Effects of Propecia

[anonym1234]

Hello everyone

I am young man from Denmark who was born with a big forehead. I have always been very insecure because of it but now as I have gotten older and realized that it is more common that I actually thought I have started to not care about it as much as I did earlier which is why I started to style my hair (I started in the end of 2017 to do it - before I always just had bangs and let it grow for like 2-3 months until it reached my eyes and then I got it cut again and so on). 

And that was when I started to realize that my temples had reeceded a bit compared to when I was young and had a almost straight hair line. I really hate and I am just so afraid of it getting any worse. That is why I have started to look into what solutions I have to might treat it. I know that I am way too young for a hair transplant and that it would not benefit me at all. But then I read about Propecia and the effects it can have.

That is why I am wondering if Propecia actually can recreate my hair line so to speak? I have heard that it works really well when taking early on in the process of losing hair. I think my temples started receding about two years ago - I am not certain though. I am going to talk to my doctor in the following week about my hair loss and maybe he will prescribe me Propecia and I can try to see if it works for me.

What do you guys think?

I have attached some pictures (probably 3 months old) 

 

[Melvin- Admin]

Propecia (finasteride) works great in stopping the further progression of hair loss. However, it rarely regrows hair and when it does it’s not in the temples or hairline and moreso in the crown vertex. The only way to regrow hair on a completely bald area is through hair restoration. With that said, starting medical therapy is a great way to prevent any further loss, I would also use Rogaine (minoxidil) as well in conjunction with propecia.

Consult with your doctor first and research both medications, they both carry pros and cons and have side effects although it’s rare they do happen. 

[gillenator]

Definitely make an appointment for a comprehensive consultation with a reputable HT specialist to discuss hair loss medications.

[anonym1234]

The problem is that there is really not any reputable HT specialist in Denmark.

[notbald]

My personal experience with Propecia was a mixed one, I have been using it for the last 10 years. it did help with maintaining my hair. However the side effects and the psychosocial effects of it has been pretty bad. It did cause sexual side affects and I stopped taking it. 

If you aren't worried about the side effects, it can help with maintaining your hair, however if you stop it you will notice shock loss that can be bad. 

[Sean]

Finasteride can help maintain hair and in some cases regrow.  Rogaine can work too but your chances with regrowth are slim if that area of hairloss has been bald for more than 2 years.  

There is another drug but that should only be used if docs approve it (dutesteride aka avodart).  It is stronger and there are worries with pregnancy and interactions with alcohol.  

I too had a forehead issue, surgery in the right hands probably could treat it.  

Right now, i am not doing too well but avoid surgery as much as you can until you have distinct hairloss (if you think you need it).  

Have you tried any other hair styles as an option?  Sometimes changing your hairstyle may help. There are also concealers that may help.  

Best of luck.  Hope it works out for you.  

 

[anonym1234]

Thank you all for your help. I am not sure what to do but I will found out.

What do you think of this article?

https://www.bernsteinmedical.com/answers/finasteride-propecia-minoxidil-rogaine-work-front/

Could a combination of Finasteride and Rogaine maybe grow back my hair in my temple areas? 

[Legend007]

Hey Sean ,, how u doing ,, how come u not doing well ? I know u had 2 surgeries that wasn’t good .. u haven’t gotten it repaired ? Can u give us an update on ur status .. worries bout u man .. read some of ur threads .. hopefully things will work out for u .. u always been helpful around here ..

n the op,, hop on fin if u want to retain some hair .. it’s not a miracle drug .. but it helps the root of the hair follicle from miniaturizing so ur hair won’t fall out as easy .. don’t over think it .  

[gillenator]

On ‎7‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 9:50 AM, anonym1234 said:

The problem is that there is really not any reputable HT specialist in Denmark.

You can do a virtual consultation with some of the reputable doctors in Belgium.

[Speegs]

Go to a dermetologist to look at your scalp if a hair physician is unavailable, they can assess your scalp and prescribe finasteride with a good deal of knowledge.

[gillenator]

Not all derms are up to speed for treating MPB and the corresponding hair loss meds that treat this type of genetic hair loss.

[anonym1234]

Hello all

Thank you for your help - I very much appreciate it.

I have written to all of the Belgium doctors who this sites recommend asking them what they think I should do.

If I were to have a hair transplant in the future what doctor would be the most qualified to create a new, natural hair line? I have just seen so many hair transplant where the hair line does not look natural and I definitely do not want that if I ever were to have a hair transplant my self.

Best wishes

Mathias 

[Sean]

1 hour ago, anonym1234 said:

Hello all

Thank you for your help - I very much appreciate it.

I have written to all of the Belgium doctors who this sites recommend asking them what they think I should do.

If I were to have a hair transplant in the future what doctor would be the most qualified to create a new, natural hair line? I have just seen so many hair transplant where the hair line does not look natural and I definitely do not want that if I ever were to have a hair transplant my self.

