A View of New Rogaine Foam – Balding Blog

A note from a blog reader:

I just tried the Rogaine Foam and found that it dries very fast and helps makes my styling easier. I don’t particularly like the lemon smell that they put to it, but the odor does go away in a few hours. I think that you need more of it than with the recommended dose that is used for regular Rogaine.

I thought this might be interesting for those that have used minoxidil in the past, but do not like the mess of the topical liquid. I have no experience with the foam, but if others out there have used it, please feel free to post your thoughts about this product.




Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Estradex for Androgenic Alopecia? – Balding Blog

I have just been diagnosed with AGA and given some Estradex. This is very costly and i’m wondering if I could get the same effect by using Minoxidil and taking a high oestrogen pill, or a pill that helps inhibit Androgens? Also, do you believe Estradex to be more effective than using Minoxidil alone? My fear is that it may just be an overly priced lotion. Thankyou

I do not understand or appreciate what Estradex is, so I can not comment on it. As you were prescribed this by a doctor, ask that doctor. Androgenic alopecia, also known as AGA (female genetic hair loss), needs to have an extensive evaluation. Have you had it? See previous Female Hair Loss posts for more.




Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


I’m a Dermatologist and I Say Rogaine/Propecia Are Worthless – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Does Dhea cause hair loss? If it does, when it is discontinued can the hair grow back or is it too late. Also can Retin A be used by itself to regenerate hair loss? Also can topical melantonin have any value. As a dermatologuist, i can tell you that rogaine and propecia are close to worthless.

DHEA can cause hair loss. When it happens in men, it often triggers or accelerates the genetic hair loss and in men, this is often not reversible. Retin A can not regenerate hair, nor can topical melatonin.

Your comment about the value of both Propecia (finasteride) and minoxidil does not reflect my thinking nor my clinical experience. I have seen people completely reverse on Propecia — see Propecia Patient Results (with Photos) for one example.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Revivogen vs Propecia – Balding Blog

I stopped using propecia about 4 months ago because, after about a year, I started to experience sensitivity in my testes. I will say that my hair loss totally stopped, but I couldn’t handle the pain. So, about 2 1/2 months ago, I started the revivogen/tricomin pack, and I had been experiencing large amounts of shedding! Every morning in the shower there’s hair everywhere. Revivogen states that some shedding is expected for the first month and that it’ll stop, but the future doesn’t look promising. Should I get off of it? If propecia worked exceptionally well as a DHT inbitor, shouldn’t revivogen do the same?

Propecia (finasteride) is a known DHT blocker while Revivogen is not main stream for DHT blocking and there is minimal science to back up the claims for DHT blocking in that product. I have heard about pain in testicles just recently with Propecia. Sounds to me like you are going to lose a lot a hair by the choices you’ve made. Four months is about ‘no man’s land’ with regard to going back to your state from before you stopped the Propecia. If I were you, I would go back on the Propecia and then if the hair loss reversed, consider reducing the dose if the pain in your testicles continued. You are (I believe) right that the hair loss “future doesn’t look promising”.




Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Cycling Finasteride to Avoid Side Effects? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Two questions,

  1. I started on 1mg propecia a month ago experienced sides in a week, started 0.4 mg propecia have experience sides again. After reading the study on your webpage that said 0.05 mg was good enough and propecia could be dissolved in ehtanol, would it be advisable for me to dissolve a 5 mg tablet in 500 ml of vodka and drink 5 ml everyday?
  2. You said finesteride stays in you hair follicle for a month but your blood for a day, could I just cycle propecia to avoid sides, one week on three weeks off?

Block Quote

I never suggested that ethanol be used. I generally do not like to recommend anything except for the FDA prescribed dose for finasteride, but have shown information that is reflective of my educated readership. If you want to drink vodka, I would tell you that you should do what you want, but do not tie it to your hair loss or your hair treatments.

I really do not understand the cycling you are talking about. I think part of what you are saying is that there are sexual side effects that you are trying to get around by changing or reducing your dose. If that is what you are saying, go for it.

Any Advice on How to Ween Off Avodart? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

dr. rassman,

i’m a 23 year old male with MPB. i’ve been on avodart for about 18 months (0.5 mg/day) and have noticed little results. i’m not sure, however, if the medication has slowed my hair loss and to what degree. i want to swap back to propecia for health/safety reasons..but i’d like to avoid a huge shed. any advice for how to make the swap? should i ween off the avodart?

I am using judgment, not experience in answering this question. As Avodart (dutasteride) has a 5 week half life and stays in your system for months, I would stop it cold, and start taking Propecia after a month. You can actually start Propecia (finasteride) earlier and as long as you do not get side effects (sexual side effects in particular) the double dosing should have no negative effect.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


My Multi-Vitamin Contains Saw Palmetto – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have been on Propecia for roughly 4 months now. It is working great. I noticed MPB early, got a scalp biopsy (and consequently a diagnosis), and obtained the finasteride all within 10 days. I am relatively happy. Great blog by the way.

