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Can Minoxidil Be Taken For Androgenic Alopecia?
Question: Hello Doctor,
First i would like to share my recent med test report. please access by below link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79wrXl6EZ-pd2l2Y1dhRjNfR3M/view?usp=sharing.
I had done these tests primary bcoz a doc here at HCM had recommend so as to find the root cause of my hair thinning and hair fall.
Recently i had visited a dermatologist for the above problem . He says that i am suffering from androgenic alopecia or male patter badness.
My current state is that I have very thin hair and very small bald patches forming.
Please have a look by accessing the below link
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B79wrXl6EZ-pRWZvM3NNaEhZSWs?usp=sharing
He prescibed some meds . U can have a look by accessing the below link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79wrXl6EZ-pOFVHSFVPdTFLMXM/view?usp=sharing
Can you please confirm what these meds are?
I think the first one is 5 % minoxidil solution for topical application .
The second one i guess has finasteride. Is it safe to take finasteride as i have low Testosterone levels? Finastradine has some nasty side effects i read
online like impotence, trouble having an orgasm and swelling of breasts. I think i also have gynacomastia for your reference my HEIGHT is 173 cm ,
weight is 75 kg and waist is 37 inch at belly. I have not confirmed from a doc if i have gynacomastia.
My concern is will Finastradine aggravate gynacomastia ?
I am an unmarried male(25 yrs) and will i have sexual problems later in life because of Finastradine ? Are these symptoms only temporary and is it safe to
take for a person like me who has low Testosterone?
I have read that androgenic alopecia is caused by high levels of dihydrotestosterone. And excess of Testosterone is converted to DHT .If i have
low levels of Testosterone then there are low levels of DHT. Then why am i suffering from Androgenic alopeica?
Also I have read that minoxidil first increases the hair fall and then slowly stop the hairfall. Will i regain my lost hair ? what if it doesn't work for
me while it aggravate my condition?
Are pan tablets responsible for hair loss condition?
Please let me know if anything is missing . Please suggest me what to do?
First i would like to share my recent med test report. please access by below link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79wrXl6EZ-pd2l2Y1dhRjNfR3M/view?usp=sharing.
I had done these tests primary bcoz a doc here at HCM had recommend so as to find the root cause of my hair thinning and hair fall.
Recently i had visited a dermatologist for the above problem . He says that i am suffering from androgenic alopecia or male patter badness.
My current state is that I have very thin hair and very small bald patches forming.
Please have a look by accessing the below link
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B79wrXl6EZ-pRWZvM3NNaEhZSWs?usp=sharing
He prescibed some meds . U can have a look by accessing the below link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79wrXl6EZ-pOFVHSFVPdTFLMXM/view?usp=sharing
Can you please confirm what these meds are?
I think the first one is 5 % minoxidil solution for topical application .
The second one i guess has finasteride. Is it safe to take finasteride as i have low Testosterone levels? Finastradine has some nasty side effects i read
online like impotence, trouble having an orgasm and swelling of breasts. I think i also have gynacomastia for your reference my HEIGHT is 173 cm ,
weight is 75 kg and waist is 37 inch at belly. I have not confirmed from a doc if i have gynacomastia.
My concern is will Finastradine aggravate gynacomastia ?
I am an unmarried male(25 yrs) and will i have sexual problems later in life because of Finastradine ? Are these symptoms only temporary and is it safe to
take for a person like me who has low Testosterone?
I have read that androgenic alopecia is caused by high levels of dihydrotestosterone. And excess of Testosterone is converted to DHT .If i have
low levels of Testosterone then there are low levels of DHT. Then why am i suffering from Androgenic alopeica?
Also I have read that minoxidil first increases the hair fall and then slowly stop the hairfall. Will i regain my lost hair ? what if it doesn't work for
me while it aggravate my condition?
Are pan tablets responsible for hair loss condition?
Please let me know if anything is missing . Please suggest me what to do?
Brief Answer:
Regarding androgenetic alopecia
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
I am dr.kakkar (dermatologist). I have gone through your query and I have reviewed the attachments.
Yes, you have androgenetic alopecia.
All your investigations are within normal limits except that you have low Vitamin D levels.
Your testosterone levels are TOTAL value which can vary depending on how much of it is protein bound. It is the FREE testosterone levels which are biologically active.
I suggest you to start with minoxidil and finasteride.
Minoxidil is a non- specific hair growth promoter and it is US FDA approved for androgenetic alopecia in males. Some patients (not all) may notice a slight increase in hair fall when they start minoxidil but that it actually a good sign and means that the medicine is working. This initial increase in shedding resolves on continued treatment. You should use minoxidil 5% solution, 1ml, twice daily. First shampoo hair and then apply minoxidil on air dried scalp. Start from the center of scalp and gradually move outwards to prevent trickling.
