Day 3 of Finasteride 1mg was nothing short of a miracle. After I showered, my hair was thicker and firmer than it had been in so many years, and I saw little hairs sprouting all over (see BEFORE photo). I couldn't believe it was my hair when I looked in the mirror and ran my hand through it, I was gleeful with excitement and I showed my brother who acknowledged the stellar results. Most importantly however, I had NO MORE ITCH and inflammation post-ejaculation after about 10 years- I thought I was saved. I was having a few side effects right off the bat (sexual dysfunction, mental cloudiness) but the hair results were astonishing.
A few days went by, and I stopped noticing the side effects. However, around day 6 the itch/burning came back after ejaculating (and more constantly). I looked at my hair on day 7 (see AFTER photo) and my hair was very thin again, with what seemed like small new bald areas. I am heartbroken. All the new growing hairs have mostly disappeared. I wonder how it's possible that I responded and then stopped responding to the drug so quickly, and concerned this is hyperandrogenicity. I've also noticed accelerated hair growth elsewhere on my body.
I have read that this probably means I am a poor responder to the drug and that my hair loss will accelerate, i.e. that I'm genetically programmed to compensate for the DHT changes with increased androgen receptor expression and sensitivity. It just feels so bad to have had it work a miracle in such short time, and then leave me cheated like this. I had such high hopes and was planning my life years down the line. Is this temporary? Do I stop propecia now before I face more consequences?