This morning, I just noticed that my multi-vitamin contains Saw Palmetto, 50mg. My dermotologist had mentioned that you should either take one or the other, and not both, but I’m hoping the dosage is small enough to not matter. My question is could this have a stacking effect? How much Saw Palmetto is “prescribed” for MPB? Is this even near a dose? Am I now forced to always take 50 mg of this for life too? Just curious.

Saw palmetto is often ineffective for treating MPB. If it works at all, it is a weak DHT blocker so that there should be no stacking impact with Propecia. If you should stop saw palmetto at any time, there should not be a withdrawal effect, so you can safely stop the saw palmetto at any time.


Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Hair Loss InformationI Read Online About Propecia Side Effects and Now I’m Freaked Out! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am seriously considering taking propecia, I did a bit of research online and came across a few sites that really freaked me out, askthepatient.com propeciasideeffects.com. which report serious side effects and by some people they have not gone away. what do you say about all this, I would really like to take the drug but I am a bit freaked??? please answer me

Block Quote

Propecia (finasteride) has side effects that I know of, as follows:

  1. Increased libido in some men (usually older), because testosterone levels go up by about 15%.
  2. Decreased libido in about 1-2% of men, Also, erectile dysfunction is included in this group.
  3. Decreased in prostate cancer. Many people, like me, feel that this may be the magic bullet for prevention of this disease.
  4. Breast nodules in far less than 1% of men taking Propecia.

As the half life of this drug is 5 hours, it will be out of your system in a couple of days after stopping it. If you get any of these side effects, they will go away. Although I do hear some reports of other ‘not feeling well’ side effects, these may well be psychosomatic. If you need it, try it, for there is nothing to lose. If you do decide to try it, then you should give it a fair opportunity to benefit you by taking it for a full 8-12 months.

Right Hairline Improved with Propecia, Left Hairline Has Gotten Worse – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hey doc, I’m a 19 yrs old male and I’ve been on Propecia for about 8 months. I’m happy to say that my right hairline has improved beyond my expectations. Unfortunately, I haven’t any improvement on the left side of my hairline, in fact it has gotten worse. I have shoulder length hair and I’m considering shaving my head (which would throw 8 months of Propecia use down the drain), for my hairline from the front appears akwardly unbalanced (one side its thick while the other is see-through). Before I make such a hasty decision, I was wondering if I should try 5% minoxodil or anything else you’d recommend? And the comb over at my age is not an option. Thanks.

What you are telling me is that the left hairline probably showed more balding than the right, so that the right side’s loss was easier to reverse (being more recent). In men of your age, Propecia works well to reverse ‘early’ hair loss. By all means, shave your head if that is what you want to do, but for your own sake, do not stop taking Propecia. If you are balding at 19, chances are that it will progress more rapidly than on those not starting as early as you, so staying on the Propecia will slow or stop it from progressing. Stopping it will just get you where you would have balded had you never started taking it and as your genetic code has planned for you.

Many young men tell me that they are losing frontal hair when they are just developing a mature hairline. The normal child’s hairline moves up about 1/2 inch in the middle and 1 inch on the corners. One side is often faster than the other side, making the hair loss appear out of balance (symmetry). Could this be what is happening to you?

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Hair Transplant Sales Pitch vs Patient Education? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

It’s well documented that minoxidil may cause some initial shedding. I’ve also read this can occasionally occur with Propecia as well. My question is, will this be only an initial occurance or is it possible shedding may occur in cycles?

I’ve been using both Rogaine and Propecia for nearly eight months now. Occasionally I’ll notice greater spurts of hair loss. But in the end, I find it hard to detect any overall thinning.

I’d like to get my hair mapped out for miniaturization. But the most prominant hairloss physician in the Orlando area basically used my $60 office visit for a ten minute sales pitch for a hair transplant.

Block Quote

What you described is, unfortunately, a doctor who has hia/her own agenda in mind, not yours. Hair transplant physicians should bring their expertise to educate you, diagnose you and answer your questions. If, after the visit, you do not feel that you are better informed, then you have learned something important — do not go to that doctor. The sales pitch is disgraceful behavior and as you probably know, I speak strongly against doctors who just try to sell hair transplants rather than meet their patient’s needs.

With regard to your questions on shedding, I believe that once you are on either Propecia or minoxidil for 8 months, any shedding from these medications should not occur. Hair shedding, other than the normal hair cycling that everyone has which impacts about 10% of the hairs on your head at any one time, should not occur unless the hair loss process is progressing more rapidly into a new accelerated phase of hair loss.