Posts tagged ‘side effects of propecia’

February 7th, 2012

Skin Conditions That Cause Hair Loss

 

It’s not always your hair that’s the problem. Sometimes, it’s actually your skin that is causing you to lose your hair! Hair loss caused by a skin condition is often reversible, so understanding what is causing your hair thinning is an important first step to treating it.

 

Seborrheic dermatitis (also known as seborrheic eczema) is an inflammatory skin condition, which results in white to yellowish scales that flake away. Typically, you’ll see these scales in oily skin areas, such as the scalp, eyebrows, creases of the nose, behind the ears and inside the outer ear.

 

If you’ve had a child with cradle cap, you’ve seen seborrheic dermatitis. However, adults can get it too.

 

Seborrheic dermatitis tends to run in families – just like cradle cap does. The condition can be worsened by such things as stress and fatigue. However, it can be reversed by proper cleaning and care for the scalp. A good cleansing routine, including items such as SureThik Shampoo and Serum to clean and nourish the scalp properly, will improve your scalp’s condition. While seborrheic dermatitis is not caused by poor hygiene, cleansing to keep follicles clear and healthy definitely helps. Daily shampooing may clear it up more quickly, by working to loosen the scales and wash them away.

 

Psoriasis is another skin condition that can cause hair loss. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition where skin cells are building up quicker than they are being shed. As a result, it causes the creation of red or pink colored lesions on the surface of the skin.

 

The lesions cause not only hair loss, but also scarring and follicle damage. The good news is that your hair may come back if the condition is quickly and properly controlled. However, only an examination by a knowledgeable physician will confirm if the follicles are healthy enough for hair to regrow.

 

Scarring is a primary feature of scleroderma, another autoimmune disease, which is caused by a build up of collagen in the skin and other connective tissue. So much collagen can build up due to the scleroderma, that the skin actually feels hard!

 

Any kind of trauma to your skin – whether burns, infections or disease – can cause scars. Once scar tissue replaces normal tissue, hair cannot grow through it! This is called scar alopecia and it’s permanent. So, if you have been diagnosed with scleroderma (or any other serious skin disease or trauma) it’s important to have it treated early by a qualified professional. If you can avoid the scarring to your scalp, you can avoid the hair loss.

 

Once there is scarring, the only option to improve your hair loss will be hair restoration.  While hair transplant technology has come a long way since the dreaded “hair plugs”, the ideal situation is that you don’t lose your hair in the first place. So take the steps now to make sure the skin of your scalp is as healthy as it can be.

CategoryHair loss articles, Hair loss in the news, hair loss info, Hair Loss Medications, Natural Hair Loss Solutions, Uncategorized | CommentNo Comments »

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August 9th, 2011

Propecia, Finasteride and Proscar and Potential Link to Male Breast Cancer

Information for Dr. Ferreira’s Patients:

 Finasteride/propecia/proscar is an excellent medication with a good safety record. Recent reports have expressed concerns of an increased cancer risk. It appears that this probably represents a very, very small and rare side effect. It is very difficult to detect a rare side effect when that condition is already very rare in the general population. At this point no one knows for sure.

 

 What to do:

 

At this time I will not be prescribing anymore Propecia/Finasteride even though I know it to be an excellent drug to slow down hair loss. I am waiting for more information. The ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons) will be putting out a position paper in the near future. Check out www.ishrs.org.

 

 If you are taking finasteride/propecia/proscar you may want to consider stopping for now.

 

 

If there is an increased risk of cancer it is very small; but, you may not want to take this risk. I have stopped taking the medication myself but I think this is very personal decision. If you have had excellent benefits from the medication, you will lose the benefits to your hair when you stop. The more hair you have to save, the more at risk if you stop the medication. Once again, the risk, if it really exists, is likely to be very, very small. You may choose to stay on the medication if you have seen good results. Please speak to your doctor about your situation.

