Category: Uncategorized

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10 years of finasteride, now my libido is down

I’m a long term user of Fin since 21 years old. Can honestly say I haven’t experienced one single side the entire time I’ve been taking it. I only take a quarter tablet every night 0.25mg I’m almost 31 in a few weeks. I’ve noticed over the past month or so my libido has decreased enough for me to notice.. I don’t have trouble getting erections, and I still wake up with one as well But I can go days without feeling the need to masturbate where I used to get the urge every day. My interest in the opposite sex has seemingly waned as well, I’m more focused on working out/exercising and my other hobbies. I’m trying to narrow down what could be causing it. Fin was obviously the first thing to spring to mind, could it be after years of no sides I could get them suddenly?

Yes, some men reported this to me. The problem is that as men get older, ED becomes a problem without finasteride and so does a reduced libido in some men, so it is difficult to tell if it is the drug unless they stop it and if they stop it, then the could lose considerable hair volume.


2020-04-20 17:44:0310 years of finasteride, now my libido is down

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I’m a Late Bloomer — Is It OK to Take Propecia?

I started thinning in one temple at 18 and was prescribed rogaine and biotin supplements. At 20 the entire top started thinning (especially in the frontal hairline area) and I am now nearing 21 and considering propecia, however, I am hesitant to start at such a young age for a couple reasons. I am a late bloomer with no facial hair and am constantly told that I look much younger than I am. I have two questions: 1) Will propecia effect my body’s development including facial hair? and 2) Is it more likely that something other than MPB could be affecting my hair because my body is so early in its development? I enjoy your blog and would appreciate any help you can give me. Thank you

It is possible (but not probable) that Propecia will slow down body hair growth. That has not been my experience. I really don’t know the answer to your perceptions of being a “late bloomer”. Some men don’t grow facial hair well at all, but at 20 years old your body is not early in development. I can’t say for sure what you’re experiencing without an exam, but from your brief one-line description, it sounds like MPB (frontal hair loss, top thinning). Propecia is a prescription drug, so discuss your concerns with your doctor.

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12 Year Old Has Alopecia — Is a Hair Transplant Possible?

Hello Dr.

I hope you answer my question. My 12 yrs. old daughter has been diagnosed with Androgenetic Alopecia at UCSF. Her hair has been thinning in the front and at the temples. We have been using the 2% Rogain for 3 weeks, as recommended by her Dermatologist. The hair in the back of her head seems normal. CBC, TSH, Iron, ANA were normal.Ferririn was 18, a bit below normal.

This is starting to affect her emotionally.

Is it too soon to think about hair transplant? should we wait until she is 18 or more? Please let me know.

Thank you for your time

It is extremely rare or unheard of for a 12 year old female to have androgenic alopecia. Androgenic alopecia (AGA) generally affects men past their puberty who are genetically susceptible to the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Does your daughter have hormonal irregularities? You need a good dermatologist to make an evaluation of her and I am not saying that the docs at UCSF are not good doctors, but a second opinion may have value. There are other forms of Alopecia and considering her age, I would want to explore all possibilities.


2007-10-01 15:31:5412 Year Old Has Alopecia — Is a Hair Transplant Possible?

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I’m Facing Excess Hair Loss at the Age of 20 Accompanied by Dry Scalp, What Could Be the Reason?

The first step in evaluating hair loss in women, after a detailed history and physical exam, is to rule out any underlying medical causes of hair loss that can be treated. If clinically appropriate, the following disease processes should be considered: anemia, thyroid disease, connective tissue disease, gynecological conditions and emotional stress. Furthermore, over 50% of women going through a change of life or hormone fluctuations (menopause) experience significant hair loss. It is also important to review the use of medications that may cause hair loss, such as (but not limited to) oral contraceptives, beta-blockers, Vitamin A, thyroid drugs, coumadin, and prednisone.

The following laboratory tests have been recommended to rule out the aforementioned medical conditions:

  • Sex Hormone tests
  • SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin) used to test status of male hormones
  • Estradiol is a sex hormone
  • FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) *not hair follicle but follicle in the ovary*
  • LH (Luteinizing Hormone) is a sex hormone
  • Free Testosterone
  • Total Testosterone
  • ANA (Anti Nuclear Antibody) used to test for Lupus or other autoimmune diseases
  • TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) used to test for hyper or hypo-thyroid disease
  • Test Iron status
  • TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity)
  • Ferritin
  • Iron


2018-09-24 06:38:54I’m Facing Excess Hair Loss at the Age of 20 Accompanied by Dry Scalp, What Could Be the Reason?

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15 weeks finasteride & minoxidil

This is a 20 year old male who got a partial return of his corner hairline with finasteride and Minoxidil. Because he was 20, the hair loss is recent and more easily reversed.

