Switched from fin to dut, how to tell if it's shedding or lost of hair

[Paul Shapiro, MD]

BaldingHelpME
I don't think your shedding is due to Finasteride or Dutasteride. If that was to cause a problem you should have experienced shedding much sooner.
Also as I said Dutasteride is very similar to Finasteride but blocks two enzymes instead of one. The studies show that you should stop finasteride and go on a higher does of Dutasteride. At least 1mg a day. That is what I would suggest. Also I would look for other reasons of shedding. Your shedding may not be due to Male Pattern Balding. You should see a hair specialist in your area. Preferably a dermatologist that specializes in hair. Lastly you may be experiencing telogen effluvium which is usually caused by a stressor 3 months prior to your shedding.
Also maybe your genetics is just programmed to be resistant to alpha reducates inhibitors starting at your age. If that is true you may want to try some other treatments like laser, PRP, and ACell.
Dr Paul

[BaldingHelpMe]

BaldingHelpME
I don't think your shedding is due to Finasteride or Dutasteride.

My problem is pure typical Male Pattern Baldness. I have already been on fin for over 12 years, I have only added dut 0.5mg 5 months ago. I can actually see many tiny vellus hairs around my headline, I don't know when they will eventually become real healthy permanent hairs if ever.

I've stopped taking dut now, and continue to taking fin only. Hope that solves the problem.

[BaldingHelpMe]

Lastly you may be experiencing telogen effluvium which is usually caused by a stressor 3 months prior to your shedding.

Now I believe that telogen effluvium is what I'm experiencing. I'm a typical genetic MPB sufferer, but fin has definitely helped maintained my hair for the last 12 years. But adding 0.5mg dut 6 months ago causes my hairs to go to TE phrase.

I'm still taking fin every day, along with vitamin B complex, vitamin C, biotin, zinc, and oemga-3 fish oil. When can I expect to get out of TE and have my hair start to grow? I also wash my hair every day and use keto 2% shampoo twice weekly.

[benjamintl]

i have been on dutasteride for about 5 months now , was on propecia for 8 prior to switching and i had a huge shed in the first few months and then it kind of stopped and now im shedding again but about 20+ hairs a day , i no they say shedding is a good sign and that it means the medication is working , but when will the shedding stop and what is the cut off limit on the medication if i see no results , i take 0.5mg a day and propecia seemed to work for me stopping the hairloss and thickening slightly and had no sides and my only real side on dut is the shed , i could really do with some advice ? thanks

[Foreverlacey]

This was explained to me by my endocrinologist. When starting these drugs they will generally trigger a telogen effluvium as a result of the hormonal changes. An acute form of telogen effluvium will occur 3 to 4 months after the trigger event and generally last for 3 to 6 months. For most people, the shedding phase should stop between months 6 and 10. This is why most doctors say to give them a year to see if they are helping.

[benjamintl]

thanks its advice like this thats a godsend

[dm90]

This. It is in my opinion that reducing DHT will never induce androgenic alopecia, it makes no sense even if you prescribe to the theory of AR upregulation. However, telogen effluvium seems to occur from just about anything. Just look at the side effect of any psychiatric medication, medical diet, or really any lifestyle change. Sure enough you'll see "hairloss" as a side effect. Who knows why the exact biochemical reason but hormonal shifts cause TE, but remember TE isn't AGA.

[BaldingHelpMe]

This. It is in my opinion that reducing DHT will never induce androgenic alopecia

This is what I hope and believe now. I'm now taking only dut, and stop fin completely. I've been on dut only since the end of dec 15.

I now believe the huge shedding was due to TE, but not sure what caused it. I lost 70 lbs and switched from fin to dut, so I'm not sure if it was my extreme weight loss and lifestyle change or drug change, or maybe both.

[dm90]

You lost 70lbs? I would say that was probably a big factor involved in your TE.