Is Finasteride (Propecia) Thinning My Hair?

[TheAnh]

I don't thinks your hair is thicker in such a short period of time (almost 2 months). Maybe it just be longer, more bright, and bigger as initial effect of Propecia for small a percentage on the crown where Propecia is proven to work best. In order to be thicker, you need to wait at least 6 months to finish the hair cycle for all.

 

[thissucksbadly]

Hi Guys,

New member here signed up because this thread represents my exact situation right now.

I started finasteride on the 1st of May and in the last month or so my hair has gone through an enormous shed and I now look like i'm diffuse thinning everywhere. When I started finasteride it just looked like my temples were going. Funnily enough it seems that I may be gaining some vellus hairs in the temple region but I am losing a lot of ground elsewhere. My crown has definitely lost density and all round i'm not feeling great at the moment. I use dermatch if I'm going out and that is doing a great job of keeping me sane however without and in bright lights or with wet hair the situation is clearly not good.

I really hope this is the initial shed phase and that we will ultimately respond well otherwise I better start looking at hairpieces

 

[Benjamin36]

^
I know how you feel- I have the same situation. I can only hope/assume it's a shed because before starting finasteride the area was thick and I'm not a diffuse thinner, but the more time passes the more worried I become.

- - - Updated - - -

I can tell its a she'd cuz the hair is without the white mark at the end

I thought the white bulbs on the end of the hairs were a good sign?

 

[boldmun]

I have been on propecia for 16 months and am still waiting for my hair to fill in. I had taken propecia to keep what I had but I have considerably less hair now. It has gotten extremely thin and weak in the front center of my hair especially at the parting. I can't imagine what I lost coming back at this point. The only good thing is that I have experienced no sides. I also notice that there is a tiny bit of growth in the temple area. The hair sort of looks white in the light. Not sure though because my overall hair looks terrible.

 

[TheAnh]

I have been on propecia for 16 months and am still waiting for my hair to fill in. I had taken propecia to keep what I had but I have considerably less hair now. It has gotten extremely thin and weak in the front center of my hair especially at the parting. I can't imagine what I lost coming back at this point. The only good thing is that I have experienced no sides. I also notice that there is a tiny bit of growth in the temple area. The hair sort of looks white in the light. Not sure though because my overall hair looks terrible.

boldmun, unfortunately, I think 16 months is really long enough period to see propecia is suitable for you or not. At least, is you hair stronger, eg. the diameter of the hair fiber is bigger than before using Propecia? For my case, when I cross my hand over the crown, less hair fallen down and the hair is bigger and brighter than before.

- - - Updated - - -

See this thread about Miniaturization to manage the process of treating hair loss:

http://www.baldingblog.com/2006/08/31/miniaturization-and-hair-loss-more-than-meets-the-eye/

This blog is from MD William R. Rassman. However, he is against the thought that Shedding is a good sign of Propecia and the hair will be back.

Here is the link showing his opinion:

http://www.baldingblog.com/2010/06/24/im-worried-about-initial-shedding-from-finasteride/

http://www.baldingblog.com/2011/12/01/shedding-hair-8-months-after-starting-propecia/

http://www.baldingblog.com/2010/10/04/still-shedding-a-ton-of-hair-5-months-after-starting-propecia/

http://www.baldingblog.com/2009/06/08/propecia-shedding-indicates-that-its-working/

 

[kirk]

Good thread. I am about 3 months in on finasteride with no negative side effects except im shedding like I never imagined. This is not in my head. I am very conservative about making such claims, but something is causing me to get really thin on top and at the temples.

I am worried because I am experiencing a sustained increase in libido since starting finasteride. The libido increase started about two weeks in and has lasted. Ive heard there is a peak in testosterone in the early stages of the medicine, but has anyone experienced a long term increase in libido? If so, is it good or bad in terms of hair loss? Im confused.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Steven85]

Kirk: Read page 2,3 anf 4 of this thread. Some people would say what you are experiencing is reflex hyperandrogenicity. I dont know if I believe that concept myself, but it seems to be a halfway established theory. If your libido doesn't normalize after a while I would look further in to that theory. Hopefully though, this is just an initial phase where your body is adapting to the drug and it all gets better soon.

