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Can Finasteride Be Used For Baldness After Hysterectomy And Chemotherapy?

Posted on Mon, 24 Aug 2015

Question: Hi Dr. XXXXXXX

I am 28 year old woman and I have had complete hysterectomy(removal of uterus and ovaries) 12 years back and chemotherapies for my cancer treatment. Since then my hair have never been very dense. There is no specific area where baldness occurs and it is throughout the scalp in small portions. When I tie my hair it is not visible much but I cannot leave them open. I am on the following medication:
Tab Loettee - estradiol tablets
Hairbless - twice a day
Menoease and Absolut Woman -
Calcium and Vitamin E supplements

I wanted to know if I could use finasteride medication as well. Recent studies have shown that it helped in improving hairloss in women as well:
http://www.hda-online.org.uk/hair-loss/finasteride/can-it-be-used-by-women.html

If yes, which finasteride tablets shall I go for and what mg(1,2.5,5)? I am in favor of using this as I feel this might definitely help me reading its positive impact studies on women.

I had also used Minidoxil in the past - 2%, 5% and 10%. I had positive impact but only for the time I used it. Should I continue that again?

Lastly, irrespective of the medications in the past, I am very positive an full of life person. Thank you doctor.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Don't use Finasteride

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the query.
Finasteride can be used in females only if they have male pattern baldness.
This type of baldness is androgen dependent.
In your case both ovaries are removed so hardly there are chances of androgen excess.
It will not be effective in your case.
Better go for minoxidil.
Minoxidil is best available treatment for this.
You can continue with minoxidil 5 % .
Also take iron and vitamin b complex supplements daily.
Let me know if you have any other doubts.
Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (3 hours later)

Thanks for responding doctor. Also I forgot to mention before that small flakes of skin remove from my scalp and if I remove them with my own nails there is slight redness in that area. I have been noticing this since last 6 months. Is there any cure for that. Shall I still go for minodoxill ?

Thanks once again.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Use minoxidil

Detailed Answer:
Hello
These flakes are due to seborrhea.
You can use ketoconazole shampoo for these.
Yes still you can use minoxidil.
Better buy a water or aloe vera based minoxidil.
One such brand is proanagen lotion.
See if you get this.
Let me know if you have any other doubt.
Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (21 hours later)

Thank you once again for responding. I would see if I could get the Minodoxil solution you suggested. Doctor, I wanted to understand the reason for my less hair. Is it hormonal? Or is it because of seborrhea. I have been using the prescribed medicines since years and there has been improvement as well, but is there any way, I can regain my lustrous hair, since I wish to :)

I regularly hit the gym, stay happy, sleep well, eat nutritious food.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (21 hours later)

Brief Answer:
not hormonal

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Your hairfall is not hormonal.
It is related to chemotherapy.
You took chemotherapy a few years back.
This causes damage to hair bulb although hair tries to regenerate but it takes time and also support in the form of nutritional supplement.
Minoxidil increases blood supply to hair follicle and hence nutrition is also enhanced.
It might take years but definitely there will be response.
Let me know if you have any other doubts.
Thank you.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E