Can Finasteride Cause Skin To Age? Idk

[Eatel]

After being on 1mg/day of Finasteride for two months and 5mg/day of Finasteride for three weeks I started taking 2.5mg/day of Finasteride. I was getting some slight breast pains on 5mg/day so I cut the pill in half and the breast pains went away. I thought the breast pains were a sign of gyno forming down the road and didn't wanna risk it. Anyways, I've been on the 2.5mg/day dose for about 3 months now and it seems to me that my crows feet and wrinkles under my eyes have gotten worse. The dents on each side of my nose have also become more pronounced.

Call me crazy but I think I might be aging due to Finasteride. I don't drink or smoke and the only real lifestyle change I've made was upping the dose of Finasteride. Is it possible that Finasteride is causing me to age an accelerated pace? I can't find any concrete evidence or any studies that proves Finasteride could cause aging but I have no idea what else could be causing this. Could the aging be due to an increase in estrogen levels in my body? Perhaps the increase in free testosterone in my body from blocking DHT has led to more testosterone converting into estrogen, which in turn is causing my skin to age? I know that an increase in estrogen and a decrease in testosterone causes men's skin to age as they get older. Could Finasteride be accelerating this process?

 

[Incinerate]

I won't call you crazy even though you deserve worse.
Why would you take more than 1 mg, there are litteraly no reason for taking more than 1 mg except the prostate and i assumed you took it to keep your hair, and 1 mg inhibits as much DHT as 2,5 mg, max is reach around 1 mg.

Of course you expose yourself to more side effect when you take 5 times the recommended dose a day. But skin ageing is supposed to be a rare side effect of minoxidil.

I assume you take minoxidil too since you went hardcore on finasteride, you seems like you want to put all the chances on your side so obviously you didn't skip minoxidil right ? then if you feel like it is altering your skin, maybe you shoud stop or reduce the dose.

How old are you

 

[soundnvision]

If anything I think I look younger/more baby faced on finasteride.

 

[NorwoodingMyWay]

Dude, Estrogen is a blessing for the skin. What causes horrible skin agings are Androgens.

 

[Eatel]

I won't call you crazy even though you deserve worse.
Why would you take more than 1 mg, there are litteraly no reason for taking more than 1 mg except the prostate and i assumed you took it to keep your hair, and 1 mg inhibits as much DHT as 2,5 mg, max is reach around 1 mg.

Of course you expose yourself to more side effect when you take 5 times the recommended dose a day. But skin ageing is supposed to be a rare side effect of minoxidil.

I assume you take minoxidil too since you went hardcore on finasteride, you seems like you want to put all the chances on your side so obviously you didn't skip minoxidil right ? then if you feel like it is altering your skin, maybe you shoud stop or reduce the dose.

How old are you

Basically the story behind this is that after my first two months on Finasteride 1 mg I called my pharmacy for a refill. The pharmacy called my doctor and got a refill for 30 5mg Finasteride pills with the instructions to take one daily. When I got home and opened the bottle I saw all blue pills instead of red and noticed they were 5mg. I thought it was weird, but the bottle said to take one daily so I started taking 5mg daily. I researched it and came across a study that compared 5mg of Finasetride to 2.5mgs of Dutasteride and the study claimed that the 5mg dose is more effective than the 1mg dose IIRC.

I don't use minoxodil or anything else for hairloss. I'm 28 with a full head of hair. Last year I started taking Enbrel for psoriasis and the Enbrel caused me to have male pattern baldness on one side of my head. I had some slight temple recession and I got a notch in my hairline that I've been trying to fix with FInasteride. I noticed on 5mg of Finasteride that more of my hair seemed to grow back in that area so I tried to stick it out. I just started quartering my 5mg pills a couple days ago because I'm worried about if it's causing my skin to age. It also seems like I'm getting diminishing returns on the 2.5mg dose. I have been thinking about making the jump to Dutasteride but I fear my skin aging would worsen on that since it's stronger than 2.5mgs of Finasteride. I don't know what to do here. I don't know if it's the FInasteride causing this or what.

