Month: August 2008

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Using an Estrogen Reducer with Propecia to Avoid Possible Gynecomastia? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

There are some reports of users developing gyno while on propecia. I can only assume this has to do with the fact that DHT is an anti-estrogen, and Propecia inhibits DHT production resulting in more estrogen.

My question is, can I successfully use a SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators) like Nolvadex to reduce the amount of estrogen in the body while I take Propecia? These drugs are used by bodybuilders after their steroid cycles to ensure they do not develop gyno either. I know you’re probably going to tell me to check with my doctor (which I don’t have and can’t afford), but I’m just asking for your opinion mainly… from a medical standpoint.

Thank you!

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Developing breast tenderness, nodules, or even gynecomastia can be a side effect of Propecia, but this is a rare occurrence. You are correct that Propecia blocks the conversion of testosterone to DHT, which causes an increase in testosterone in the blood that can be aromatized (converted) to estrogen, thereby causing the side effects. You can always decrease the dose of Propecia under the advice of your physician if you develop any unwanted side effects. In my experience, however, those who developed gynecomastia did not get a benefit of halving the dose.

The use of other drugs must be decisions between you and your doctor, remembering that this is just a website which can not make recommendations in your treatment.

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Yaz Birth Control Pill and Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

This site is a great resource! I see that you have answered questions before about Ortho Evra and hair loss, and depression and hair loss. I wanted to know if Yaz (another birth control pill, but with a lower dose of estrogen) can also cause hair loss – and depression/mood swings? My doctor already ruled out thyroid or other conditions as a possible cause. I´m trying to figure out what is causing what.

Thank you!

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YazI would suspect that regardless of the dose of the oral contraceptive, if a woman has a genetic predisposition for hair loss, then the medication would serve to increase the loss. Some medications may have more of an effect than others. On the other hand, Yaz claims to help with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), thus decreasing the chance of emotional and/or physical stress which can exacerbate hair loss. As with many medications, there needs to be a balancing act with regards to intended use and benefits versus side effects. With that being said, Yaz (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol) is known to cause scalp hair loss as a rare side effect — see Drugs.com.

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Body Hair from Treating High Blood Pressure with Minoxidil – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

The following comes from Dr. Michael Beehner, reflecting back to the days when minoxidil was used in the treatment of high blood pressure (1970s). He writes…

I’ll never forget this one older lady in her 80’s when I was in family practice, who had one of the highest blood pressure readings I had ever seen. After trying a variety of other drugs and combinations, I found that the only thing that would bring her blood pressure down into the normal range was Minoxidil, along with a Thiazide (water pill). I followed her for a few years on this and always marveled at how hairy her arms, the back of her hands, and virtually all of her body was. It was like evolution going backwards, in the days when mankind had body hair. In hindsight it didn’t take too many brain cells for the person who figured out that there was a connection between the Minoxidil and hair growth!

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Diet and Hair Loss – I Need Real Information!!! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Okay, I am hoping this is going to be my last post for a long while (maybe ever!). There is all this contradictory information as to whether exogenous factors can contribute to, accelerate, and/or possibly cause male pattern balding. These include hair gel, dairy, smoking, pot, alcohol, natural increases and dietary sources of growth hormone, injected HGH, shampoo, shower water, pollution, red meat, hormones in meat, weightlifting, l arginine, high saturated fat diets, etc. There are also exogenous factors that supposedly help fight hair loss — green tea, soy, caffeine (in vitro), saw palmetto, pygeum, pumpkin seed extract, omega 3 fatty acids, l arginine, staying away from high saturated fat diets, etc. Finasteride is apparently found in tubers in C. America so apparently diet does do something for hair loss, right? Then we have all these stories about how Native Americans and Inuits have no hair loss and are lactose intolerant, and stories of how Asians have high soy diets and allegedly no hair loss until their diets became Westernized.

I need some answers, man. I can’t believe with all the science and surveys we have we haven’t ascertained how diet affects us, if at all. Should I be drinking soy (which I’ve also heard has phytoestrogens which can stump bone growth) on a daily basis or should I be drinking milk!? It’s so confusing. So I need some definite answers as to whether diet can affect either positively or negatively male pattern hairloss!!

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You clearly did a lot of research. When you get your answers and you are clear as a bell on what it all means as you mix and match them, please feel free to share them with me. I do not have all the answers and whenever there are reports of things in the diet that can help hair growth, it can not be scientifically substantiated. Likewise, diets heavy in meat have been reported to have negative impact on hair growth while rice has just the reverse, yet all of this has no science behind it.

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Can I Put Minoxidil On My Face to Grow a Beard – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,

I’m 23 years old and have lot of spots with no facial hairs. It’s really embarassing because if it’s not shaved, it looks awfull. Can Minoxidil can be used for that case ?

Thanks a lot.

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Rogaine (minoxidil) can cause facial hair growth if it is applied to the face, but the hair that grows may not look like beard hair. I’m not suggesting you do this, as you should follow the instructions outlined on the packaging. It is an over the counter medication though, so you’ll have to use your own judgment.

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Johnny Depp’s Hairline – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Johnny DeppI have pretty much a receded hairline like Johnny Depp in the picture links below. I’m almost 22 and from that pic it looks more then a Norwood 2 scale. But if Johnny’s temples were so receded since like almost 20 years ago how come he can still have such great hair and no balding? Is it normal to have temples like him in those pics?

Photo 1  –  Photo 2  –  Photo 3

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Based on all the photos I’ve seen, actor Johnny Depp is not suffering from genetic hair loss. This is his mature hairline and is normal. Some have speculated that he might’ve even had hair transplants, but I don’t think that is true. I’ve written about Johnny Depp before — here and here.