 

For More Information, Please Review:

 

 

1)      HealthCanadaAdvisory :

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2011/2011_110-eng.php

 

2)      International society of hair restoration surgeons: ishrs.org. Do search on propecia for more information.

 

3)      Merck website where they have product information:

http://www.merckfrosst.ca/mfcl/en/corporate/products/index.html

 and visit propecia .com

 

 

This is all the information I have at the moment. 

 

See below for some information in the media about this drug:

 Prostate drugs to include breast cancer warning

 

 HealthCanadawarns popular medications used to treat baldness and enlarged prostates may put men at a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. (Propeciacanada)

Health Canada advisory

CTV News.ca Staff

Date:Thursday Aug. 4, 201110:22 AM ET

Health Canada is warning that popular medications used to treat baldness and enlarged prostates may put men at a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.

The health agency said Thursday it’s updating the labelling for generic finasteride medications to include information about rare reports of breast cancer in men.

Finasteride is a prescription drug sold inCanadaunder two brand names: Propecia and Proscar. Generic finasteride products are also available.

Propecia (1 mg finasteride tablets) is used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss. Proscar (5 mg finasteride) is used in the treatment and control of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or a non-cancerous enlarged prostate.

Male breast cancer has been reported in a small number of patients worldwide with both the 1 mg and 5 mg formulations of finasteride, though most of the reports have been in association with the 5mg formulation.

The labelling for Propecia, Proscar and several of the generic finasteride products has already been updated to include information on the potential risk of male breast cancer. Updates to the remaining generic drugs will follow, Health Canada said.

The agency says it’s not clear what role finasteride might play in breast cancer.

“Based on the currently available evidence, it is not known with certainty whether finasteride can cause breast cancer, nor can this possibility be ruled out at this point in time,” the Health Canada notice said.

Patients taking finasteride should report any changes in their breasts to their doctor. Changes might include breast enlargement, lumps, tenderness, pain or nipple discharge.

Patients with questions or concerns about their finasteride treatment should talk to their doctors, HealthCanadaadvises.

Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar): Potential rare risk of breast cancer in men

Information Update
2011-110
August 4, 2011
For immediate release

OTTAWA – Health Canada is informing healthcare practitioners and patients of a labelling update for finasteride drugs to add safety information on rare reports of breast cancer in men.

Finasteride is a prescription drug sold in Canada under two brand names, “Propecia” and “Proscar.” Generic finasteride products (1mg and 5mg) are also available on the market. Propecia (1 mg tablets) is used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss, while Proscar (5 mg tablets) is used in the treatment and control of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is a non-cancerous enlarged prostate. Finasteride is for use in men only.

Male breast cancer has been reported in a small number of patients worldwide with both the 1 mg and 5 mg formulations of finasteride. Most of the reports have been in association with the 5mg formulation. Based on the currently available evidence, it is not known with certainty whether finasteride can cause breast cancer, nor can this possibility be ruled out at this point in time.

The labelling for Propecia, Proscar and several of the generic finasteride products has already been updated to include information on the potential risk of male breast cancer. Updates to the remaining generic drugs will follow.

Patients taking finasteride should report any changes in their breasts to their doctor. Changes might include breast enlargement, lumps, tenderness, pain or nipple discharge.

Patients with questions or concerns about their finasteride treatment should talk to their health professional. Drug labels, or “Product Monographs,” contain important prescribing and safety information for health professionals and patients, and are available by search of Health Canada’s Drug Product Database.

How to report side effects to health products

To report suspected side effects to these or other health products, please contact Health Canada’s Canada Vigilance Program toll-free at 1-866-234-2345, or complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and send to us using one of these methods:

     Fax: 1-866-678-6789

     Internet: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect

     Mail: Canada Vigilance Program
                  Marketed Health Products Directorate
                 Ottawa, ON, Address Locator 0701E
                 K1A 0K9

 

 

CategoryHair loss articles, Hair loss in the news, Hair Loss Medications, Product Recalls/Safety, Tips on choosing product, Uncategorized | CommentNo Comments »

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