 

[Eatel]

Dude, Estrogen is a blessing for the skin. What causes horrible skin agings are Androgens.

I thought estrogen was only good for women when it comes to skin? I thought elevated estrogen levels over time in men cause their skin to age?

 

[NorwoodingMyWay]

I thought estrogen was only good for women when it comes to skin? I thought elevated estrogen levels over time in men cause their skin to age?

Nope, Estrogen is good for the skin in both men and women. What causes male skin ageing are Androgens. Even though Testosterone gets lower in older males, DHT and other Androgens are still pretty much intact. DHT, being 5 times as potent as T, is all the skin needs to show wrinkles.

 

[Bornwithacurse225]

Nope, Estrogen is good for the skin in both men and women. What causes male skin ageing are Androgens. Even though Testosterone gets lower in older males, DHT and other Androgens are still pretty much intact. DHT, being 5 times as potent as T, is all the skin needs to show wrinkles.

finasteride is an anti androgen right? So it’s good for all this?

 

[NorwoodingMyWay]

finasteride is an anti androgen right? So it’s good for all this?

Maybe, Maybe not. When i was on dutasteride for the first few months, i suffered an upregualtion of sort that increased my sebum + acne + libido + inflammations. It was mainly Testosterone (which was increased with dutasteride) that was causing me all this. So based on my experience, it's a hit or miss with 5ARIs.

 

[Eatel]

Maybe, Maybe not. When i was on dutasteride for the first few months, i suffered an upregualtion of sort that increased my sebum + acne + libido + inflammations. It was mainly Testosterone (which was increased with dutasteride) that was causing me all this. So based on my experience, it's a hit or miss with 5ARIs.

So in your experience Dutasteride caused you to age for the first few months due to sebum and inflammation? Did all of that go away after a few months?

I've cut my Finasteride dose to 1.25mg/day for the past 9 days and my skin looks better. After 3 months at 2.5mg/day it looked like it was causing me to age. Only problem is my hairline is suffering from it.

 

[NorwoodingMyWay]

So in your experience Dutasteride caused you to age for the first few months due to sebum and inflammation? Did all of that go away after a few months?

I've cut my Finasteride dose to 1.25mg/day for the past 9 days and my skin looks better. After 3 months at 2.5mg/day it looked like it was causing me to age. Only problem is my hairline is suffering from it.

I wouldn't say i "aged" prematurely by dutasteride, however it was just the constant sebum/dandruff and acne that was infesting my skin. I needed Accutane to solve my dutasteride problems. After my Accutane course, sebum and acne were slowly returning yet again, and i knew i needed an AA. If i didn't lower my Testosterone levels, i couldn't have sloved this problem without being on Accutane indefinetly.




I saw multiple posts about how finasteride destroys the user's skin. You should continue using the 1.25 mg dose, as finasteride inhibits ~the same amounts of DHT at 0.5 mg to 5 mg.

 

[Eatel]

I wouldn't say i "aged" prematurely by dutasteride, however it was just the constant sebum/dandruff and acne that was infesting my skin. I needed Accutane to solve my dutasteride problems. After my Accutane course, sebum and acne were slowly returning yet again, and i knew i needed an AA. If i didn't lower my Testosterone levels, i couldn't have sloved this problem without being on Accutane indefinetly.




I saw multiple posts about how finasteride destroys the user's skin. You should continue using the 1.25 mg dose, as finasteride inhibits ~the same amounts of DHT at 0.5 mg to 5 mg.

Is that really true about the dosages though? I remember seeing a lot more growth on my hairline with 5 mg than I saw on 1 or even 2.5 mg. A lot of the gains I made on 2.5mg seem to be receding since I made the switch. Is that normal? Is it a shed? Do you think I will get those hairs back on 1.25 mg or will I have to keep my dosage up to retain them?

