would trump that.

 

Two questions: 1. Does fin accelerate the loss of hair that were 'on the way out', maybe speeding it up by a cycle or two? and 2. Does fin work slower/faster on different parts of the scalp?

 

Any thoughts/input would be appreciated.

[Dr Blake Bloxham]

Hi Giant,

 

Let me see if I can answer your questions:

 

1) It shouldn't accelerate loss. Finasteride is associated with an initial "shedding phase," but it usually resolves after the first 3-4 months. You may have experienced this and are now seeing some of it growing back?

 

2) It doesn't work faster or slower in different parts of the scalp per say, but it does "work better" in some parts of the scalp compared to others. Now, this is a controversial point. Theoretically, it should work on all parts of the scalp the same. However, the official studies only looked at how it responded in the middle and more posterior parts of the scalp, and most patients -- for whatever reason -- claim they see the most gains in these areas. It sounds like this is what you might be seeing; more thickness and stabilization in the middle and back portions of the scalp, and less effectiveness in the frontal portions (IE your temples).

 

Remember that most recommend taking the medication -- if you are free of side effects -- for 6-12 months (with most recommending 12) before determining whether or not it's effective for you.

 

Hope this helps!