18 year old male pattern baldness seeking advice.

[Bad]

Ive been noticing my receding hairline when i got a shorter haircut at about 17 years of age, since then a couple of people have told me that i was going bald and that has gotten me really scared.

I have been to a dermatologist and she told me that It could stop there or maybe not, it could be genetics (obviously) or a result of a medication i was taking for stress (Zolof or sertaline). She also told me use Minoxidil 5% wich i have been doing once a day for about 8-10 months. We talked about using finasteride but she said I was to young for it.

My dad has about the same hair as i do, but my moms father is bald and has been for a long time.


I would like to know if are there any DHT blockers besides finasteride that i should use since Minoxidil doesnt seem to be doing anything at all. Or if there is anyother way to prevent me from going bald before my 30s.

I have some pictures so you can see where I am at. Thank you.

P.s.: I also have been struggling with some pretty bad dandruff, but dont know if that matters.

 

[Ryukil]

Hmm, she said you were too young for finasteride? How old did she say you have to be? I'm 20 and just got on it and can tell it's helping.
So it could be genetics, yeah, especially since we know it's in your genes because of your mom's dad. It's definitely a receding hairline, but try not to freak out because it's not that bad. Maybe you should go to another dermatologist who will agree to prescribe finasteride to you? It's really, really hard to tell if your hair will stop there or not, but I guess it's a good sign if your dad is the same. Did you ask him how long his hair has been that way?
I guess all I can tell you, if you can't get on finasteride, is to watch it. Did the minoxidil help it at all? Also, you say maybe Zoloft or sertaline caused it...did your hair grow back once you stopped those medications?
Good luck bro...if it is male pattern baldness just know you're not the only young guy with this problem.

 

[Bad]

Yeah, she said I should wait until i was about 20 and past puberty. About my dad , from what i see from photos he was been like this from about my age although i cannot be sure. However what is scaring me is that spot on my left temple (3rd photo with a red circle) wich seems to be thinning... Either that or new hair from minoxidil, but doesnt look like it to me.

I my opinion minoxidil didnt do much, or it did and by now i would be bald without it... But from what i see in the mirror, it isnt better and it isnt a lot worst than when i started, same about getting off zoloft.

Thank you, but if I cant get finasteride do you know anything else that would block DHT that isnt extremelly expensive?

 

[GoldenMane]

At age 18 you aren't completely done physically maturing into an adult, but you are probably close enough to finished. If you feel that you are physically *** mature as any adult male, then I don't see anything wrong with jumping on finasteride at 18.

 

[Bad]

Thanks, just tell me one thing, The side effects of finasteride come come it blocking DHT right? Then how can some of thoose other DHT blockers claim to have no side effects?

 

[GoldenMane]

Finasteride is a systemic alpha 5 reductase inhibitor, the drug enters your circulatory system and moves around your whole body. Topical DHT blockers don't affect DHT levels in your body, the only place they affect is your scalp. It's like the difference between a general anaesthetic and a local anaesthetic.

 

[Bad]

Oh ok thank you. Why arent thoose used more? Less effective?