 

[Anatoly]

Call me crazy but I think I might be aging due to Finasteride.
------- Interesting Qs you raise)). But if it's not your merely subjective impression, it can be plausible.
I can't find any concrete evidence or any studies that proves Finasteride could cause aging but I have no idea what else could be causing this.
---- Evidence like this exists.
Could the aging be due to an increase in estrogen levels in my body?
---- the opposite
Perhaps the increase in free testosterone in my body from blocking DHT
----- ignore that
has led to more testosterone converting into estrogen, which in turn is causing my skin to age?
---- no)

The mechanisms that I've come across the literature and in real life are more straightforward:
1) a male's face skin is generally thicker, younger, of better elasticity (more collagen) etc than a female's skin of the same age, hormones play a role, but it's more about T anti-aging properties rather than DHT, anyway this is a Q of years, not months
2) a more plausible factor, given your timing, is that blocking DHT as strongly associated with weight loss (both fat and muscle loss): as we age, face fat etc diminishes, making it look more skinny/articulated, lines etc are therefore more visible; it's quite plausible your face is loosing fat necessary for wrinkles to be invisible

have you checked you weight before therapy and thereafter?
3) skin hydration diminishes (blocking DHT results in less active oil glands, less sebum = natural moisturiser is produced .... wrinkles therefore become more visible)

OPTIONS:
1) add a proper moisturiser
2) start an anti-wrinkle pill (Accutane), although it decreases oil glands activity (you have to use a moisturiser to address this side effect, esp. dry lips etc), it raises collagen production, which effectively improves skin elasticity and therefore acts against wrinkles
3) add minoxidil: it causes water retention, making a face more puffy, e.g. I'm my case almost immediately after I started a 15% solution (on my scalp of course) I noticed my face becoming more puffy and youthful, wrinkles on my forehead completely disappeared, when I stop for a few days - they reappear

 

[NorwoodingMyWay]

Is that really true about the dosages though? I remember seeing a lot more growth on my hairline with 5 mg than I saw on 1 or even 2.5 mg. A lot of the gains I made on 2.5mg seem to be receding since I made the switch. Is that normal? Is it a shed? Do you think I will get those hairs back on 1.25 mg or will I have to keep my dosage up to retain them?

Yes it's true. It might be that your body just handles 5mg finasteride better than low doses. If it's convinient, i recommend adding Minoxidil to the mix. Monotherapy with finasteride is rarely enough to save hair. Don't worry, minoxidil won't age you too. But, only add minoxidil if you are going to be consistent with it.

 

[Eatel]

The mechanisms that I've come across the literature and in real life are more straightforward:
1) a male's face skin is generally thicker, younger, of better elasticity (more collagen) etc than a female's skin of the same age, hormones play a role, but it's more about T anti-aging properties rather than DHT, anyway this is a Q of years, not months
2) a more plausible factor, given your timing, is that blocking DHT as strongly associated with weight loss (both fat and muscle loss): as we age, face fat etc diminishes, making it look more skinny/articulated, lines etc are therefore more visible; it's quite plausible your face is loosing fat necessary for wrinkles to be invisible

have you checked you weight before therapy and thereafter?
3) skin hydration diminishes (blocking DHT results in less active oil glands, less sebum = natural moisturiser is produced .... wrinkles therefore become more visible)

OPTIONS:
1) add a proper moisturiser
2) start an anti-wrinkle pill (Accutane), although it decreases oil glands activity (you have to use a moisturiser to address this side effect, esp. dry lips etc), it raises collagen production, which effectively improves skin elasticity and therefore acts against wrinkles
3) add minoxidil: it causes water retention, making a face more puffy, e.g. I'm my case almost immediately after I started a 15% solution (on my scalp of course) I noticed my face becoming more puffy and youthful, wrinkles on my forehead completely disappeared, when I stop for a few days - they reappear

My weight has barely changed since the treatment. I might have lost 5-10 pounds if that and none of it was in the face because my face is still as fat as it was before. I'm not seriously obese or anything. I'm currently ~206 pounds. I have a small gut and a fat face, especially below the chin.