Finasteride is also US FDA approved for treatment of androgenetic alopecia in males. The recommended dose is 1 mg, once daily.
Finasteride does not affect Serum Testosterone levels. It only inhibits conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone in the hair follicles.
Side effects of finasteride like reduced sexual drive/ libido are rare (1-2% of patients) and subside with continued treatment.
Some male patients may notice gynaecomastia after years of continued treatment with finasteride but this is a very rare side effect and in my practice I don't see this in my patients.
Androgenetic alopecia is not caused by any dietary deficiency or any drugs. It is an inherited predisposition to hair thinning and hair loss and manifests as a particular pattern of hair thinning/ hair loss/ baldness.
Regards
Regarding androgenetic alopecia
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
I am dr.kakkar (dermatologist). I have gone through your query and I have reviewed the attachments.
Yes, you have androgenetic alopecia.
All your investigations are within normal limits except that you have low Vitamin D levels.
Your testosterone levels are TOTAL value which can vary depending on how much of it is protein bound. It is the FREE testosterone levels which are biologically active.
I suggest you to start with minoxidil and finasteride.
Minoxidil is a non- specific hair growth promoter and it is US FDA approved for androgenetic alopecia in males. Some patients (not all) may notice a slight increase in hair fall when they start minoxidil but that it actually a good sign and means that the medicine is working. This initial increase in shedding resolves on continued treatment. You should use minoxidil 5% solution, 1ml, twice daily. First shampoo hair and then apply minoxidil on air dried scalp. Start from the center of scalp and gradually move outwards to prevent trickling.
Finasteride is also US FDA approved for treatment of androgenetic alopecia in males. The recommended dose is 1 mg, once daily.
Finasteride does not affect Serum Testosterone levels. It only inhibits conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone in the hair follicles.
Side effects of finasteride like reduced sexual drive/ libido are rare (1-2% of patients) and subside with continued treatment.
Some male patients may notice gynaecomastia after years of continued treatment with finasteride but this is a very rare side effect and in my practice I don't see this in my patients.
Androgenetic alopecia is not caused by any dietary deficiency or any drugs. It is an inherited predisposition to hair thinning and hair loss and manifests as a particular pattern of hair thinning/ hair loss/ baldness.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for the quick reply . I have a few follow up questions:
1. How long should I take mindoxil and finastridine to completely cure my problem?
2. should I apply minoxidil to the whole of my scalp or just the affected areas that is crown and above forehead?
3. Can you please tell what are the medicines prescribed by my local doc?
Here is the link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79wrXl6EZ-pOFVHSFVPdTFLMXM/view
Are these good enough or do u suggest different ones?
Thanks a lot
1. How long should I take mindoxil and finastridine to completely cure my problem?
2. should I apply minoxidil to the whole of my scalp or just the affected areas that is crown and above forehead?
3. Can you please tell what are the medicines prescribed by my local doc?
Here is the link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79wrXl6EZ-pOFVHSFVPdTFLMXM/view
Are these good enough or do u suggest different ones?
Thanks a lot
Brief Answer:
Regarding androgenetic alopecia
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Treatment of androgenetic alopecia is life long.
Patients notice improvement in 3-6 months and maximally by 1-2 years. This improvement has to be maintained by continued treatment.
Apply minoxidil, 1 ml, twice daily, to the affected part of scalp, that is the front, mid and crown of scalp.
I ma not aware about the local brand names but if the ingredients mentioned on package insert are minoxidil 5% solution and finasteride 1 mg, then they are ok.
However, I normally suggest well known brands of minoxidil and finasteride i.e Mintop forte 5 % solution (dr XXXXXXX labs and Finax 1 mg tablet (dr XXXXXXX labs).
Regards
Regarding androgenetic alopecia
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Treatment of androgenetic alopecia is life long.
Patients notice improvement in 3-6 months and maximally by 1-2 years. This improvement has to be maintained by continued treatment.
Apply minoxidil, 1 ml, twice daily, to the affected part of scalp, that is the front, mid and crown of scalp.
I ma not aware about the local brand names but if the ingredients mentioned on package insert are minoxidil 5% solution and finasteride 1 mg, then they are ok.
However, I normally suggest well known brands of minoxidil and finasteride i.e Mintop forte 5 % solution (dr XXXXXXX labs and Finax 1 mg tablet (dr XXXXXXX labs).
Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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