19yo And Losing Progress. Where Should I Go From Here?

[CuredMouse]

I'm 19yo and have been experiencing hair loss for about a year and a half. I had great success with minoxidil, however after a year its effects have begun to fade and left me around where I started. What other options do I have? My Norwood is currently 1.5-2 and right on the border of what I consider perfectly acceptable, and what I consider horrible for my age, so any treatment that can provide a noticible amount of regrowth is all I would need (I would kill for the hair I had even 6 months ago). My pattern is somewhat diffuse as well with thin sides and general thinness all around, and is accompanied by a slight itch and build up which may be psoriasis as I was diagnosed with scalp psoriasis around the age of 13. My dermatologist gave me ketoconazole shampoo to tackle that aspect of my hair loss however I'm unsure how significant impact it's had. Pre-hairloss I used to get relaxer treatments as my hair was extremely thick and unmanageable, these treatments did sometimes horrific things to my scalp (maybe that means something to one of you?) If anyone can relate to my specific story and has had success in treating their hair loss I'd love some insight into what helped you

 

[heyhey]

I'm 19yo and have been experiencing hair loss for about a year and a half. I had great success with minoxidil, however after a year its effects have begun to fade and left me around where I started. What other options do I have? My Norwood is currently 1.5-2 and right on the border of what I consider perfectly acceptable, and what I consider horrible for my age, so any treatment that can provide a noticible amount of regrowth is all I would need (I would kill for the hair I had even 6 months ago). My pattern is somewhat diffuse as well with thin sides and general thinness all around, and is accompanied by a slight itch and build up which may be psoriasis as I was diagnosed with scalp psoriasis around the age of 13. My dermatologist gave me ketoconazole shampoo to tackle that aspect of my hair loss however I'm unsure how significant impact it's had. Pre-hairloss I used to get relaxer treatments as my hair was extremely thick and unmanageable, these treatments did sometimes horrific things to my scalp (maybe that means something to one of you?) If anyone can relate to my specific story and has had success in treating their hair loss I'd love some insight into what helped you

Why not finasteride?

 

[Vince_Reagan]

If you have male pattern baldness, which is 99% times the case, imo finsateride is the only long term treatment.

 

[CuredMouse]

I'm willing to spend a lot of time, money, and energy to fix my hair, however I can't see myself using something that could cause erectile dysfunction when I'm only 19. Other than that my dermatologist said she wouldn't recommend it as I've been depressed in the past, and I agree that's something I never want to go back to. Speaking of my dermatologist she also said I have some combination of male pattern baldness and Telogen Effluvium, however it's my understanding that Telogen Effluvium is temporary and shouldn't persist for a year, yet the sides are still thin and I'm still able to pull out hair seemingly endlessly with no traction? Other than the big 3 what are other options generally regarded as being legitimate options for either maintenance, or some regrowth? If I exhaust my options I'll go for finasteride when I'm older, however I'm not yet ready to resort to it

 

[iCurly]

I'm willing to spend a lot of time, money, and energy to fix my hair, however I can't see myself using something that could cause erectile dysfunction when I'm only 19. Other than that my dermatologist said she wouldn't recommend it as I've been depressed in the past, and I agree that's something I never want to go back to. Speaking of my dermatologist she also said I have some combination of male pattern baldness and Telogen Effluvium, however it's my understanding that Telogen Effluvium is temporary and shouldn't persist for a year, yet the sides are still thin and I'm still able to pull out hair seemingly endlessly with no traction? Other than the big 3 what are other options generally regarded as being legitimate options for either maintenance, or some regrowth? If I exhaust my options I'll go for finasteride when I'm older, however I'm not yet ready to resort to it

Honestly , the only way you can get about this is by hoping that your hairloss doesnt progress as much till you are old enough to start finasteride because minoxidil and nirozal will not halt any hairloss, only finasteride can do that. I started finasteride myself recently, although my hair isnt that bad for a 25 year old, i do wish i started using finasteride when i was 23 (when i first noticed signs of hairloss), i was a Norwood 1.5 then but now i am a Norwood 2 (still happy with that though), hopefully the finasteride keeps it that way.

 

[CuredMouse]

Honestly , the only way you can get about this is by hoping that your hairloss doesnt progress as much till you are old enough to start finasteride because minoxidil and nirozal will not halt any hairloss, only finasteride can do that. I started finasteride myself recently, although my hair isnt that bad for a 25 year old, i do wish i started using finasteride when i was 23 (when i first noticed signs of hairloss), i was a Norwood 1.5 then but now i am a Norwood 2 (still happy with that though), hopefully the finasteride keeps it that way.