I've started to use Retin-A as much as I can, but I have to be careful because I have Rosacea. I actually tried to take Accutane for acne last year and I only lasted like 3 weeks because the stuff made me so depressed. Accutane also causes hair loss IIRC.

I've read Minoxodil can cause aging as well. I've actually been thinking about trying RU58841. My loss has just been on the temple and a bit on my hairline on one side of my head. I'd like to get that back if possible. It looked like it was gonna grow back on 5mg of Finasteride but I didn't wanna stay at that dose.

 

[NorwoodingMyWay]

The mechanisms that I've come across the literature and in real life are more straightforward:
1) a male's face skin is generally thicker, younger, of better elasticity (more collagen) etc than a female's skin of the same age, hormones play a role, but it's more about T anti-aging properties rather than DHT, anyway this is a Q of years, not months.

What ?? That's so wrong. Male skin is indeed thicker, but it doesn't look younger nor with more elasticity. Testosterone has pro-inflammatory responses, Estrogen is the hormone that has anti-ageing properties, and it is the hormone responsible for the synthesis of collagen production. Women go through menopause, which puts them on an "androgen domination" for quite some time. That, in turn, does have quite an effect on everything, from skin health, to mood and agressiveness. Androgens are responsible for acne, oily skin, dandruff and wrinkles. Oh, and also lost scalp hairs.

 

[Eatel]

Yes it's true. It might be that your body just handles 5mg finasteride better than low doses. If it's convinient, i recommend adding Minoxidil to the mix. Monotherapy with finasteride is rarely enough to save hair. Don't worry, minoxidil won't age you too. But, only add minoxidil if you are going to be consistent with it.

I'm thinking about trying RU58841 and/or Dutasteride. Only thing that worries me about Dutasteride is that it might make my skin even worse than it was on 2.5mg of Finasteride. I'm also a bit confused about how to use RU properly. Do you need to dermaroll beforehand or can you just apply it to the scalp? Some people say to dermaroll and others say dermarolling could cause bleeding and if the RU gets in your blood it can cause systematic events.

I'm also concerned about the shedding/recession I've had since lowering my dose of Finasteride. Is that normal shedding or will I need to keep the dose high to get those hairs back?

 

[NorwoodingMyWay]

I'm thinking about trying RU58841 and/or Dutasteride. Only thing that worries me about Dutasteride is that it might make my skin even worse than it was on 2.5mg of Finasteride. I'm also a bit confused about how to use RU properly. Do you need to dermaroll beforehand or can you just apply it to the scalp? Some people say to dermaroll and others say dermarolling could cause bleeding and if the RU gets in your blood it can cause systematic events.

I'm also concerned about the shedding/recession I've had since lowering my dose of Finasteride. Is that normal shedding or will I need to keep the dose high to get those hairs back?

You can introduce dutasteride very slowly, since its half life is a month on steady state (0.5 mg/day), if you only introduce it only 3 times a week, it's half life is around 10 days or so. I wouldn't touch RU, as that chemical compound from china has never been tested, studied on, or been in any trial whatsoever. If you want a potent topical AA, Oh-Flutamide seems good, and there has been many threads about it in the past.

 

[Anatoly]

What ?? That's so wrong.

Male skin is indeed thicker, but it doesn't look younger nor with more elasticity.
--------I nave no idea about one's subjective criteria for 'young'. Feminine features and more smoothy and thinner skin do not make a female's face younger. In my reality ageing is assessed by differences in face skin biopsy over time. A common knowledge is that a male's face is less susceptible to ageing and ages more slowly than a female's face. A male's skin is more elastic, inter alia thanks to higher collagen depositions. Hormonal differences between the sexes do play a role in explaining why a male's face is less susceptible to ageing. In particular, more active sebum production explains why men are less prone to small wrinkles - their skin is better moisturised, healed and renewed.

