Month: June 2008

I’m a 23 year old male, and my hair is thinning out some all around my scalp, and from what i’ve read in various forums, and through other sources here on the web, that losing the “juvenile hairline” is a common problem in men. I’ve looked around at people and i’ve noticed this is true. Male pattern baldness doesn’t run in my family, having thin hair, sorta fine hair does though in some men in my family, but so does really thick hair, more thick then thin. I’ve been using extra strength rogaine for about a week now, the 5% percent stuff, and i’ve read lots of good reviews on it. But there is one review that concerns me some, it’s from amazon.com. The review is here: Amazon.com – Warnings they don’t tell you about

I’m wondering if this is true, I’ve done some other research and could not find anything that says this other then this review. I still have a pretty good head of hair, is my existing hair going to fall out if I continue using this product? or will I grow back some of what I believe to be dorment hair?

I am unclear if you are even balding. A maturing hairline is not genetic balding and Rogaine (minoxidil) will likely not help you if a mature hairline is the extent of your loss. Minoxidil does not work in a few days or weeks. It takes a good year to work and will only work on some people who have lost hair, not everyone. Everybody reacts differently to medication, you have a very small chance you will regrow your dormant or juvenile hair in the frontal area. If you have naturally thin hair and no miniaturization, minoxidil will not have any value for you. If you are losing hair, then it might work for you. Just remember that after you stop it, you will lose the hair you grew.

Hair grown from Rogaine will never grow as long as your other hairs and most of the time that I have seen hair growth from Rogaine, it was smaller hairs that had less thickness to them. It is a lifelong commitment if you want to keep whatever benefits you received.

Dr. Rassman,
Ive had a skin infection for about a yr on my scalp. Ive been on many prescription meds like Ketoconazole, Selenium Sulfide, Salicylic Acid and Clobetasol. Ive gone through symptoms from heavy irritation, flaking peeling of oily skin on the scalp and hair-loss, scaling, buildup, dead skin-white buildup. Lately I primarily have inflammation and buildup but it is very little and very tiny and very thin flaking during combing when scalp is dry. I’m concerned about my hairloss, thinning, shortening-Its noticeable now and continues to progress from the hair line to about 1 inch inward but is not perfectly symmetrical. Most of the hairs that fall out are with the bulb attached and I do notice very tiny hairs remaining at my previous hairline. The only thing that gives me relief is clobetasol, because I still have lots of irritation/inflammation which Ive been taking for 2 months with 6% salycilic Acid. Is it a good idea to start Propecia or should I wait for the scalp infection to go away? I took a blood test that came back Normal. Thanks

Sounds like you have a major hair/dermatological problem. These medications (like the clobetasol) are heavy duty stuff. I can only guess at your diagnosis. Taking Propecia (finasteride 1mg) will not hurt and might protect you from some of the ‘stress hair loss’ you are experiencing. I would check the use of Propecia with your doctor, but I suspect he/she would go along with it.

I have been kind of thinking that propecia has quit working for me, as I’ve just recently notice a considerable loss. I have been using it for around 8 years and it’s worked amazing. I also added rogaine to the roster a few years back and it got even better. But, as I’m sure most readers would agree one becomes more and more complacent and less regimental after continued periods of success. For instance if my girlfriend stays the night I sometimes find it hard to run to the bathroom and apply. I also have been missing some days taking propecia. I actually looked back at when I purchased the prescription, the date today and of course divided by 4 (I break proscar pills) When I extrapolated, I noticed I’ve been missing at least a day or 2 a week. Could that maybe be why I’m now noticing more loss, or do you think it might just be as you’ve said in the past my mpb fighting back harder?

Thanks for you time, I appreciate you and your site lots

You seem to appreciate the subtle nuances, so I am not sure what I can add. “Stay to the plan” is the only advice I can give you. If you stop the minoxidil or the Propecia completely, the hair loss will really accelerate. Missing a day here or there will not likely cause any great problem, but I’d stick to the recommended dosage as closely as you can.