Other Changes with Finasteride and Tamsulosin
I've documented my slowly growing breasts in this blog, and by now my right breast is noticeably fuller, but my left one has some catching up to do!
But what about other changes?
What are they and how am I handling them?
Firstly, note that my recent blood test showed that my serum testosterone level was within the reference range, and my serum oestrogen was in the higher end of the reference range - so these changes can't all be accounted for by hormonal changes, although if my oestrogen is increasing then that could be a factor, but there's scant evidence.
Firstly, body odour. I noticed before anyone else, that I was starting to stink! It was a more pungent sweaty smell that seemed harder to shift from clothes.
I'm washing my important bits with a good soap twice a day and using a deodorising body spray as needed. This seems to be working well.
Skin and nails. My skin is much drier. It felt unpleasant to me although I'm assured that it wasn't noticeable to others.
I'm using a facial moisturiser (Olay Beauty Cream) on my face, and a general moisturiser on my breasts, armpits and groin - this is Epimax a petroleum based product. I think this approach is paying off, particularly on my face.
My nails were splitting down their length with annoying regularity so I've started gently rubbing Epimax into the edges and ends of my nails twice a day - it's too early to give any idea if it's working.
My lips have become uncomfortably dry. The usual advice is to use Vaseline which feels and smells horrible. I've ordered some moisturising lip balm to see if that helps.
I've not noticed any effects on my hair, although there may be more growth on my chest and upper arms.
There is a combination effect of looking after my skin and body alongside having obvious breasts, and that is that I feel a very strong need to dress better so as not to let myself down. But with breasts, my mens clothes don't always hang or look quite right! So I'm buying female-cut clothes which look better and feel wonderful!
So in summary, I'm having to be so much more meticulous about caring for my body and my looks than before I started on these drugs (and it's mainly the Finasteride I think). Which is possibly a good thing.