Dr. Shapiro says, "propecia does not cause a shed"

[ciccione]

This is what he told me yesterday. So I took his advice and filled the prescription he gave me for Propecia. I haven't been able to take my first pill yet, as I'm afraid that it will accelerate frontal loss. I'm a NW1.5, with a diffuse pattern. My hairline is intact, expect on my right temple; however, my loss traces my part back my crown, where there is also very slight thinning. I'm 31. As is, my loss is not noticable. Maybe I'll be able to maintain without anything for a couple years, or maybe I'll be a full NW2 by Christmas. I noticed the loss last Spring, and it's progressed very slowly (this despite my $500/month vitamin and herb habit, which probably helped slightly). My hair is much lighter in colour than it was two years ago (all over), and the texture is finer.

I just signed a record deal, and I'll be in the public eye for at least a year and a half. I really can't affort to lose a buch of hair. Despite Dr. Shapiro's assertion---that finasteride doesn't cause a shed---anecdotal reports on these boards seem to contradict him. I can't use minoxidil, as it's just not possible for a touring musician to apply a topical twice a day, and then get up on stage every night and sweat like mad.

What can I expect from Propecia? Should I just take the plunge, or would it be prudent for me, considering how slight my loss is, to wait for a few months or a year?

Right now, hairloss is causing me anxiety and depression; but further frontal loss, that results from a testosterone surge, will only exacerbate these conditions.

 

[asolof]

The sooner you start the finasteride, the more hair you will have to preserve.

 

[Bryan]

Re: Dr. Shapiro says, "propecia does not cause a shed&q

Despite Dr. Shapiro's assertion---that finasteride doesn't cause a shed---anecdotal reports on these boards seem to contradict him.

You'll find that that's generally the case among the medical profession! They don't seem to recognize or even know what the hell people mean when they refer to "shedding".

There was an interview with another well-known hairloss Doctor on one of the sites a few years ago, and he made the statement that he had personally treated over 6,000 men with finasteride for male pattern baldness, and had never seen a single case of "shedding". Fascinating, isn't it? :wink:

Bryan

 

[GourmetStyleWellness]

Yeah, we'd have to unequivocally and irrevocably and undeniably with utmost respect, disagree with Dr. Shapiro on that one...

gourmetstylewellness.com

 

[ciccione]

Dr. Shapio conceded that minoxidil usually initiates a shed. But this is not the case, quot'he, with finasteride. finasteride conspiracy, perhaps, or just scientific hubris?

Considering the extent to which he is involved, directly, with patients, I don't imagine that he'd say this about finasteride if it didn't cohere with his experience as a specialist. It's one thing for an academic to cling to abstractions and theories about drugs and side effects, but quite another for a practising dermatologist who interacts with his patients regulary to tell them bold-faced lies, no? Or is there simply not consensus regarding what actually constitutes a shed?

 

[misterium]

I think it's causing me a minor shed AND irritation.

It's my only 'medicine' that I take so what other things could cause me the irritation?

Perhaps the Folligen but it's been a few weeks of daily use now and I figured that the itchiness should go away..

Otherwise I just use good shampoos and conditioners.

I think that the finasteride is causing the itchiness and dry hair now.

 

[pharoh]

It's my only 'medicine' that I take so what other things could cause me the irritation?

Maybe the fact you're suffering from male pattern baldness?

The very nature of male pattern baldness can cause irritation/itchiness, so this is not necessarily due to taking finasteride. I currently take finasteride, and if anything lately the irritation has been less than when I wasn't taking it - before finasteride my scalp would be tender in areas, would become itchy etc

 

[misterium]

Perhaps.

just my crown/vertex are getting the sensation mostly, that's where I apply the Folligen generously so that may be it too.

Though I have a feeling the Propecia is going to do me well. I'm only at month 2.

Also I went through 4 bottles of minoxidil then reduced the last 1 to 2%, and then quit it, cause it was causing me irritation.. I think my scalp is just 'getting over that itch', and the Folligen is healing along with emu oil... so the Propecia is still a 'candidate' in my mind anyway, for a cause of my itching.. but the topicals did something to add to it.

Before taking ANYTHING, a good handful of months back, my scalp felt just fine.. I was seeing thinning though in the crown vertex... which is why I'm now on this current regimine.

I think my scalp condition is getting much better with the regimine shown below..it's nice.

 

[Bryan]

Re: Dr. Shapiro says, "propecia does not cause a shed&a

There was an interview with another well-known hairloss Doctor on one of the sites a few years ago, and he made the statement that he had personally treated over 6,000 men with finasteride for male pattern baldness, and had never seen a single case of "shedding". Fascinating, isn't it? :wink:

Ok, it's been driving me crazy trying to remember the name of that Doctor, but now I've got it! It's Dr. Peter J. Panagotacos who said that. In fact, here's that statement from the chat session a few years ago (yes, I screwed up in what I said before: it's not 6,000 that he had treated with finasteride, but only 600):

Mike: DR. I have a question that I believe alot of people are wondering. What is this shedding phase all about when on finasteride and why are some people so devestated with the results?
{small snip}
Peter Panagotacos MD: First I am not sure there is much of a shedding problem. I've read about it here on the net but in over a 600 patients I have not seen it.

Bryan