Drugs – Page 271 – Balding Blog

Finasteride and Acne – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, I’m 23. I’ve lost some hair around the temples and have been taking Proscar 5 mg in quarter doses for 9 months now (with gaps due to the following). I’ve been experiencing facial acne but when I stop using proscar, the acne vanishes. Is it due to proscar? Perhaps the condition they call hyperandrogenicity? Can the acne be avoided while using Proscar? May I take Finasteride and Minocyclin at the same time to avoid this problem?

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I have had occasional reports that Propecia reduces body hair growth. I have reviewed a number of articles in the medical literature to answer your questions and what I learned is that there is no known connection between finasteride, loss of body hair or and that a relationship exists between this drug and acne. Many of the researchers who thought that there might be a connection found in various reslearch activities that Propecia has no value to treating or causing Acne. With regard to your last question, you can take finasteride and minocycline at the same time.

For more, see Dermatology: Finasteride for acne?

I’m Going to Miss 5-7 Doses of Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Due to shipping problems, it looks like I am going to miss 5-7 doses of Propecia after never missing a beat for the last 3.5 years or so… I know it is not reccommended to miss doses, but will this brief gap do me much harm, if it is a one time deal? I’m getting stressed about it because it has been very helpful for me and I know that after a day or so it is completely out of your bloodstream…. Thoughts?

It is probably alright to miss 5-7 doses. There will be a minimal impact, I suspect. Your stress will probably do you more harm. It usually takes a few months to lose the benefits gained from Propecia. You must also understand that bloodstream levels and tissue levels are different. Tissue levels are more important and they probably hold for a few days.

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Nortriptyline, Migraines, and Hair Loss – Balding Blog

(female) I have been taking nortipyline for several yrs (20+), due to migraine headaches. I also had 3 months course of accutane 6 yrs ago. I have noticed for the last 3 yrs a significant hair thinning/ hair loss around my temple, left side greater than on the right. Is possible this is due to accutane from 6 yrs ago side effect or the nortipyline? I have taken extreme measures to care for my hair, weekly shampoos and conditioners. Please help.

If you stopped using Accutane 6 years ago, I highly doubt that it is the cause of your recent hair loss. Furthermore, before you consider your medications (nortriptyline) as the cause of your hair loss, you should explore other medical causes with your primary care doctor. Hair loss in women can be a sign of a medical condition (thyroid disease, anemia, etc…).

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Flaking Scalp — Is This a Reaction to Rogaine Foam? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have been using propecia for years and have also been using Mens Rogaine Foam for about 6 months. I thought the rogaine and propecia combo was working, but just recently my scalp has started to look like it is peeling and flaking in the front, could this be a reaction to the Rogaine, even though it wasnt doing this to me before?

The scalp irritation you describe may be a reaction from your use of Rogaine, which is a known irritant for some people. It does not matter if you have been using it for 6 months. Irritations can still occur.

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Rogaine Foam vs Regular Minoxidil – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

hI, My hairline started to recede two years ago. My Dr. recommended me Rogaine foam but I’ ve read that it does’ nt work to build or reconstruct the hair line. I do have male pattern baldness. Do you think that with Minoxidil or Rogaine foam I will recover some hair in my hairline. Wich one do you think is better Minoxidil or Rogaine foam?

Are you really talking about frontal balding or the maturing hairline? You are correct in stating that Rogaine is not effective on the hairline. Propecia is also not very effective on the hairline. These medications are effective in slowing down hair loss from genetic balding, not the maturing hairline.

With respect to foam versus the generic solution version of minoxidil, the foam is relatively easier to use and I have been told by other professionals that the foam is possibly more effective because of the delivery mechanism. The foam also produces better compliance amongst its users.

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Selsun Blue Shampoo and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am 17 years old and recently it seems like my crown is thinning. There is a visible area in the back and my brother was the one to point it out. I recently started using Selsun Blue for my dandruff. I’ve heard that it can cause hair loss. Any truth to that? This is really making me go crazy.

I highly doubt that Selsun Blue is the cause of your hair loss. If you are losing hair on the crown area which is typical of male pattern hair loss, you may have “genetic male pattern hair loss”. If you are still concerned about hair loss, see a good hair transplant physician to see if you are a candidate for medical therapy such as Rogaine or Propecia. A good doctor will map out your scalp hair for miniaturization and can put a number that will tell you if you are balding.

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Cocaine and Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

cocaine and propecia? would cocaine help to balance out the libido problem?!

Are you asking for approval to use cocaine for a libido problem?

Cocaine is a potent (and illegal) substance that constricts your blood vessels. To have an erection, you need the opposite to occur and cocaine is known to produce sexual dysfunction.

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When I Take Creatine, Hair Grows Thicker and Longer – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello. I’ve been taking creatine on and off about 2 years now and I’ve noticed a strange pattern. Everytime I get off creatine, the hairs on my body(including scalp) grows thiner all over and some falls out. When I go back on creatine, new hair grows back much thicker and longer than it naturally would be. Most people seem to think there’s a connection between creatine and hair loss but for me it’s hair growth. Am I some sort of a freakish exception or do other people experience this?

I do not know you well enough to confirm that you are “freakish”. Kidding aside, I do not know of any good research that correlates hair growth with creatine. Most are all anecdotal evidence like your story. In other words, I unfortunately do not have an answer to your question.

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Been Taking Finasteride Since 1993 – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr.

I have been using Proscar 2.5 mg since around 1993. I am 45 and do not have any balding at the vertex, just a little thinning when out of the shower and some recession at the temples. Could dutasteride perhaps be a better alternative and possible thicken hair at the vertex and maybe get back some of the recession?

There is no magic cure for hair loss. You can’t just rub a magic lamp and make a wish. I don’t mean to make light of your situation, but really what I’m just trying to say is that even dutasteride has its limits. I realize some patients may want to maximize their treatment and increase hair growth, and extensive scientific research show that finasteride 1mg is just as effective as finasteride 2.5mg or finasteride 5mg for the treatment of hair loss. Dutasteride is not yet FDA approved for the treatment of hair loss, but it is presently being tested in an FDA approved study. The side effects of dutasteride (sexual) are more than on finasteride. As this medication must be prescribed by a doctor, I would suggest you take this question to the doctor you choose.

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Do DHT Blockers Reduce DHT Only in the Scalp? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Do DHT Blockers, in general, reduce the level of DHT in the body as measured by a blood test, or is the intent to reduce/block DHT in the scalp? Could you have high levels in blood test results and still benefit by Avodart/Finasteride?

DHT blockers reduce the level of DHT in the blood stream/body and anywhere it has appropriate receptors. The prostate is a good example and sometimes people who are having a hard time urinating (usually over 50 years old) will find that Propecia makes the urinary symptoms better.

Hairs that are sensitive to DHT will fall out according to their genetic fate. You can have very high levels of DHT, but as long as your hair is not sensitive to DHT, Propecia will have little effect on the normal hairs.

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