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Q. Does hair fall stop immediately with the use of Proscar?

Answered by
Dr. Atishay Bukharia
and medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team.
This is a premium question & answer published on Sep 04, 2016 and last reviewed on: Oct 09, 2018

Hi doctor,

I have been on Rogaine for 6 years and now on Proscar for 10 days. I had used it before, but went off. I cannot tell if I am still losing hair or not. Does hair loss stop immediately once Proscar is used?

#

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

  • Both, Minoxidil and Finasteride takes time to act and in some cases it will take two to three months. Both are FDA - Food and Drug Administration approved for androgenic alopecia.
  • You should always remember that if it is used once, then you need to take it for a lifetime. Otherwise, you would come to a previous stage of baldness.

For further doubts consult a dermatologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/dermatologist

Thank you doctor,

I have a few more questions. I am on 1.25 mg of Proscar. Should that be increased to 2.5 mg? Originally, it was 2.50 when I first went on it. Am I still shedding? Tonight, when I applied Rogained I noticed around 12 hairs fell out. Is this too much? The picture I have included is after I washed my hair.

#

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

  • No, you should not increase the dose. FDA approved dose is only 1 mg per day that too for androgenic alopecia.
  • Now, I am having a doubt over your diagnosis. These both are for androgenic alopecia and you are probably suffering from telogen effluvium (attachment removed to protect patient identity).
  • Do you have any history of trauma, surgery, illness, medication or stress in the last three months?

Revert back with the answer to the above question to a dermatologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/dermatologist

Thank you doctor,

It is androgenetic alopecia. My sisters have it. I was diagnosed by a doctor six years ago and the treatment has worked. I went off Proscar as I thought that just using Minoxidil would be fine.

#

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

  • Yes, it may be, but there is a pretty fair chance of superimposed telogen effluvium. If you are on both medications, then it has got to control except in few cases where these will not work.
  • Since you said that you are already on Minoxidil for the last 6 years, I do not find any reason for its progression as you have responded well.
  • Now, regarding telogen effluvium, it is a pretty common disorder and is considered as a closest differential diagnosis of androgenic alopecia.
  • The only difference is that there will a typical pattern of hair fall in androgenic alopecia while in telogen effluvium whole scalp is involved.
  • This is the reason I have asked you about the recent history of trauma, surgery, stress,  etc. Serum iron deficiency is also an important cause behind it, so you need to test your serum ferritin level.
  • In most cases, it is self limiting and in a few cases, it gets converted into chronic telogen effluvium.

For further information consult a dermatologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/dermatologist

Thank you doctor,

I have had no trauma or surgery. I really think that the problem was that I went off Proscar.

#

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

  • I do not think so. First of all Finasteride is 5-alpha reductase inhibitor that is it stop the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.
  • Dihydrotestosterone is the most potent androgen and is mainly responsible for androgenic alopecia. So, there is no way that it will cause such side effects.
  • Although, minoxidil is said to do so because of the phenomenon known as an immediate telogen release, which means after using Minoxidil, telogen hair shed off and is replaced by anagen hair.
  • So, up to two to three months of using Minoxidil paradoxically can cause hair fall and no such phenomenon has been reported with Finasteride.
  • Lastly, keep taking the medication without hiking its dose and also start taking hair vitamin supplements like Keraglo Eva tablet daily. Also, get your serum ferritin level.

For further information consult a dermatologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/dermatologist

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