reflex hyperandrogenic
- Thread starter jfrank
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well, any replies???
my hair def goes through accelerated male pattern baldness when starting propecia... major difference in 2 weeks.. now at 3 months, my hairline has been dissmantled.. it def sounds like the effect of R.H... however, i dont have other physial side efffects such as oily skin (what is it? shiny scalp, or shiny skin all over), higher libido, or increase in zits.....
is that still R.H.?
my hair def goes through accelerated male pattern baldness when starting propecia... major difference in 2 weeks.. now at 3 months, my hairline has been dissmantled.. it def sounds like the effect of R.H... however, i dont have other physial side efffects such as oily skin (what is it? shiny scalp, or shiny skin all over), higher libido, or increase in zits.....
is that still R.H.?
Cornholio
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jfrank said:
Its impossible to say... this could be the Telogen Effluvium "shed" people talk about with propecia as dht falls... Dr. Lee would tell you to stop finasteride and try his 30$/bottle Xanadrox, but that isnt proven to regrow hair. Dermatologists would say stop the finasteride as it's making things worse.
If you stop finasteride i would try another DHT blocker, as that is the best proven mechanism behind male pattern baldness... spironolactone or Dr Lee's Xanadrox (unproven but commonly used) or dr proctor's topical products come to mind.
Continuine finasteride (or not) and reasessing in 6-12 months is another option (as things will get worse without blocking dht), but with the setback adding another second treatment now adding minoxidil/spironolactone/tricomin/nizoral or other treatments sooner rather than later would be recommended. minoxidil is usually needed if there is to be hairline regrowth. Additionally some have reported topical spironolactone 5% helps with hairline regrowth/ maintenence by blocking androgens not caught by finasteride.
I dont know that Reflex Hyperandrogenecity (the increased testosterone due to DHT supression) has symptoms. The increase in testosterone is certainly less severe with finasteride than dutasteride, but may explain why things continue to get worse rather than better with DHT supression with either drug.
Good luck.
markelbentley
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Ive been on Propecia for almost 10.5 months. I started shedding in at about 1 month. My hairline got really bad. Overall hair hasnt gotten much worse very quickly. I had thick hair, and a pretty thick frontal area. I started taking propecia becuse of receding hairline. now i am losing hair in the crown. I guess you could describe my loss as diffuse in the horseshoe pattern with thinning in the front too. Maybe i have HA? I have def experienced increased libido. I have naturally oily skin so i dunno about that. I get zits periodically. I am goin to have to read more about this.
Cornholio
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an endocrinologist is the "hormone expert". They will tell you that it is natural to have a small increase in testosterone 20% or so (most stay within the normal range for testosterone) when you are on finasteride. Testosterone may increase 100% on higher doses dutasteride. Its your bodies normal reaction to supressing DHT (an androgen)... Your pituitary gland senses this and tries to stimulate more androgen.
As the increase in testosterone on finasteride leaves most people in the "normal" range regarding testosterone this shouldnt be a problem, and should not be symptomatic. If you think you are having symptoms see an endocrinologist who will either reassure you, do some expensive bloodwork, or say "why dont you just quit the finasteride if you think its harming you, its only hair."
This reflex increase in testosterone is somewhat counter-productive regarding hair maintenence as testosterone may be able to promote hair loss, but again... the increase is small for finasteride and probably not very significant.
As the increase in testosterone on finasteride leaves most people in the "normal" range regarding testosterone this shouldnt be a problem, and should not be symptomatic. If you think you are having symptoms see an endocrinologist who will either reassure you, do some expensive bloodwork, or say "why dont you just quit the finasteride if you think its harming you, its only hair."
This reflex increase in testosterone is somewhat counter-productive regarding hair maintenence as testosterone may be able to promote hair loss, but again... the increase is small for finasteride and probably not very significant.