ACNE and propecia ARGHHHH!

[c]

oKAY

Just after some advice/counsel on propecia causing outbreaks...

I'm only into my second month on the stuff and have been having persistant, resistant acne coming up on face and neck. I am prone to mild outbreaks, but nothing of this magnitude. It's not incredibly bad, but when you have fair skin EVERY little mark shows up ten fold. I've read through all the posts and know there is some info on this, but well, sometimes you have to ask again you know?

So;
*Will it calm down as my hormones adjust in the following months?
*Is it true that a vitamin B mix can help?
*Has anyone had any similair problems and if so HOW LONG did it continue and what did you do to improve the situation?

thanks guys.

 

[Racer]

I had a similar experience.

I started Propecia in September 03 and by the third week I started having acne outbreaks. I am prone to acne in my teens anyway though it has become manageable and not much of an issue by the time I was in my mid 20's (I am 29). Normally I would still get one every now and then. But propecia prompted this outbreak which lasted until end of November. Then it all settled down and since then my acne problem is no more than before I started Propecia.

I suggest a visit to an acne site and get some help there or see your doctor.

 

[20something]

I've been dealing with acne for 10 years - varying from mild to moderate. When I started propecia things definitely got worse. After a couple months when they did not settle down I decided to do something about it.

My acne was mild, but resistant. I have been on various topicals and antibiotics. I got sick of being a doctor's lab rat for different prescriptions and finally wound one that was willing to give me a second course of accutane. Within 3 weeks of starting the course, I haven't had a blemish since. Let's hope things stay that way when I'm done.

If you're not taking anything now, definitely try the basic prescriptions first. Tazorac is a topical vitamin A cream that is supposed to be very effective provided your skin isn't super sensitive (don't forget to wear sunscrean!)

 

[c]

thanks guys...

i dread having to go back on roaccutane ( been on it as a teen and it fucked up my body and mind, but did get rid of zits) i also dread that my acne does persist whilst on propecia...but i wont stop taking it...

i think i will just have to laugh as it is so ridiculous....i.e. good skin..bad hair or good hair...bad skin....

lets HOPE it gets better...

thank "god" for HOPE, wonder if you can get it in a pill? I wonder what the side effects would be?

 

[c]

...and i still want to hear from other guys who have had similair experiences...and what has happened and what they have done....

AND also note that i don't expect that this happens to everyone...so any people new to this..propecia... i hope this does not worry you.

 

[nikeaddict]

propecia does make your skin oily in the first few months, then it dies down. i always had good healthy skin and when i went on propecia in september i remember having oily skin and a bunch more pimples for a couple of months, maybe 4, 5 or 6. i remembner it making my forhead shinny and it was annoying but it had dies down completly since then. stick with it, it will go away soon.

 

[Pete]

Acne is DHT related. Ask yourself this, why is your scalp still oily whilst your using your 5ar inhibitor. In theory your inhibitor should help the oiliness.

p.s. some of my posts seem to be disapearing for some reason?!

 

[20something]

i dread having to go back on roaccutane ( been on it as a teen and it fucked up my body and mind, but did get rid of zits) i also dread that my acne does persist whilst on propecia...but i wont stop taking it...

Yup, like anything else you have to weight potential side-affects vs. gains. My first round of accutane didn't produce any sides except for dry skin + lips and my secound round is proving to be the same. I get my blood work done regularly to keep things safe. I still had minor breakouts before I started finasteride. which were resistant to every other therapy so it was a no-brainer for me.

As long as your acne isn't scaring, it's always safe for you to try to 'wait it out'. Give it another few months and see if your body adjusts.

 

[c]

ok..

thanks 20something
i will ride it out.

 

[Guest]

Ive had shitty acne on and off from propecia or proscar since starting it in 1999, it has never subsided since i started.

Finally decided to go and see the doctor to get some antibiotics today, should have gone ages ago. For some reason though, propecia makes my skin worse than proscar.

 

[Bryan]

Acne is DHT related. Ask yourself this, why is your scalp still oily whilst your using your 5ar inhibitor. In theory your inhibitor should help the oiliness.

