Propecia and oily skin

[lordhair]

Has anyone who had oily skin found that taking propecia improved it?

Because one of the causes of having oily skin is thought to be excess DHT levels

The true cause of oily skin lies in one´s genetic makeup - an excess of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Too much of a good thing, this metabolite of testosterone, DHT is responsible for triggering sebaceous glands to produce sebum. Higher than normal levels of this androgenic hormone, or an increased sensitivity of the glands to normal levels of DHT can result in a virtual oil slick.

http://www.dermadoctor.com/pages/newsletter99.asp

 

[ShedMaster]

From what I remember reading there have certainly been people who reported less greasy skin resulting in less acne also.

 

[Guest]

i have super dry skin and have maintained the super dry skin on propecia. plenty of people with dry skin also have hair loss.]

it is not the dht levels that are teh real culprit imo. the real culprit is the genetic sensitivity to the androgens.

 

[lain]

my skin has gotten slightly oilier since I started propecia. I have the odd pimple or two, whereas before I did not.

 

[Bryan]

Has anyone who had oily skin found that taking propecia improved it?

Because one of the causes of having oily skin is thought to be excess DHT levels

Finasteride was tested several years ago by a serious scientist, and found to have no effect on sebum production. That shouldn't be particularly surprising, because the kind of 5a-reductase in sebaceous glands is the type 1 version, which finasteride doesn't significantly affect.

Such scientific testing, though, hasn't stopped people on various hairloss sites from thinking that finasteride has affected their sebum production, and it's gone both ways: some think it raised it, others think it lowered it! :wink: I think the explanation for such anecdotes on both sides of the argument is that other things can influence not only sebum itself, but even more importantly, the perception of sebum. Two examples of that can be changes in temperature (heat tends to lower the viscosity of sebum, making it flow more easily to the surface of the skin), and changes in humidity (Kligman found that a little extra moisture makes sebum appear to be more prevalent, even though it really isn't).

So the bottom-line probably is that no, finasteride has no measurable effect on sebum, but there are confounding variables that can sometimes fool people into thinking that it's having an effect!

 

[Knendell]

mine got worse. I have to wash in the morning just to have it look semi decent throughout the day. If I don't the hair sticks together and scalp is everywhere.

 

[Guest]

Propecia actually decrease the oil production in my face. I was worried about propecia because some people were getting acne from it. I had severe acne before but went away by itself as i got older. It actually dried out my face ,dont have to wipe face every couple hours like i was working at a fast food restaurant but the only thing I'm going to a crazy shedding process

 

[Phillip]

Has anyone who had oily skin found that taking propecia improved it?

Because one of the causes of having oily skin is thought to be excess DHT levels

Finasteride was tested several years ago by a serious scientist, and found to have no effect on sebum production. That shouldn't be particularly surprising, because the kind of 5a-reductase in sebaceous glands is the type 1 version, which finasteride doesn't significantly affect.

Such scientific testing, though, hasn't stopped people on various hairloss sites from thinking that finasteride has affected their sebum production, and it's gone both ways: some think it raised it, others think it lowered it! :wink: I think the explanation for such anecdotes on both sides of the argument is that other things can influence not only sebum itself, but even more importantly, the perception of sebum. Two examples of that can be changes in temperature (heat tends to lower the viscosity of sebum, making it flow more easily to the surface of the skin), and changes in humidity (Kligman found that a little extra moisture makes sebum appear to be more prevalent, even though it really isn't).



So the bottom-line probably is that no, finasteride has no measurable effect on sebum, but there are confounding variables that can sometimes fool people into thinking that it's having an effect!

Is this the type that is also responsible to acne? I am positive my back acne and shoulder acne has disappeared because of finasteride and there is noway it is a coincidence.

However, my skin is still medium to overly oily as before.

 

[bald30]

It really depends on how your body reacts to it some people break out with and some don't. When I took propecia it broke me out and but not really serious but there is no real evidence that propecia causes acne or decrease in oil production.