President Donald Trump's health has been the buzz lately and this included his usage of a drug named Propecia. A lower dose of finasteride, Propecia is known to prevent hair loss. Here's the story behind this drug.
On February 2, Dr. Harold Bornstein, Trump's longtime doctor, revealed in an interview with the New York Times that the president has been taking Propecia to treat his male-pattern hair loss. This type of hair loss is actually revealed to be due to the male hormone called dihydrotestosterone or DHT which increases chances of baldness.
Although Propecia is gaining popularity in the field of hair loss treatments, dermatologists like Dr. Andrew Alexis of Mount Sinai St. Luke's and West in New York clarified that drugs like Propecia are better in maintaining the current hair of the user rather than helping in growing more hair. Alexis also emphasized how dermatologists should set the expectations correctly among patients in order to avoid disappointments in results.
Moreover, Propecia is now known for its contributions in hair loss treatments but, did you know that it was only discovered by accident? Propecia is actually prescribed for men with problems on enlarged prostates, according to CNN. Patients taking Propecia for their prostate, especially those who are balding, noticed that they are growing some hair as an effect of the drug.
Despite the good news in the field of hair loss treatment, male patients should also be aware of the possible side effects of Propecia. This includes decreased libido, problems with erection and ejaculation, pain in the testicles and even depression. Should there be any of these symptoms arise, contact your physicians.
Aside from the said side effects, Alexis also warned that since Propecia is initially made for treating enlarged prostates, users must be aware of the dosage if they're only using it for hair loss treatments. Using higher dosages can be too harmful and can increase risks of getting an aggressive type of prostate cancer especially among men aged 55 and older.