Not if your inhibitor is a specific type 2 inhibitor like finasteride!! The oil-producing sebaceous glands are rich in the type 1 form of the enzyme, which finasteride doesn't touch.

Bryan

 

[sonicthehedgehog]

oKAY

Just after some advice/counsel on propecia causing outbreaks...

I'm only into my second month on the stuff and have been having persistant, resistant acne coming up on face and neck. I am prone to mild outbreaks, but nothing of this magnitude. It's not incredibly bad, but when you have fair skin EVERY little mark shows up ten fold. I've read through all the posts and know there is some info on this, but well, sometimes you have to ask again you know?

So;
*Will it calm down as my hormones adjust in the following months?
*Is it true that a vitamin B mix can help?
*Has anyone had any similair problems and if so HOW LONG did it continue and what did you do to improve the situation?

thanks guys.

Exactly my sole reason for dropping Propecia 2 months into it.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

 

[c]

I don't think ill drop it cuz of the acne. The peace of mind of taking finasteride is something that i do not want to part with.

I don't seem to be getting much positiveness from the posters on this subject and it would seem that i am doomed to suffer with bad skin. BUT i will have to ride it out, and maybe (god help me) see a dermo. about roaccutane again, though it is supposed to cause hair loss...crazy.

ANYWAY i shall let you know how it goes, I am only into my second month, but it's just hard/depressing having to deal with a teenage problem again in my mid twenties.

And can someone explain to me the science of WHY propecia MAY cause acne in SOME people?

 

[Guest]

I don't think ill drop it cuz of the acne. The peace of mind of taking finasteride is something that i do not want to part with.

I don't seem to be getting much positiveness from the posters on this subject and it would seem that i am doomed to suffer with bad skin. BUT i will have to ride it out, and maybe (god help me) see a dermo. about roaccutane again, though it is supposed to cause hair loss...crazy.

ANYWAY i shall let you know how it goes, I am only into my second month, but it's just hard/depressing having to deal with a teenage problem again in my mid twenties.

And can someone explain to me the science of WHY propecia MAY cause acne in SOME people?

For most people it goes away, for some like myself the acne continues.

You may want to look into B5 for acne, just make sure you take extra biotin and a b complex with it, otherwise it may cause a vit deficiency.

http://www.freewebs.com/krg/b5.html

Lots of good info here:

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php?act=idx

 

[drinkrum]

What the f*** is your avatar Zimmy? I can't stop trying to figure it out.

D.

 

[Jaygee]

zurealguy----Have you ever tried Proactiv Solution? I heartily recommend it. I only just started fincar so I don't know if it'll make things worse, but I'm 21 and my acne is still very persistent. All through my teens nothing worked for me until I tried Proactiv, which is a three-step set of solutions you put on the ol' mug. I can't speak for everyone, of course, but for me it worked like a charm. Your face will clear up within a week.

The thing is, it's a bit pricey, but there's a generic equivalent that works just as well. It's called KlearAction. (Not sure if that's one word or two.) I think it's about $30 for a set which should last about a month. (The ProActiv I think is around $50.)

 

[Yahowha]

Well, last Sunday I missed a dose of Propecia. I usually take it at night before I go to bed, but when I woke up Monday I realized I had missed it and I ended up taking it at about 9am. I then took the regular dose for Monday before I went to sleep, so I ended up having double the Propecia that day. The next day I woke up, looked in the mirror and saw a massive acne breakout. I had incredibly oily skin which isn't normal for me. I've never had this problem with Propecia before, and I'd say it's a good bet that the messed up dosing and the breakout were related. Starting Tuesday I've used Clearisil face wash like 4-5 times a day, and the breakout has already almost subsided. I heard that acne is caused by hormonal imbalances and I guess the balance was fucked up after the day of no Propecia them the day of double Propecia. Thankfully now after less than a week everything is returning to normal, although some of the zits are still there.

 

[Pete]

"Not if your inhibitor is a specific type 2 inhibitor like finasteride!! The oil-producing sebaceous glands are rich in the type 1 form of the enzyme, which finasteride doesn't touch. "


I dont think dual inhibitors are much use either.