Hi everyone!
I’m looking for some advice because I’m a bit unsure about the treatment plan my dermatologist gave me.
I’m 30, based in France and I’ve been using 5% topical minoxidil twice a day for a little over 6 years. I’ve never experienced any side effects, and overall I think it has helped maintain my hair. However, I’ve recently noticed that my temples and frontal hairline have started thinning again, so I booked an appointment with a dermatologist to see if it was possible to strengthen my treatment.
She prescribed 1 mg finasteride, but only 3 times a week to start with (and possibly every day after 3 months depending on how things go).
What surprised me is that she also told me to stop using minoxidil completely. My initial thought was that keeping minoxidil and simply adding finasteride would make more sense.
Another thing that made me question the consultation: in France, because of the potential side effects of finasteride, patients now have to sign an information/acknowledgment form before starting treatment. My dermatologist didn’t mention this at all during the appointment, which honestly made me wonder how up to date she is on the current recommendations.
Has anyone here ever been advised to switch treatments like this (stopping topical minoxidil when starting finasteride)?
I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have been in a similar situation or who have looked into the research.
Thanks!