Wed 17 Oct 2007
Is it Normal to Experience Hair Shedding With Propecia?
Category: Non Surgical Treatments , Propecia (Finasteride)I have been taking Propecia now for only 2 weeks. I know that is it too early to see any new hair growth but my question is, is it normal to experience hair loss or additional hair shedding at this stage?
Thank you for your inquiry,
As you know, 2 weeks is way too early to assess whether or not Propecia (finasteride) is going to work for you. Though Propecia begins working bio-chemically right away, it can take up to 3 months to begin reversing the hair miniaturization process that occurs in hereditary hair loss. It can take up to 6 months to 1 year to see any cosmetic improvement in appearance of your hair.
Be assured however, that Propecia won’t cause additional hair loss.
It is possible that you will experience some additional hair shedding over the course of the first 3 months. What is actually happening is that the weaker, finer, miniaturized hairs are forced into catagen (the resting phase) and then telogen (the shedding phase) to make way for the new hair being produced by the follicle (the anagen stage). The new hair will grow back thicker and stronger if indeed Propecia is working for you.
I hope this helps.
—
Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog
Technorati Tags: Propecia, hair growth, hair loss, hair shedding, finasteride, Propecia, hair miniaturization, hair shedding, miniaturized hairs, catagen, telogen
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February 16th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
i am half way though my 5th month supply of procecia, everytime i run my hands through my hair, hairs fall out, this wasnt the case before I started propecia. when I wake up every morning, there are healthy hairs over my pillow. if the shedding lasts the 1st 3 months, why am i experiencing all of this now? i wish i never started it as I wasnt loosing as many hairs.
Does Propecia really work?
February 17th, 2010 at 1:20 am
David,
Why your hair appears to be shedding more excessively than before especially 5 months into taking it, I couldn’t tell you for sure. However, the shedding of terminal (thick and healthy) hairs could quite potentially be the normal hair growth cycle playing itself out, possibly exaggerated slightly due to seasonal shedding. The good news is, permanent hair loss is not a reported side effect of taking Propecia.
Since its recommended to give Propecia a full year before evaluating its effectiveness in treating hair loss, you may want to go the distance to see how it works out. Keep in mind that Propecia works much better at slowing down or stopping hair loss rather than growing new hair in completely bald areas.
In my opinion, you may want to take quarterly photos of your balding scalp and then compare them to see if you notice any difference. If after a year your hair doesn’t look any worse and/or hair loss seems to have slowed down, then Propecia is probably working for you.
I hope this helps.
Bill (Falceros)
Managing Publisher of this Community