Head hair shedding - help?

[E-Brennan]

I've been on minoxidil and finasteride for about six months now, and spiro for almost two.  Over the past week, I've noticed a huge increase in the amount of head hair I'm losing.  My entire head seems to feel much thinner (with finer hair too).  Regrowth in the balding areas so far is fairly minimal - lots of baby fine hair but nothing that I'd call hairy.  Researching this issue on the internet shows that shedding on these medications is to be expected as part of the normal regrowth process, but it seems like a lot of shedding!

Any thoughts?  Normal when T levels are drastically reduced?  The start of a more feminine hair growth type?  Stick with the current regime and see what happens?  Shave it all off and just spend the money on a wig?

[Jennygirl]

Isn't finastride that one that takes about 6 months before it starts doing stuff? And doesn't that usually involve weakened hair falling out to make way for new strong hair?

Or, am I just completely off my rocker?? I could be

[Emjay]

And doesn't that usually involve weakened hair falling out to make way for new strong hair?

Or, am I just completely off my rocker?? I could be

I've heard something like that too so either yes or we're both off of our rockers!  (Huge possibility for me anyway) 

I've been shedding some too since being on finasteride.  My hair is also getting long so I'm probably pulling more of it than when it was short just by brushing it out.  It was always like that when I had it long before.  (Why on earth I ever cut it off is beyond me!)

I've been told that regrowth in balding areas is pretty dicey with hrt, luckily I don't have a lot of mpb going on but yeah, any regrowth is a good thing.  I think anyway... 

If it REALLY seems like a lot ask your doc?

[Miyuki]

Definitely stay the course. In most cases shedding just means the hair loss medication is working, so a lot of shedding may mean that it is actually working very well. I experienced a lot of shedding when I started minoxidil, and recently even more when I added biotin to the mix. But when it comes back, it's always thicker and stronger. The only cause for concern would be if your androgen levels were still too high, but since they're not, you should be fine. I have never actually heard of a case where taking minoxidil and finasteride caused additional permanent hair loss.

[KayXo]

Finastride usually suppresses T (the source of DHT, which causes male pattern baldness).

Finasteride does not suppress T. It reduces conversion of T to DHT through inhibition of of the enzymes responsible for that conversion. Hence, less DHT in the blood and tissues.

Could it be that the reason of hair loss might be stress related, for example?

Or maybe the lack of estrogen, also causing increased stress. On very little estrogen, my hairs would shed much more and were thin. Increasing my estrogen helped with shedding.

[Hikari]

I haven't really had a big noticable increase in hair shedding with Dutasteride and minoxidil but, I have had long hair my entire adult life so it is quite possible that I just didn't notice because there is always a bunch of hair on my brush. My hair seems to always grow and shed a lot, and it changes how much with my diet too.

[AnnaCannibal]

I've been on minoxidil and finasteride for about six months now, and spiro for almost two.  Over the past week, I've noticed a huge increase in the amount of head hair I'm losing.  My entire head seems to feel much thinner (with finer hair too).  Regrowth in the balding areas so far is fairly minimal - lots of baby fine hair but nothing that I'd call hairy.  Researching this issue on the internet shows that shedding on these medications is to be expected as part of the normal regrowth process, but it seems like a lot of shedding!

Any thoughts?  Normal when T levels are drastically reduced?  The start of a more feminine hair growth type?  Stick with the current regime and see what happens?  Shave it all off and just spend the money on a wig?

Hair shedding on the 3-6 month mark on Finasteride is something to be expected.  I don't know the exact amount you may be shedding, but it sound like quite a lot.  Its possible the combination of you being on spiro now has kicked it into overdrive.  I think this a great a thing and you will now be regrowing some nice, strong feminine hairs! 

As far as shaving your head, that's completely up to you.  You're getting a fresh start, so why not shave your head and give your head a fresh start?  That way it'll all grow in nice and even, for the most part.  If you get a wig, spend the extra money and get a nicer one and look up pictures of your face shape and use those guides online to see what style best suits your face.  Trust me, a 20 dollar wig from a party store has nothing on a 50 dollar wig from a wig shop online.

[runaway]

That's completely normal.

About a 1-2 months after I started taking finasteride, I experienced more shedding, and the hair falling out was the thinner miniaturized strands.

6-12 months later the thinning areas had completely filled in, and 12-18 months later I'm seeing some regrowth on my temples as well.

Just hang in there and don't worry about it, because in time you won't have to.

[E-Brennan]

In that case, I shall stick out the shed and see what happens.  I guess worst case scenario it'll be wig time, which isn't that bad when I think about it.

I'll update this in a few months and let you know whether the shedding has slowed or stopped.

Thanks everyone!

[Rachel]

I was on Finasteride 3 months prior to HRT and HRT 13 months (E, AA and Fin with doctors supervision). I added minoxidil a month ago (twice a day). I have been micro dermal rolling once or twice a week for 2 or 3 months. and I had 1 PRP treatment in May.

I experienced some shedding about the 3 month mark with just finasteride. It subsided and my hair gradually got softer.

My hair is much softer now and I am growing new hair. Micro dermal rolling has helped significantly. Regrowth takes time and I am inpatient. I think Fin, minoxidil  and micro dermal rolling is what is needed to grow hair back from MPB. 

[KayXo]

I think Fin, minoxidil  and micro dermal rolling is what is needed to grow hair back from MPB.

And probably the AA as well as the E ain't hurting this process either. I think if DHT can be reduced early on, the risks of MPB can be significantly reduced.

[Esther79]

I am currently trying out adding some estradiol, and progesterone to my shampoo. Saw a report on the net about a patent study on a shampoo with estradiol, progesterone and T3, where almost all the test subject show an improvement. Progestrone if applied locally is able to remove up to 72% of DHT fom the skin area which its applied to as its a inhibitor to the 5-alpha-reductase.


Another uk hair loss clinic uses shampoo with caffeine, minoxidil plus medroxyprogesterone in the shampoo.

http://www.belgraviacentre.com/blog/high-strength-15-minoxidil-old/