Category: Hairlines

I just got the results from a scalp biopsy. My doctor had some interesting conclusions. I was wondering if I could run them by you.

1. She said that the results from the biopsy were able to differentiate between MPB and a maturing hairline. Is that possible? She said that the biopsy did indicate MPB. I find this confusing considering I have only lost hair at the corners of my hairline. I just assumed it was a mature hairline.
2. She prescribed Propecia. She said that if you have very slow hair loss that Propecia will in fact completely arrest its development. From what I’ve read on this blog Propecia can only slow it down.
3. She also said that Rogaine works on the hairline as well as the crown.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

In all my years, I really never relied on a biopsy to differentiate between male pattern baldness (MPB) and a maturing hairline. Actually, I do not know how one would see that on a biopsy and I would want to know exactly where the biopsy was placed. Plus, it would leave a scar if you were to biopsy the frontal hairline. Getting a biopsy to determine the cause of hair loss is generally performed to see if there is an inflammatory or a scarring type of balding from an autoimmune disease, for example. In my opinion, a maturing hairline or genetic male pattern baldness diagnosis does not require a biopsy.

There is nothing that completely stops hair loss. Propecia is a great medication, but it is not a cure for hair loss. It could slow the hair loss down to make it appear that its completely stopped, but there’s still minor loss going on.

Rogaine and Propecia have been tested and proven to work best on the crown area. Many patients use both Rogaine and Propecia for the frontal hairline and it does work for some men… but not as well as it does for the crown.

If you’re concerned that your doctor made the wrong diagnosis, feel free to get a second opinion. You don’t want to take medication if it is unnecessary… so if it turns out you only have a mature hairline, there would be no reason for you to take Propecia or use Rogaine.

Doctor reading this really scared me. Its from hairlosshelp.com

This is what someone posted regarding propecia

“Yes. I barely had any recession, it honestly looked like maturing of the hairline, and me having my dads hairline, it looked like thats what was happenning. Eight months in 2/3 of the front of my head fall out, I end up shedding 100+ hairs a day for 5 months, where as before Fin I only shed 15 a day. I was in so much denial I kept using it. So yah I ruined my hairline. Thankfull it’s growing back, but I probably permanately turned on the balding genes in those hairs, because it raised my testosterone so much. My testosterone used to run around 650, it got all the way up to 900 on fin. And, by the way, fin DID DO what its suppose to – it lowered my DHT signifcantly, it’s the testosterone that killed my hairline. Hairlines are beleived to be more sensitive to all androgens.”

Is it true? The hairline is more sensitive to testosterone and fin make the testosterone go up?

I would really appreciate it if you can answer this question ASAP. Im sure alot of people would also want an answer to this question.

The hairline is less sensitive to DHT blocking, but I don’t know if it is more sensitive to testosterone. The probability is that frontal hair experiences apoptosis (cell death) at an earlier age than the hair in the crown in most people.

In regard to the story you read that was posted about Propecia, that is one person’s experience and the story hasn’t been validated. I won’t make light of what this person says, but it isn’t objective and I just don’t believe everything I read (particularly on message boards where anyone can sign up with fake information). You can find all kinds of claims on the Internet, but who will validate the story?

And even if it is true, what would you like me to add? Are you asking for reassurance that Propecia will not cause hair loss? You will lose your hair with or without Propecia if you have the gene for male pattern baldness. Hopefully you have a doctor to work with, so talk to your doctor. Get the facts straight. If you look hard enough the Internet, you will probably never leave your house due to the fear mongering that goes on.

hi doc,

A few months ago i was studying for exams, which was obviously stressful. Around that time i ran out of propecia for a week, suprise suprise, i then realised my left hairline had taken a beating which wasnt there before. my question is, is it possible that i lost hair by stopping propecia for a week? if i lost hair because of stress when can i expect to see it grow back?

thank you

It does not quite work that way. Just because you stopped Propecia for one week does not mean it caused the loss of your frontal hair. I wouldn’t expect you to notice much loss in benefits from a week off the medication. Moreover, Propecia isn’t really as effective for treating frontal hair loss and works best in treating crown/top hair loss.

Now there are rare occasions where medication does provide some regrowth at the hairline, but these are very rare and it most likely won’t regrow. There is no medication that can prevent or reverse this with any level of certainty.

As well, stress-induced hair loss in those men with genetic hair loss will likely not regrow. Perhaps your hairline is maturing?