 


2021-01-17 15:12:4515 weeks finasteride & minoxidil

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I’m New to Hair Loss

Sir,
I am 27 year old from Bangalore, India. I have lost most of my hair due to male pattern baldness. You can say i am almost bald. I would like to get my hair back. Is there any way I can? I am not sure who to concact for this. Please advise.

I do not know where to start. First, please review newhair.com, as I believe it is as a fairly complete directory for hair loss and hair restoration information (possibly the largest and most complete site anywhere on the internet). Then review this blog site, which now has over 1300 questions and answers to various problems people have experienced with their hair. Then with that education, seek professional help. You can use the physician search at ISHRS.org to find a doctor in your area. You must exercise your brain and do good research to avoid the scams that are widely promoted around the world. Many of them are identified on this blog site, by people like you who do good research and share that research with me. This is a buyer ‘beware business’, but there are many good things that can be done for the average person with hair loss (which impacts almost 50% of all men and women in their lifetime). Good luck with the research and target me with questions once you are more informed.


2006-04-06 13:57:27I’m New to Hair Loss

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16 Year Old With Receding Temples Wants Dreadlocks

Hello, I’m 16 years old and I’ve been planning on getting my hair put into dreadlocks. I noticed my hair line near the temples were receding quite a bit. If I were to get my hair put into them would there be any negative effects?

Also, I had a blood test taken, and my doctor thinks that my baldness is down to my high testosterone levels and not much can be done for me, I told him about my real concern and I was told to take another blood test however focusing on different things. Is there anything that can be done to help regrow or prevent the baldness? I have been tempted to try certain products however I remain skeptical, what can you sugest?

  1. Dreadlocks may put extra tension on your hair and may accelerate hair loss or produce traction alopecia (hair loss from pulling and tension is common with dreadlocks).
  2. At 16 years old, your testosterone level should naturally be high.
  3. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of hair growth products out there. I am also a skeptic like you and I generally tell my patients that it is a “buyer beware” market. If you are concerned, have a good doctor map your hair for miniaturization and determine if you have early genetic hair loss and see if the doctor can predict the pattern of hair loss. I generally can do this in a young man at about the age of 25. Just remember that at your age, you are NOT a good hair transplant candidate and need to get the proper evaluation


2006-06-02 07:16:2916 Year Old With Receding Temples Wants Dreadlocks

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I’m Single and Balding!

I am a male, 24, and experiencing thinning on the crown of my head to the point where other people are saying “are you going bald?” and poking the thin area. Real nice. I tried a 5% minoxidil safeway knockoff and began to get redness and irritation on my scalp. I discontinued use but now have no idea what to do about my hair loss. Was this reaction due to the cheaper safeway brand? Should i try finasteride/propecia? What type of doctor should i see about the persciption pills? Dermatologist? please help I’m single and balding!

What you are describing sounds like classic male patterned genetic hair loss. You need to see a good doctor who will map out your scalp for miniaturization and then, assuming I am correct, put you on Propecia (finasteride 1mg). If the balding spot is the only sign of balding, then you have an excellent chance of reversing it with Propecia. It sounds like you had a bad reaction to minoxidil, but minoxidil is not the best medication, assuming that I am correct in the diagnosis (difficult without an examination). Some people experience irritation of the skin when using minoxidil (might be brand independent). A good dermatologist will do the right thing, but so can your family doctor. Make sure that no one even tries to suggest a hair transplant, as there are some less-than-ethical doctors that might recommend one for you.


2006-11-29 15:33:28I’m Single and Balding!

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I’m Worse Off Now AFTER My Hair Transplant

Dr. Rassman,

I had a my first procedure done over 1 year ago (1900 grafts) by a reputable surgeon but am extremely disappointed with my results. I have noticeably less hair now than prior to surgery. My doctor said the procedure went fine, but I have lost more native hair than transplanted hair received which is the source of my visible concern. My question – how do I know if this is correct. How can I know that the 1900 grafts survived or if there was in fact a problem with my procedure I am not aware of. I am 49 and have been on Propecia for several years. Have you ever heard of this situation? I feel like I’m in the middle of a nightmare – I have paid a small fortune to fast track my hair loss. I don’t know where to go from here. Please help!

I hear and see situations similar to yours nearly everyday. If you were a young man (under 25) and not on Propecia, I would predict the hair loss as almost a certainty. Hair transplant surgery should take into account a Master Plan to plan for future losses.

You should not have lost native hair at your age (49), as men of this age have hair that rarely reacts with shock loss, particularly as you are on Propecia. Although this is a risk that patients must be made fully aware of before having the surgery, there are too many uncertainties here for me to draw conclusions without examining you myself and see what happened to the transplants you had. Hopefully, you have good before pictures taken for an expert to draw conclusions. You need to have a second opinion.


2007-04-12 15:34:57I’m Worse Off Now AFTER My Hair Transplant