 

[kirk]

Steven: I started looking into Hyperandrogenicity, and I think I'm in the clear. My skin has gotten better and less oily which is supposed to be a good sign (Less DHT). I am hoping it's a surge in regular Testosterone, but I don't know for sure. The shedding is happening extremely fast. I can brush my hands through my hair and just watch little wispy hairs fall by the dozen. When I use a comb, I notice that quite a few of them have the little white bulb attached: not good if I remeber correctly. Regardless of the shedding, I am going to ride it out because I'm running out of options other that just shaving and forgetting about it. btw thanks for the lead.

 

[Beingbaldsucksass]

^
I know how you feel- I have the same situation. I can only hope/assume it's a shed because before starting finasteride the area was thick and I'm not a diffuse thinner, but the more time passes the more worried I become.

- - - Updated - - -



I thought the white bulbs on the end of the hairs were a good sign?

No it's not, that's how your hair look when it falls without any treatment, that lost hair forever

- - - Updated - - -

Good thread. I am about 3 months in on finasteride with no negative side effects except im shedding like I never imagined. This is not in my head. I am very conservative about making such claims, but something is causing me to get really thin on top and at the temples.

I am worried because I am experiencing a sustained increase in libido since starting finasteride. The libido increase started about two weeks in and has lasted. Ive heard there is a peak in testosterone in the early stages of the medicine, but has anyone experienced a long term increase in libido? If so, is it good or bad in terms of hair loss? Im confused.

Thanks for reading.[/

I'm the same as you, libido increased too much, my sexual appetite is big, also shedding like a mofo, it triggerd acne also in me

 

[thissucksbadly]

Any updates guys? I am 5 months in and still losing density/thinning on finasteride. Not sure whether to get off it or not?

 

[WillNotLetItHappen]

Any updates guys? I am 5 months in and still losing density/thinning on finasteride. Not sure whether to get off it or not?

Try to be reasonable. finasteride is not losing your hair. It may be a longer shed but your hair only goes to sleep. If you go off finasteride now then what? Then you can be sure that the hair you lose will not come back any stronger.
5 months is nothing. Nothing.

 

[thissucksbadly]

I know but should it have thinned so greatly in that period?

 

[WillNotLetItHappen]

My shed has stopped too. I've shed hundreds of hair since at least June. Awesome.

 

[thissucksbadly]

I've been looking at my hair again today and I just can't believe how much I've diffuse thinned since taking finasteride. Any bright light and I literally look like I'm going bald imminently. Please God let this be a shed and it will all be alright. At the moment I am weeks away from shaving off the whole damn lot.

 

[Night]

thissucksbadly, BUZZ IT DOWN. No guard man, just do it and you will stop thinking about it. Keep going with your meds and let it grow little by little..

Every month let it grow out till you think it looks bad. Then buzz it down again.

 

[Stefan_88]

My hairs became thin after my last shed on Finasteride. it stopped after 20-25 days and my hairs are worse than ever now. İnteresting anecdot that i sheded 1cm or less length hairs while my hairs was 3-4 cm length.

it was a delusion, my hairs was very good then i cant say the same thing now after this shed. Horrible shed, i was seeing small hairs everywhere, in my pillow, in my laptop, in the shower, everywhere.

im considering buzzing it down, considering i need 3-4 months to regrow that hairs if im not mistaken.

Btw, i almost finished 1 year with Finasteride.

 

[thissucksbadly]

Thanks for the advice Night. I've actually been buzzing it down to a grade 2-3 for a while to try and get people used to me with little hair.

Luckily I'm tall enough to be able to pull it off but unfortunately I am quite skinny. I guess it's going to be a case of smashing the gym?

 

[Stefan_88]

Guys, anyone knows that when the shedding hairs grow backs?

Some friends says that now them will go to resting and stay there for several months then grows back.
Some friends says that it grows back in 3 months.
Some friend says that that hairs will stay in catagen and telegon phases in 3-4 months then grow back.

im confused just because everbody saying different things. Anyone could please explain the real case to me?

 

[Beingbaldsucksass]

I'm now shedding at the temples and starting to see thickness from the middle, my temples are minoxidil treated, I don't know why it's happening cuz I apply it twice a day

 

[Beingbaldsucksass]

I'm gonna combine finasteride and dutasteride if needed, only problem is the goddamm money