Is Topical Propecia an Effective Hair Loss Treatment?
This insightful information was posted on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Timothy Carman of La Jolla, CA, who is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network.
I always appreciate it when hair loss doctors on here are kind enough to offer their medical input. I have posted in the past about my terrible experience with getting side effects from Propecia. Since having to quit the drug years ago, I’ve searched for alternatives.
There are a couple of doctors on the internet right now who are selling topical formulations with finasteride in them. One doctor is Richard Lee, the other is someone named Dr. Klein.
I e-mailed one of these doctors and asked whether he felt I would get side effects systemically from using finasteride topically. The doctor said that the drug would be absorbed and could theoretically give me side effects, but that my chances were better with a topical, where the effect would be more localized.
Do any of the doctors on this board think this might be worth a shot? I’m hoping it might give me some small benefit of the drug without sides, or very minimal sides.
I would really appreciate any input on this before I order. The formulations are not cheap. Thanks in advance everyone.
Actually Propecia (finasteride) is not the DHT blocker alluded to in most hair loss discussions. A per Dr. Lindsey, Propecia (finasteride) would not have an effect topically.
There is a hair loss drug currently available for use in Europe which is a topical agent which blocks DHT called Fluridil. It has shown promise, but for me the jury is still out. Another link of well respected journal that published the findings at Dermatologic Surgery can be found at the following URL: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118959860/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0.
Dr. Timothy Carman
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Bill
Associate Publisher/Editor
Technorati Tags: hair loss doctor, Propecia, finasteride, DHT, hair loss, hair loss drug, Fluridil
May 23, 2011 @ 1:09 pm
Renton,
I don’t think you are quoting the above in context with the article. The question above is referring to topical DHT blockers, the vast majority of which, do not contain finasteride.
Oral finasteride, marketed as Propecia is to date, the most effective DHT blocker and the only FDA approved antiandrogen available. As for topical finasteride, this is not very common and not the DHT blocker available in most topical hair loss treatments.
If you have opposing information that you’d like to share, please feel free.
Best wishes,
Bill – Managing Publisher of this Community
May 19, 2011 @ 6:43 pm
“Actually Propecia (finasteride) is not the DHT blocker alluded to in most hair loss discussions. ”
What can you mean? This needs further explanation. Is wikipedia and the entire internet simply wrong on this, and you give no support or reasons other than to just dismiss it?