Month: January 2023

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After 3 Months on Propecia, My Hair is Oily

I am a 24 year old male, and have experienced mild hair loss for the past 2 years or so, mostly in the temple region. However, the rate of hair loss has significantly increased in the last 8 or 9 months, and has expanded to the entire top of the head. The front is now very thin, and my scalp is plainly visible all over when the hair is wet. I began taking Propecia 3 months ago, and have not noticed any slowdown in the rate of hairloss. What I have noticed recently, is that my hair has become very oily (it has never been very oily before), and mild acne is beginning to form at the hairline.

So my two questions are:
1) Is the increased rate of hair loss, and sudden expanded hair loss region normal?
2) Is the oily hair and/or acne side effect of Propecia? Normal symptoms of hair loss? Or something else?

Thanks a lot for your great blog!

These are questions for your doctor. Remember, you’re asking about a prescription medication. You should pose questions about this sort of thing with your prescribing doctor.

In my experience, what you are reporting for the first three months with regard to seeing a benefit on Propecia is usual as it takes almost a year to see value. With regard to the oily nature that you are reporting, I have not seen this reported by my patients.

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After 3 Months of Propecia Use, I Can’t See My Scalp Under Harsh Lights Anymore!

Earlier this year I noticed my hair seemed thinner and a miniaturization exam revealed diffuse loss on the top of the scalp but not the sides or back. It was modest loss, only visible under harsh lights, but my hair definitely felt less dense.

Nearly three months later after consistent Propecia use, I could swear my hair feels thicker and I can’t see as much scalp in the mirror under harsh lights. Could this be a real effect or is it probably in my head? (No pun intended!)

This type of result seems like it might be too quick after just taking Propecia for 3 months, but I suppose it’s possible that you had a really great response, which we have seen in some men from time to time. It usually takes a few more months for most men to notice that much positive change, though. I’d keep taking the medication and keeping track of the gains.

Congratulations on the good fortune and better hair!

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After 13 Years on Propecia, Could I Be Developing a Facial Rash From It?

Hi, I am 43 year old and been taking propecia 1 mg per day and 5 % minoxidil. I have taken these for the last 13 years. The results have been amazing, probably a little less hair on top and sides now. As far as I am aware you didn’t/don’t think I have had any side effects. Well I have a slight none itchy rash above my upper lip. I have got very worried about using the propecia so I want to give this drug up. How would I scale down the drug and over what time period please. I have already halved the tablet each day. I do hope you can help, there is just so much worrying data on net saying about terrible side effects after finishing off propecia. Thanks in advance

The dosage of any medication has little to do with the allergic response. If you are allergic to it, cutting the finasteride pills in half will not solve your allergy issue. It’s possible that either Propecia or minoxidil could cause allergic reactions like you described, but you could and probably should see a good doctor for the discussion.

Stopping the pills or the minoxidil for a couple of weeks will have minimal impact on the hair, but will address the allergy issue if that is the cause.


2011-08-25 11:09:02After 13 Years on Propecia, Could I Be Developing a Facial Rash From It?

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After 10 Years on Propecia, I Finally Started Shedding

Dr, I have been taking Propecia for 10 years. If the drug would indeed stop working, what exactly would happen? Would I have some form of telogen shed? Or would the loss be gradual? The reason that I ask is because I am going through a severe shedding phase that began in September of 2008 and it continues until now. I have indeed ordered the “generic” drug from overseas the past couple of years. Could the overseas drugs be bogus and this is the reason I began shedding again?

There’s two possible problems — the generic you bought overseas could be fake, or your finasteride dosage could just be starting to finally lose the fight to your genes. I often talk about a tug of war of sorts, where Propecia works on one side of the rope and your genes work against it. The genetic side appears to be slowly winning. Talk to your doctor about increasing your dosage to 2mg daily and see if that helps.

Whatever you do, do not stop the drug! You’ve taken the medication successfully for 10 years now, and it hasn’t stopped working for you… but if it’s not due to fake overseas medication, then it’s not slowing the hair loss as well as it was before. Stopping it completely will likely result in a massive catch-up hair loss situation occurring.

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African American Hair Expert

I’m an African American female and want to know which is better for my hair, pressing with a hot comb or using a non lye relaxer (like Precise). Also, I have hair loss and hair is very thin. I had a hair restoration in June 2005 by Bosley. Can you please recommend things I can do to improve my hair? Do you consider yourself an expert in dealing with African American hair?

I believe that I was the first person to place follicular units into an African American and started the trend that allowed for the use of small grafts in African hair types. As you may know, hair transplantation is a ‘peg in a hole’ surgery, but African hair is curly (like a cork screw) and therefore placing it into a round hole can be a difficult challenge to the inexperienced hair transplant surgeon. I guess that would make me an expert for transplants into African American hair types.

With regard to your other question, I am not an expert in the best ways to ‘relax’ hair, but I see problems with those individuals who have this done improperly. I am an expert in the complications of such treatments. I would have to examine you to make any recommendations.


2006-01-16 10:00:14African American Hair Expert

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African American Female with Bald Crown

I am an african American female 35 years old. My entire crown is bald. What do I do now? I’ve been using 2% minoxidil and it continues to fall out.

You need to be seen for close examination of your hair and scalp. A diagnosis should be made. You could have a variety of non-genetic hair conditions causing it. You might have genetic female balding limited to the crown as well. I need to know the miniaturization mapping results of your scalp and the pattern of your hair loss before making any diagnosis and treatment plan. You need a good doctor to take charge of your hair loss.


2007-03-09 10:32:36African American Female with Bald Crown

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African American Female Hairline lowering transplant (photo)

This could never be done with a hairline advancement surgery because only a hair transplant could have matched the original shape of the hairline she is known for. This woman is a successful model and continues that way.


2020-03-03 07:36:13African American Female Hairline lowering transplant (photo)

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African American Female Hairline Loss

Hi I am a thirty year old African American Female. From my early childhood, I have been exposed to tight ponytails, braids, weaves and chemical services applied incorrectly. Surprisingly, I still have a head full of hair with the exception of my thinning hair line. My hair is currently chemical free and has been that way for over seven years. I normally wear wigs as a protective style. My hairline is still thin. Is surgery my only option?

Norwood 4AUnfortunately, there’s no medication that can restore a hairline and surgery might be the only option. Hair transplants for the frontal hairline work well, even in African Americans. Unfortunately, many African American women I’ve seen with traction alopecia have lost much of their frontal hair, even the hair that goes into the temple peaks on the side, creating a concave look similar to a Norwood Class 4A pattern (see image at right). The problem is that the larger the area, the more hair it takes to get a thick result.

African Americans usually are born with less hair than Caucasians (about 65% by hair count) so the supply is often more limited. In your case, if the hair loss is just in the frontal 1 1/2 inches, you may be able to get it back. A good examination is important, especially when made by someone who has considerable experience capable of giving you realistic expectations.

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African American with Donor Site Depletion

Your donor area may show some donor site depletion from the FUE. This is not unusual if you had many grafts harvested.

The average African American hair density is generally low, so it limits the FUE procedure to about 1500 FUE grafts.


2018-11-01 06:45:15African American with Donor Site Depletion