Category: Drugs

Dear Doctor
Do you know any possible ways of avoiding eye irritation because of minoxidil lotion usage?
*Does it make any good if i put goggles on when i am applying it on my scalp?
*Does it make any good if i close my eyes during application?
*Does it make any good if i wash my forehead with a wet cloth after application?

Thanks..

You should not get eye irritation from minoxidil use. If you are having eye irritation you are likely allergic to the medication or you are doing something wrong. Goggles are not likely the answer.

I stopped using Propecia (Generic) approx 2 yrs. ago & switched to Avodart as Finasteride was no longer effective after 10 + yrs. of use.

What is the possibility that Avodart would be comparable to Propecia in minimizing shock loss before another transplant? Also, although you have strong reservations about this, what are the “possibilities” Avodart would have a similar effect used in conjunction with 2% ketoconazole on hair growth as propecia does?

Just wondering if you have any feedback from other physicians. Thanks again for a superior forum!!

Avodart (dutasteride) is not approved for the treatment of androgenic alopecia, but I realize some doctors and patients out there use it for that purpose anyway. The results and its effectiveness over Propecia (finasteride) are unclear, but at best, in my opinion, you get about the same result with a higher side effect potential. Did you have your hair bulk measured before you started the Avodart so that you could compare it to today, 2 years later? I’m curious to know what you saw.

As to the minimization of shock loss from Avodart… I do not know, but I would expect it will have value at preventing it, just as Propecia does.

Hi Dr.

I have a quick question. I apologize in advance if you have already answered it as I tried searching. I am 30 yrs old and I have been using Propecia for almost 1.5 years. When I started it worked great, within a few months it stopped hair loss and I even noticed a bit of regrowth on the temples. Recently I got a hair cut and noticed that my hair is thinning again. And I have started to see my scalp.

My question is that is it possible for Propecia to stop working abruptly ? If yes should I consult my doctor again for options ? or is this the end of the line.

Also I might add that there has been added stress in my life recently do you think that this maybe a temporary thing where the effectiveness of propecia may bounce back ?

Thanks in advance

Hair loss can be a very subjective thing. Just to look at your hair and to judge how thick or thin it is can depend on lighting and perspective. It also depends on your hair cut. I would think that getting your hair cut short would make one’s hair look thinner (more light allowed to the scalp) anyway. Besides that… Propecia does not just stop working. Hair grows in cycles, so I would think when hair is actively in a shedding cycle, the impact of Propecia may be lessened – albeit this is somewhat of a stretch.

The best advice I can give you is to stay on the drug even if you think it is less effective. But in any case, talk to your prescribing doctor.

Hello Doc,

Within the next days, I’ll map my own scalp for miniaturization for the first time. However, I have been taking finasteride for one year. (It kept most of my hairline but didnt regrow anything.) So without having done the test before, how accurate can the results be after such a long time?

Besides, currently only my left corner is receding (between NW 1 and 2) and the whole side is more see-through than other, where my hairline has already receded 3 years ago and then stopped at a Norwood 2. Is it common to see one side go up because of maturation, while 2 years later the other catches up by MPB? Or do hair characteristics (such as curliness or color) vary in diff areas, create the see through appearance, and will these hairs thus look differently under a microscope? Thanks again

A miniaturization study is an attempt to objectively quantify the degree of thinning and place a metric to different areas on the scalp so that you can compare one spot to another, as well as compare the measurements over a period of time. It is better than just looking in the mirror or running your fingers over your hair to judge the degree of thinning.

Ideally, one should get a baseline miniaturization measurement and even a photograph before starting on any hair loss treatment. If you have been on finasteride for about a year, I would at least get one objective measurement to record for comparison at another date.

If you are categorizing yourself as a Norwood 1 or 2 and the degree of thinning is on the front corner hairlines, I would point out that finasteride is taken mainly for men with thinning on the top / crown areas. Any hairline asymmetry will likely even out eventually. I generally like to get bulk measurements in people like you to establish a baseline from which future comparisons can be made.

I seem to repeat this theme over and over, but you need to follow up with the doctor who is prescribing you the medication and understand your treatment goal and Master Plan.

I just want to say that im approaching 18 months on propecia and I just recently got a hair cut and took some new pictures, and compared to to the old ones, my hair def looks better. it looks thicker and seems to be getting better. I just want to say thanks for all the info you gave me, and give me the advice to stick with it and not discontinue it (which at one point I wanted to give up). Thanks doc, really appreciate all the help.

doctor can some stress cause hair loss? I experienced a stressful week a couple of weeks ago (not an extreme, but just some worrying and anxiety), and kinda worried if it can make hair loss worse, or not. I mean I have experience worse stress before and my hair stayed the same, just want to know want kind of stress really causes hair loss

thanks again doctor. you are the best

I’m glad to hear you’re seeing positive results from the Propecia. Some men want to give up after a few months because it’s not an instant result, but you stuck with it and it paid off for you. And since you’re an actual patient of mine, you should make plans to come see me for a re-evaluation.

Some stress can cause temporary hair loss, but do not judge it on a week or a month basis. I wouldn’t be too concerned about a stressful week. That happens to most of us from time to time.

Snippet from the study abstract:

OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the relationships between pharmacologically induced deprivation of dihydrotestosterone, sexual arousal, libido and hand preference, by comparing the self-reported sexual response prior to and during reception of the anti-androgen finasteride in men undergoing treatment for male pattern baldness.

PATIENTS AND METHOD:
In total, 33 sexually healthy Romanian men participated in this study. Patients prospectively provided information regarding their sexual functioning (over 4 weeks), as measured by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) prior to and after commencing treatment with 1 mg finasteride for male pattern baldness.

Read the full abstract — A pilot study on the sexual side effects of finasteride as related to hand preference for men undergoing treatment of male pattern baldness.

The results of this pilot study indicate that there may be a connection between sexual side effects due to a reduction in DHT and handedness.

Hello,

I’m using flixotide 100mcg 2 times a day. Flixotide contains corticosteroid that works against inflammation for my asthma. Because it is a steroid, could it accelerate androgenetica alopecia? I can’t find good answers about this subject.

Hopefully you can help me. Cheers.

Chronic use of steroids can negatively impact hair loss, but I don’t see anything in the literature that shows hair loss as a side effect of Flixotide (fluticasone). There is little I can offer here.

Hi Doctor,

Some people started to use topical cetirizine to block PGD-2, they all say that they have re-growth from it and thickening up the vellus hairs and make them vellus in 3 months or so? it might be true?

I really do not know the answer. There is an association between cetirizine and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), which is related to hair loss. There is no clear evidence that cetirizine, an antihistamine, can restore hair at this time. Just applying it to the skin makes no sense to me.