Premature Wrinkles

Symptoms Physical
#1

Hello. I’m brand new to this forum and wanted to share my own experience of taking propecia. I have been taking propecia for some time now. I haven’t kept track, though it must be 10 years plus (I think!). I’m now 37 and have been taking it quite contentedly despite the monthly cost. Although I have preserved and possibly gained hair, I still have the slight balding/receding look, and my trip to the hairdresser usually necessitates the making do with what I’ve got haircut, rather than the feck it, let’s shave it all off look. So therefore I’ve always gambled with taking my daily pill as I believed that £40 a month was insurance enough to assume that propecia was keeping the hair I had on, and I haven’t wanted to risk stopping it, especially with the financial investment I have already put in. Anyway, that’s the background. The thing is, of late, replacing my 20s anxiety about hair loss, I have a current anxiety about facial wrinkles. I have always been quite boyish for my age, and still do in general appearance. It is just that I’ve noticed that over the past few years I have developed quite significant wrinkles around my eyes, and have started to develop smile lines also. As I have said, although maybe not so apparent to others, I feel that the skin on my face appears to be significantly damaged, as if it has lost its elasticity/collagen?, and when I press my hand to my face and bunch the skin together, the damage appears quite significant, like my skin is cracked/parched. Other points to note are that I have been on anti-depressants for years, and my mood can lead my spending much time in bed, therefore I’m not sure if this premature wrinkling is a result of pillow damage and lack of oxygen/water when I have been lying in bed for prolonged periods of time (one side appears more damaged than the other). I also have quite sensitive skin which is prone to acne and have a very light growth of facial hair where I can get by without shaving for nearly a week. I don’t know whether my skin is less tough than some mens because of this and as a consequence is more prone to aging which sometimes a woman’s skin can appear to be. This issue has caused me much distress and feeds into the vicious circle of my low mood as I feel that I may have damaged my skin through my own actions. I would just like some feedback from other users regarding my experience as I wouldn’t like to think that a possible solution to hair loss has contributed to a much more serious effect on physical appearance. I am considering seeing a dermatologist privately to discuss my concerns, though welcome any feedback.

One final thing I forgot to mention, I haven’t been diligent in taking propecia regularly over the years, as it can be a few weeks between ordering more (sometimes well over a month), due to financial constraints etc. I have never thought anything about it at the time, though on going online and reading about the intricate relationship it has with the body, I am wondering whether I have been doing my body any harm with this yo-yo approach?

Cheers.

1 Like
#2

Listen, you clearly did not read what this forum is about:

This forum is for men with UNRESOLVED side effects from Finasteride, as noted in the title at top of site.

YOU do NOT fall into this group since you are still taking the drug. Despite this, you have chosen to post here, and it boggles me as to why. Regardless, the side effect you mention (wrinkles) has been mentioned by other users during their use of the drug.

Please do yourself a favor and discontinue use of the medication and see if your issues resolve. If they do not after many months, then consider coming back to the forum.

Finally, this is not a hairloss site, if you are still concerned about hair please post on those types of sites if you plan to continue the drug. Thanks for your understanding.

#3

Well that’s me told.

It’s a shame that you are creating such strictures when I’m just a guy asking for some feeback, and especially when concerns I raise are to do with my propecia use. I just thought that I’d throw my concerns into the field as it were, as there are many who use the site. I appreciate that others have raised similar concerns, and it has been useful for me to articulate these concerns in my post. Despite being a fellow human being positing a legitimate concern, it does seem rather po faced to say that I can only post if I am currently off propecia. I understand why the site has been set up and the real problems that propecia has caused, but my one thread surely can’t damage the integrity of this site. I felt that my concerns (which aren’t about hair loss) and my wish to air these concerns, would be better placed on a site like this which is all to do with the side effects of propecia use, rather than say, Yahoo Answers. I suspect that your response to my reponse will in effect be another shut up and read the guidelines. I appreciate guidelines, but, for goodness sake.

1 Like
#4

I’m not trying to be an ass – I’m giving you feedback you requested, as it relates to your Propecia use – despite my inclination not to, considering your current usage of medication.