You're most likely correct. I'm considering trying Zix, have you been around these fourms long enough to know what the general consensus on it is? Is it regarded as a less effective treatment or more of "been there done that doesn't work" type deal?

 

[Alphalete]

bruh just get on finasteride. you're gonna regret it

 

[CuredMouse]

bruh just get on finasteride. you're gonna regret it

In your opinion how prevalent/severe are side effects?

 

[CuredMouse]

bruh just get on finasteride. you're gonna regret it

In your own regimen it literally says "propecia when older"

 

[Alphalete]

In your own regimen it literally says "propecia when older"

yeah, i havent updated it. im 19 aswell and im waiting on my propecia once i get it ill take it instantly.

im exactly in ur shoes I've been taking minoxidil for about 10 motnhs now and my hair is starting to deteriorate. postponing it is just useless because ure losing time

 

[iCurly]

You're most likely correct. I'm considering trying Zix, have you been around these fourms long enough to know what the general consensus on it is? Is it regarded as a less effective treatment or more of "been there done that doesn't work" type deal?

No i am sorry i dont really know much about Zix, but i have not had any sideffects from finasteride so far, it has actually increased my libido lol, but then again i am alot older than you so i do understand your reasons for not wanting to start it, but you do need to understand that finasteride is the only fda approved drug that halts hairloss by reducing dht in the scalp.

 

[Sliceofbread]

You're most likely correct. I'm considering trying Zix, have you been around these fourms long enough to know what the general consensus on it is? Is it regarded as a less effective treatment or more of "been there done that doesn't work" type deal?

Give it a go... I have very itchy hairloss and can generally tell if something helps or not. Zix helped so I’m pretty sure it does something.... it’s just a real chore and stains your skin yellow

 

[CuredMouse]

Give it a go... I have very itchy hairloss and can generally tell if something helps or not. Zix helped so I’m pretty sure it does something.... it’s just a real chore and stains your skin yellow

Do you know if it can be used in conjunction with mioxididil? Or will one negate the other?

 

[CuredMouse]

No i am sorry i dont really know much about Zix, but i have not had any sideffects from finasteride so far, it has actually increased my libido lol, but then again i am alot older than you so i do understand your reasons for not wanting to start it, but you do need to understand that finasteride is the only fda approved drug that halts hairloss by reducing dht in the scalp.

My doctor did write a perscription for the drug that I've been sitting on. Last year she said no, this year she straight up recdomended it. I read a couple articles questioning the legitimacy of it's reputation for causing sexually adverse effects and it's reaffirmed what I already suspected in that most (and some sources claiming possibly all) reported side effects are psychosomatic. Since it's a drug that, to my understanding, doesn't lose it's effectiveness similar to minoxidil I may begin taking it until better treatments become available. Thanks for your insight

 

[CuredMouse]

No i am sorry i dont really know much about Zix, but i have not had any sideffects from finasteride so far, it has actually increased my libido lol, but then again i am alot older than you so i do understand your reasons for not wanting to start it, but you do need to understand that finasteride is the only fda approved drug that halts hairloss by reducing dht in the scalp.

My doctor did write a perscription for the drug that I've been sitting on. Last year she said no, this year she straight up recdomended it. I read a couple articles questioning the legitimacy of it's reputation for causing sexually adverse effects and it's reaffirmed what I already suspected in that most (and some sources claiming possibly all) reported side effects are psychosomatic. Since it's a drug that doesn't lose it's effectiveme

yeah, i havent updated it. im 19 aswell and im waiting on my propecia once i get it ill take it instantly.

im exactly in ur shoes I've been taking minoxidil for about 10 motnhs now and my hair is starting to deteriorate. postponing it is just useless because ure losing time

Well I suppose it's time for us to regrow some hair then. I'll give it a shot if you are

 

[Alphalete]

hehe so ure hopping on finasteride?

 

[CuredMouse]

hehe so ure hopping on finasteride?

My derm asked me to get blood work and check my baseline prostate levels (not sure exactly what they're testing for) and then I'm clear to start. After a few months she wants me to recheck them to make sure they're not being tampred with. If you haven't been advised to do the same I might seek that out, there are some people on here who claim side effects with very wonky unclear timelines and I like the reassurance of having solid baseline data