Drugs – Page 292 – Balding Blog

December 14, 2006

Texture Change Over 5 Years — Is This a Hair Loss Indicator? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

As of now I don’t have any apparent signs of male pattern hair loss. However I am 25 now and my hair is definitely not as dense as it was 5 years ago. There is also a texture change from 5 years ago as well. The texture of my hair back then was thicker and harder and now it’s a lot softer. Is this an indication that my hair loss is occurring at a very slow rate? Also why am I able to pull out more hair from the crown vertex area of my scalp when tugging lightly as opposed to the front of my scalp? In the frontal area I can never see as much when lightly tugged on. Is this a sign that I may go bald in this area of the scalp? You’re answers are greatly appreciated. Thank you Doctor.

If there is a ‘texture’ change when you compare the back to the top or crown areas, you may be experiencing early hair loss. The best way to tell is to have your scalp mapped out for miniaturization and then the diagnosis will be evident, one way or the other. The loss of crown hair from pulling or brushing may also be a sign of early hair loss. The drugs like Propecia (finasteride 1mg) for those early in the process in your age group can be miraculous and you should see a change in the amount of daily hair loss within a few months of starting a drug like Propecia, assuming the diagnosis is confirmed.

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December 13, 2006

Hair Loss Information » Taking Biotin to Prevent Hair Loss? – Balding Blog

I am a 22 year old male, and have just recently started noticing minor thinning in the front of my hairline. Male-pattern baldness runs in my family. I consulted a stylist who told me that taking a supplement with Biotin can prevent hairloss. I am not worried about regrowing any hair, as it isn’t a problem yet, only maintaining what I currently have. I ordered 3 month supply of Provillus, which contains both Saw Palmento and Biotin. My plan is to see if it has any effect or not. Is this a good approach and also what else could I do if this doesn’t help?

Why experiment when we know that if the diagnosis of genetic hair loss is confirmed, then finasteride works? Every day, every month, and every year you experiment, you will allow your irreversible hair loss to get worse and worse and worse and worse. Stop playing Russian Roulette. Biotin is no answer to your problems, unless you are deficient of biotin.

December 12, 2006

Alternative to Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I do not want to go on medications for the rest of my life. What are the alternatives to DHT blockers like Propecia (finasteride)?

Alternatives for finasteride (approved by FDA for treating hair loss) and dutasteride (not FDA approved for treating hair loss):

going bald
getting balder
getting thinner and thinner hair
receding hairline or hairless crown

The choice is yours!

December 11, 2006

If I Stop Taking Propecia, Do the Benefits Disappear Gradually or Immediately? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Doctor,

I have one note regarding one of your lines here at this question http://www.baldingblog.com/2006/10/31/if-minoxidil-and-propecia-work-best-in-the-crown-how-can-i-save-my-hairline/ your words (the hair loss picks up again and makes up for the time the drug was effectively holding the hair there) , does that mean once you stop taking propecia your hair in the front get lost as if this hair was gained by the medicine even though if it was just restored by the medication or it would take the normal way of losing hair as if you havent taken the medication in the first place??!!

Please Clarify..!!

Best Regards..

I use the term ‘catch-up hair loss‘ which means that the hair loss will occur at an accelerated rate over the months after stopping the drug. You can probably expect that you will lose all of the benefits of the Propecia (finasteride) plus whatever hair you would have lost (had you not taken the drug) in the 3-6 months after the time you stop taking it.

If you note that the hair loss has started (after you stop the medication) and you go back on it, some of the lost hair may reverse if you react to it quickly.

December 11, 2006

I’ve Been Taking Propecia for Years, But I Notice My Hairline Getting Worse Now – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

First of all congratulations on the great web site. It’s really useful! My question is about Rogaine. I’m 32 y.o. and have been on Propecia for the last 7 years. It seems to be working OK but for the last 18 months or so I’ve noticed my frontal area may be a little worse. Should I consider adding Rogaine to my treatment or will it be useless on the frontal area? Thanks in advance for any help!

You can try adding Rogaine. Chances are, it won’t help a ton in the frontal area (it works best in the crown), but it is worth a shot. I like the idea that only one change will be implemented so you will know in about 6-9 months if the addition of the Rogaine works. As you are probably aware, Propecia will not stop the hair loss all of the time, but it always slows it down. Congratulations on staying the course. This is what every balding man should be doing.

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December 11, 2006

What If I Take Propecia, But Don’t Need It Yet? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

If you take proscar 5mg tabs & cut it into 4’s, will it work the same as propecia ? That’s what i’ve been doing. It’s cheaper. Also, if you take this & don’t need it, could it make you lose your hair ??

Proscar is the same medication as Propecia — finasteride. They just come in different dosages.

Never take a drug that you do not need. Get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to find out if you need it and if you have genetic balding that needs to be treated. Taking Propecia when you do not need it may have some long term problem that was heretofore not discovered yet. Why take any risks?

December 8, 2006

Doctor Said I Can Quit Propecia After 6 Months – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi doc. I’m 20 years old and nw 1,5. I’ve been using propecia medication for 6 months with very good response but in the last appointment with my doctor he told me ‘it’s time to quit propecia and you will no more lose your hair.’ I have doubts what should I do? Can it be real, is it possible to beat MPB by taking early medication? If my doc is wrong what my decision have to be? Thanks.

Propecia (finasteride 1mg) works through inhibiting production of DHT, which is responsible for male pattern baldness. By stopping Propecia, you allow the DHT to be made from testosterone again, which can deleteriously affect your hair growth. If you look at this diagram of Propecia effect on hair count, you can clearly see that the rate of hair loss increases in patients who stopped Propecia and were put on placebo (solid circles on graph) and even after restarting them on Propecia after one year, the number of hairs doesn’t reach to the patients who continued using the medication.

The only reason to stop taking the medication is that a diagnosis of genetic male pattern hair loss is not present. To make this diagnosis, your doctor can map your scalp and if there is no miniaturization present, I would agree to recommend that you go off the Propecia; however, if miniaturization is present, then you should stay on the drug for the rest of your life as there is no cure for MPB. Talk to your doctor and make sure there is not any other reason for discontinuing the medication. You can take a copy of this blog posting and go over it with your doctor.

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December 8, 2006

So If I Get Shedding from Propecia, Does That Mean It Is Working? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Doc,

I have been on propecia for three months. After my pills ran out I got a little lazy and didnt renew my perscription. In fact I havent been on the drug for almost four months. During this time I noticed considerable shedding, which I guess, reading from your blog, is to be expected. My question is though, does the shedding mean that the drug was actually working? Or is it some abnormal side-effect?

FYI I am 22 and baldness runs in my family.

Sounds like you figured it out. Please be smart and go back and stay on the drug. Discuss this with your prescribing physician.

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December 6, 2006

Melanotan Product and Hair Color – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’ve read about this new peptide called Melanotan. I don’t think it has yet gained FDA approval, but it’s supposed to change your skin pigment, enabling light skinned people to tan and decrease their chances of skin cancer.

If this drug works the way it claims to, would it also change the patient’s hair color?

I don’t know anything about Melanotan. Sorry! Drugs with claims of specific benefits are controlled by the FDA. The manufacturers could have a problem making any drug claims without FDA approval.

I found some interesting sites for you to look at:

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December 6, 2006

Propecia and an Infected Prostate – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am 23 years old and have been losing my hair for nearly two years now. I am very interested in starting on propecia, but I had an infected prostate a few months ago. With anti-biotics it went away after a month. What should I do?

I would think that taking Propecia (finasteride 1mg) after a prostate infection is cured should not be a problem. Please though, check with your doctor.

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