This is truly the only answer to your situation: Quit the drug and see if your issues resolve in coming weeks/months. If they do, you’ll have an answer and likely know the culprit. If they do not, you’ll also have an answer and can better asses wether they were related to the drug’s use.

In meantime, it is pointless to post here until you quit. This site is meant for guys who have side effects persist long after quitting, not for guys on the drug who are currently wondering wether their side effects “might” be from Propecia use. Hence my advice to quit and see for yourself if they are. Unfortunately we get guys on the drug who ignore the purpose of this forum (UNRESOLVED side effects after quitting), who then post and ask questions as you have while still on drug… which is a waste of everyone’s time per the aforementioned reasons.

Again, asking wether the sides are from Propecia (which I have already mentioned past users who quit have experienced the problem you describe) is simply a moot point since you are still on the drug. Stop taking it and see what changes.

Regarding your side effects (wrinkles, collagen etc), I’ll throw a bone here… androgens are required for proper skin/sebum/oil production, 5AR is found in skin, and Finasteride inhibits 5AR and DHT (an androgen). It thus stands to reason that any decrease in androgen levels will have a negative impact on skin collagen production.

I suggest you do some Googling on PubMed or Google Scholar related to keywords like “androgen” “collagen” etc.

nature.com/jid/journal/v123/ … 2593a.html

  • mutated androgen receptor (ie, DHT cannot exert effect) rats had less collagen

thieme-connect.com/ejournal … -2000-3834

  • high dose androgen promotes collagen production

bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/4/5738/773

  • Decreased body collagen may possibly be a primary defect in osteoporosis, while androgens may increase total skin collagen.

Finally, Finasteride has been shown to negative affect collagen synthesis:

www3.interscience.wiley.com/jour … 1&SRETRY=0
“Oestrogens and androgens stimulate collagen matrix synthesis, while progesterone is a competitive inhibitor for the 5α reduction of testosterone to 5α dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The anti androgen finasteride is a specific inhibitor of the 5α reductase type 2 isoenzyme, associated with anabolic functions”

“Inhibition of 5α reductase activity by finasteride in gingival fibroblasts is suggestive of target tissue anabolic functions in gingivae and competitive inhibition by progesterone, is suggestive of regulation of hormone mediated tissue responses during repair”

I hope that helps, but bottom line: if you don’t plan to stop taking it, this is not the forum for you. Thanks for your understanding.

#5

Thanks for your second reply - appreciated, and will be useful for future dermatologist visit.

I will definitely consider coming off propecia after properly reviewing my own situation.

I also understand that this site is for those who are experiencing problems post propecia use. Despite still being on the medication, is it possible to solicit advice from those who have come off it and ask whether coming off has helped with the appearance of wrinkles?

Kind regards, G.

#6

I thought I had this too, but when I started comparing my skin with other people my age, I found out I don’t look that much older if at all.

#7

Maybe you should focus on what’s going on inside your body, rather than the cosmetic aspects of the outside.

Have you spent anytime thinking about the damage Propecia is doing to your Heart, Liver, Kidneys, Endocrine System, Stomach lining. I’m sure I have missed something. A lot of the damage may not be reversable.

#8

How long have you been taking anti-depressants? Propecia makes you depressed, this is PROVEN in medical studies. You should consider this too. I had tough times in life but never felt depressed for no reason until I started swallowing that shite. Btw consider that if you do get into trouble with the drug there is no one in your part of the world who can help. I know I’m there!

#9

I have lost the layer of collagen beneath my eyes and directly above my nose on my forehead. This after crashing about three months ago. I know through research that androgens (testosterone) maintain collagen levels. If my body were ever to restore testosterone production to pre-fin levels, would the collagen regenerate in those areas? I don’t see much in the way of studies that would support collagen restoration with a rise in androgen levels. I just want to know if this is now gone forever.

#10

I too have noticed recently that the “fat” under my eyes seems to be gone. I can see the veins around my eyes and they look darker under my eyes. I think the wrinkles are more pornounced now because of this. I hope this isn’t permanent. I read it could be related to high cortisol levels.