"I Took Hair-Loss Medication and My Chest Got Bigger"—Idol LEE CHANGSUB Opens Up About Gynecomastia Side Effect [Health Talk]

[Financial News] BtoB member LEE CHANGSUB revealed that he is taking hair-loss medication and said he developed gynecomastia as a side effect.
The KBS Joy entertainment program “Kkirikkiri,” which aired on the 9th, featured LEE CHANGSUB, Jeong Jin-woon, and Soyou traveling to Japan’s Shodoshima Island.
LEE CHANGSUB said he was taking hair-loss medication, explaining, "I have to take it at the same time every day, and 10 p.m. seemed to be the exact right time if I wanted to take it at the same time every day."
Soyou asked, "Why do you take it when you already have so much hair?" LEE CHANGSUB replied, "It became that thick because I take hair-loss medication."
LEE CHANGSUB said, "You have to take it while you still have hair. Hair-loss medication does not make hair grow; it prevents hair from falling out," adding that he developed gynecomastia as a side effect.
He confessed, "There are side effects for men. It can cause gynecomastia. The glandular breast tissue develops," adding, "I also developed glandular breast tissue after taking hair-loss medication."
He continued, "With Jin-woon, even when he wears just one layer, it is hard to see his nipples protruding outward. But when you develop gynecomastia, your chest sticks out noticeably," adding, "Later, you may need surgery to remove the glandular tissue. Once it is removed, it does not come back."
According to Health Chosun, gynecomastia is a condition in which a man’s chest becomes abnormally enlarged or sagging because of excess fat or the development of glandular breast tissue.
A decline in male hormones is considered a leading cause. As LEE CHANGSUB noted, gynecomastia can also occur while taking hair-loss treatment medication. A study using a UK clinical database found that men taking 5α-reductase inhibitors, including finasteride and dutasteride, had about a 3.5-fold higher risk of gynecomastia than nonusers.
If symptoms of gynecomastia appear after taking hair-loss medication or another specific drug, it is advisable to consult a medical professional before deciding whether to stop or change the medication. If symptoms persist for a long time or severe pain or tenderness occurs, medication may be considered. When breast tissue has developed substantially or sagging is severe, surgical treatments such as liposuction or glandular tissue removal may also be performed.
[email protected] Kim Soo-yeon Reporter