Propecia for Frontal hair loss

[seraphix]

Hi everyone,

I have been on propecia for about 8 weeks now, so far so good I guess, no sides. Has anyone here experienced regrowth for the frontal scalp or hair line? Does propcecia help preserve frontal hair or is it only for crown?

Thanks,

[TeeJay73]

This is a great question.

I've been on Propecia for almost 1 year, no side effects. It's helped maintained my hair, and, odd as it may sound, I got a little bit of regrowth in my temple regions at about the 3 month mark. I do believe there are many instances of hair maintenance and hair regrowth in regions OTHER than the crown (which is what Propecia is known for). So, I believe it can help you maintain hair throughout your scalp, not only the crown. Regrowth, I believe, is more likely to occur in the crown area.

Anxious to hear other responses.

[seraphix]

This is a great question.

I've been on Propecia for almost 1 year, no side effects. It's helped maintained my hair, and, odd as it may sound, I got a little bit of regrowth in my temple regions at about the 3 month mark. I do believe there are many instances of hair maintenance and hair regrowth in regions OTHER than the crown (which is what Propecia is known for). So, I believe it can help you maintain hair throughout your scalp, not only the crown. Regrowth, I believe, is more likely to occur in the crown area.

Anxious to hear other responses.

Cheers TeeJay,

It's good that you had regrowth on the temples I'm hoping to maintain my hair with propecia and any regrowth will be bonus. Look forward to hear other responses.

[bwiktor]

How does propecia know what areas of the body to focus on (there are many hairy areas on a male body)? Does it?

If it works mainly on the crown, would it be a good idea using rogaine for the temples in combination?

[tarapuneet]

Hi Teejay....after much consideration about the side effects of propesia I have decided to take it before deciding to go for HT.Can you please tell me were to get it from or if i can order it online?I think its only sold on prescription.I am in Canada and I dont know where to go and get the prescription from.Also can you please tell me if propesia has any permanent side effects..?
thanks

[TeeJay73]

Hello there tarapuneet,

To the very best of my knowledge, Propecia is available only thru a prescription from a doctor. I believe the Hasson & Wong clinic is in Canada, and they are IAHRS doctors, so, check them out to see if they are in your local area. They can prescribe Propecia for you, and you may even be able to get Propecia from their office, similar to how I order mine from my IAHRS doctor in Los Angeles. Check out the IAHRS website to find Hasson & Wong or potential other IAHRS doctors that can help you. http://www.iahrs.org

You can also see any dermatologist and ask him/her for a prescription for Propecia.

Good Luck!

TeeJay

[seraphix]

Thanks for the response Dr Arocha,

Am I right to assume that if propecia stops or slows down AGA, it means the hair line can be preserved. How do you find people cope with side effects in the long term?

[Speegs]

I have some baby hairs that are fine around the hair line region that my dermatologist insists are finasteride related but you will never get density back from the drug but it is encouraging to see miniaturized hairs regenerated or halted in a miniaturized state before they completely disappear.

[Skeptic1st]

Propecia slows or stops the progression of AGA in 90%, with regards to re-growth of hair in the crown 5% get strong, 21% moderate, 74% mild or none. Re-growth in the front half is only 1/50 or 2%. So if you are in the 9/10 that slow or stop the progression that is a home run, if in addition you happen to get re-growth then that would be a grand-slam!

Those regrowth statistics sound kind of lousy...74% of all users will experiance only mild or NO re-growth?And thats in the crown??And only 1 out of 50 users will find any re-growth in the front half?

I guess the 90% of all users are just happy with slowing the loss,but if your in your 30's or older, the damage is done.

[Speegs]

Those regrowth statistics sound kind of lousy...74% of all users will experiance only mild or NO re-growth?And thats in the crown??And only 1 out of 50 users will find any re-growth in the front half?

I guess the 90% of all users are just happy with slowing the loss,but if your in your 30's or older, the damage is done.