Testosterone has pro-inflammatory responses,
------- It's true. But T has also many other properties...
Estrogen is the hormone that has anti-ageing properties, and it is the hormone responsible for the synthesis of collagen production.
---- It's true, but it does not have a monopoly on anti-ageing. T has also anti-ageing properties. There is substantial research on T, its precursors and derivatives effects to use in anti-age solutions for male skin care.

Women go through menopause, which puts them on an "androgen domination" for quite some time.
------- It's true hormone replacement therapy helps women to slow down ageing. A comparison with what happens to men is inadequate here.

Notably, as a male ages, his DHT levels remain constant or increase. At the same time a male's T level strongly decreases with age. There is not much good about it. Decreased T levels are part an explanation of a male's face ageing process.

That, in turn, does have quite an effect on everything, from skin health, to mood and agressiveness.
------- It's true.
Androgens are responsible for acne, oily skin, dandruff and wrinkles. Oh, and also lost scalp hairs.
------ What androgens are you talking about? Their precursors and/or products off their metabolism? I suspect you hate DHT too much. I hate it too. It causes me acne, extremely oily skin as well as dandruff and hair loss. But do not judge everything by one's impression of DHT.

At some point in time I would say smth similar with a simple assumption T & DHT are bad, estrogen is good. One may go beyond these simplifications. Human body is more complex, and this straightforward logic doesn't work. T and DHT are both good and bad simultaneously.

DHT inhibition leads to a face loosing moisture and fat which leads to wrinkles being more visible. In my case it does not, because I suffer from too oily skin. My receptors' sensitivity is higher that I would prefer.

This logic is very similar to what people with poor knowledge think about cholesterol, as if there is simply 'good' HDL cholesterol that one needs to raise and 'bad' LDL cholesterol.

 

[Anatoly]

I've started to use Retin-A as much as I can, but I have to be careful because I have Rosacea. I actually tried to take Accutane for acne last year and I only lasted like 3 weeks because the stuff made me so depressed. Accutane also causes hair loss IIRC.
------- 3 weeks is insufficient to see any real effect; I suspect Retin-A is a topical? Opting for an oral solution will make your life easier, I do understand topical retinoids are not a pleasant experience) Accutane can both combat and facilitate rosacea, it's actually indicated specifically for rosacea. It does cause hair loss under certain conditions as well as it is used to combat hair loss)). If you have too oily scalp it will works against hair loss.
I've read Minoxodil can cause aging as well.
------ Always ask - under what conditions? It causes too dry skin because it contains alcohol //propylene glycol etc for better absorption. This is a very minor issue that can be easily resolved (those with normal or oily skin may not need anything specific at all). These concerns are far outweighed by its effects on water retention inlc. in one's face skin. In my case there is a very clear difference: I apply a high-strength minoxidil before sleep, the first half of the next day my face looks very youthful (because it becomes more puffy, wrinkles (eyes, forehead, nose) disappear, by the end of the day (when its vasodilator effect evaporates) they start to reappear, and this is very visible). This is not a treatment option, just a cosmetic solution that works (water retention is actually a side effect, that can be dangerous in certain cases) less than 24 hours.

I've actually been thinking about trying RU58841.
At some point in time I was almost ready to order RU. But this agent has never been approved. Long-term side effects are unknown. Clinical data are very erratic.
For me this option is risky.

My loss has just been on the temple and a bit on my hairline on one side of my head. like to get that back if possible. It looked like it was gonna grow back on 5mg of Finasteride but I didn't wanna stay at that dose.

I was on finasteride 5mg for 6-8 weeks. A lot of various side effects were intolerable. After I switched to Avodart daily I felt much better. Actually, finasteride and dutasteride side effect profiles have been compared, dutasteride is better tolerated despite being more potent, life is complex...