Best wishes

Mathias 

The best doctor to create a new natural hairline?  That is the million dollar question.  You have some great docs near Europe that do this too.  Cuoto, Keser, Lorenzo, HDC, etc.   best is to get at least 10 different consults to get an idea of how many grafts are suggested by each doc.  Best of luck.

Edited August 4, 2018 by Sean

[hairlossPA]

I’ll say this... get on finasteride and tough it out. I was too scared to start taking it 2 years ago, now i’ve lost a lot of hair and wish I had started taking it back then. I’ve been on it for 2+ months now and haven’t had any sides

[Speegs]

1 hour ago, hairlossPA said:

I’ll say this... get on finasteride and tough it out. I was too scared to start taking it 2 years ago, now i’ve lost a lot of hair and wish I had started taking it back then. I’ve been on it for 2+ months now and haven’t had any sides

I applaud you for doing so, the fear mongering about finasteride is a boogeyman that refuses to die on the internet.

None of the alleged side effects are common, and none known side effects are irreversible by simply discontinuing the use of the medicine.

It's also noteworthy that almost all men claiming sexual impotency during the timeline of finasteride use are in the age range where impotency issues are more likely to occur as a general fact of life.

Young men are all but immune to such an outcome.

 

[notbald]

On 8/5/2018 at 4:30 AM, Speegs said:

I applaud you for doing so, the fear mongering about finasteride is a boogeyman that refuses to die on the internet.

None of the alleged side effects are common, and none known side effects are irreversible by simply discontinuing the use of the medicine.

It's also noteworthy that almost all men claiming sexual impotency during the timeline of finasteride use are in the age range where impotency issues are more likely to occur as a general fact of life.

Young men are all but immune to such an outcome.

I don't know what you are basing this on, my personal experience has been absolutely terrible. I was on fin for more than 10 years and I absolutely don't recommend it, I would call it poison that doesn't kill but decapitates. 

Also the shock loss once stopped can be huge.

Edited August 6, 2018 by notbald

[Speegs]

14 minutes ago, notbald said:

I don't know what you are basing this on, my personal experience has been absolutely terrible. I was on fin for more than 10 years and I absolutely don't recommend it, I would call it poison that doesn't kill but decapitates. 

Also the shock loss once stopped can be huge.

So respectfully, finasteride staved off hair loss for a decade and then when you discontinued it a decade of hair loss proceeded to play catchup. 

That's a testament to the efficacy of the drug, not a strike against it.

 

 

Edited August 6, 2018 by Speegs

[gillenator]

Could not agree more!...

[fortune11]

The drug is VERY effective in stopping hairless, no question .  It helped me as well for about 2 years 

But there is a cost as it affects your endocrine system - most people don't perceive the changes, but for those that do, it can be terrible for them 

So there is a tradeoff, but more like roulette - if your number is up, then you may suffer.  If not, decades may go by and nothing bad happens.  

I recently got my hormone panel done by an endocrinologist and he recommended I stop taking Propeica.  I have stopped for a couple of months now and can already see my hair is less thick than it used to be,  Rogaine helps, but not as much.  

But my transplants are decent enough that I can live with the marginal loss, so no complaints so far in terms of appearance.

This is all I have to say.  Now people may attack me for "fear mongering"  but it does not change the facts of the case for my individual situation.  

 

Edited August 25, 2018 by fortune11

[gillenator]

Everyone responds to medications differently and I think it's a good idea to have routine blood work done at least annually.

[Panamera13]

Given the libido side effect on me(and for those who have had it since FIN); did you alternate dosage every other day? did it help? Basically, does reducing FIN 1 mg 4 days a week vs 7 days a week help and still control hair loss. 

I'm not liking the side effects of FIN and bought a laser cap, scalp elixir etc so these act as "adjunct" treatments to FIN and my reliance on  FIN is reduced. Also, do you take any supplements that have helped with FIN?

Rogaine doesn't work for me...itchy scalp and no hair loss control.

Edited August 29, 2018 by Panamera13

[1978matt]

14 hours ago, Panamera13 said:

Given the libido side effect on me(and for those who have had it since FIN); did you alternate dosage every other day? did it help? Basically, does reducing FIN 1 mg 4 days a week vs 7 days a week help and still control hair loss. 

I'm not liking the side effects of FIN and bought a laser cap, scalp elixir etc so these act as "adjunct" treatments to FIN and my reliance on  FIN is reduced. Also, do you take any supplements that have helped with FIN?

Rogaine doesn't work for me...itchy scalp and no hair loss control.

I think MWF at 1mg is more than enough, you might even see decent results on 0.5mg.

I take MF at 1.25mg which seems to work enough and limits any sides.  I was doing 0.5mg but switched to Proscar as Propecia was a bit on the expensive side.  Twice a week may not be optimal but at least it is chipping away at DHT and buying time.

Edited August 29, 2018 by 1978matt

[gillenator]

I have been taking it every other day for years and still efficient.