The damage is done if one isn't lucky enough to act as soon as they notice hair loss, truthfully I think the best someone can hope to maintain with propecia alone is a Norwood 3.

hair transplants are the only way to restore the frame of your face.

[seraphix]

The damage is done if one isn't lucky enough to act as soon as they notice hair loss, truthfully I think the best someone can hope to maintain with propecia alone is a Norwood 3.

hair transplants are the only way to restore the frame of your face.

Speegs,

You're right I guess, most people won't act until they are norwood 3, but then don't you think if you can maintain a norwood 3 is better than going norwood 4/5.
I find the stats ambigious too, there is a difference in mild regrowth and no regrowth - 74% is a lot - what fraction of this is mild/no regrowth. I keep asking the same question - does those 74% or 90%; not experience anymore loss (entire scalp); or does the hair loss progression carry on more slowly.

[Speegs]

Speegs,

You're right I guess, most people won't act until they are norwood 3, but then don't you think if you can maintain a norwood 3 is better than going norwood 4/5.
I find the stats ambigious too, there is a difference in mild regrowth and no regrowth - 74% is a lot - what fraction of this is mild/no regrowth. I keep asking the same question - does those 74% or 90%; not experience anymore loss (entire scalp); or does the hair loss progression carry on more slowly.

I'm not an authority on the drug but my personal observations lead me to conclude that the drug is maintenance only and not regrowth. I can tell that my back has been protected since taking the drug but my front has still slowly declined, granted at a slower rate as i've been a norwood 3 for probably five years but am steadily thinner in the front each passing year.

If I don't get a transplant it seems i will likely end up a norwood 4 in two or three years time.

[PayDay]

Those regrowth statistics sound kind of lousy...74% of all users will experiance only mild or NO re-growth?And thats in the crown??And only 1 out of 50 users will find any re-growth in the front half?

I guess the 90% of all users are just happy with slowing the loss,but if your in your 30's or older, the damage is done.

It’s not about your age, it's when you started to bald. If a 40 year old man begins to take Propecia during the first year of his hair loss it can stop his hair loss just like it would a 20 year old man. Being older has nothing to to with it, it when you catch the process.

[gillenator]

Not sure where those numbers Dr. Arocha mentioned are from. It's obvious that they are not from Merck who produces Propecia. They may be from his own observations and possibly he will clarify.

I personally believe that Merck's numbers are both under and overstated. I have been making observations myself since the drug became available and my notes in general terms are:

80% efficiency across the board, meaning 20% keep losing hair. This group is taking Propecia as prescribed.

As many as 30% of men using finasteride as directed report sexual side-effects. How many within that group are thinking themselves into side-effects or are in fact actually experiencing the physical effects is difficult to ascertain. Only about 50% of the men who note sexual side-effects remain on the drug and many of them experience the side-effects dissipating. Some docs advise their patients to take Propecia every other day and the side-effects may lessen or go away. Again, throw a variable in the equation and it can change the numbers.

The earlier one begins finasteride, and preferably at the first signs of MPB, the better chances of measurable regrowth. Regrowth however is at best, hit and miss when using finasteride.

I have observed men who cut Proscar to have very similiar results as those purchasing Propecia. I do this myself however I cannot formally advocate the use of Proscar for two reasons. I am not a licensed physician. I do not attempt to practice medicine. SEE YOUR DOCTOR!

Unless someone knows something to the contrary, none of Merck's clinical trials have evaluated efficiency in the frontal third section of the scalp. Only the mid-scalp and crown.

[gillenator]

I need to clarify something I said. I commented on starting Propecia at the first initial signs of MPB, but ONLY UNDER YOUR DOCTOR'S supervision.

Every now and then I will hear of someone in their teens running to the internet to buy finasteride. Should a 17 year old be starting Proecia because he is starting to notice hairloss? See what I mean?

Never start any medication without first being examined and counseled by your physician.