20 Year College Student Losing His Hairline (Please Help!)

Sharpshooter

Member
Reaction score
0
Hi I'm new here, I wont try and waste your time for too long here, this isn't meant to be a novel, but really appreciate if you could read it.

I am 20 year old male who first noticed he was beginning to thin around the sides of the crown about exactly a year ago. However the implications were so minor that I had trouble convincing anyone (let alone myself) that I was beginning to thin a bit. This stayed the case for the next 9 months or so, and the effect was virtually negligible, until however, I got my haircut on the 2nd of august and noticed that the sides of my crown were beginning to show my scalp somewhat more than I would like. It became a bit more noticable as I grew my hair over the next couple of weeks, knowing that I couldn't get as an effective fringe as I used to.

I decided to get a doctors appointment within the next few weeks (which eventually came about on the 18th of september) and he said I was showing a minor receding hairline and that he would do a bit research on male pattern baldness and would send me out a letter to see what could be done about it. I eventually got that letter on the 27th telling me, pretty much what I already knew, about how it occurs, the implications and that I might want to get propecia to help combat it. He also mentioned about me seeing a dermatoligist (which normally takes about 7 or 8 months for free, but I've decided to go private and got one the 24th of october for £60/$120).

I wouldn't call myself an exceptionally vein person, but since a couple weeks after that haircut I got back in august, I don't think I've been any more depressed in my life. I'm currently at university, 2nd week, and I am struggling to get up and go to lectures each morning. I wouldn't say I'm the greatest looking guy in the world, far from it infact, but ever since the mid-august period I've noticed I don't get as much attention from the girls as I used to get and it's only been in the last couple months ironically that I've began to open to girls (I was a horribly shy teenager), so this couldn't have come at a worse possible time. :cry:

The good news is that, on the genetic sides of things, my dad claims he noticed that he was receding at an early age (like 19/20) and that after a while, nothing happened. This certainly was the case as he's nearly 50 and has almost a full set of hair apart from a norwood 2-3 hairline and slight bald patch which has only just developed over the past year or so (plus he has no grey hairs yet either). The reason I use the example of my dad is because I have the same type of hair as him (coloring etc) and that also, no one on my moms side of the family bar one uncle (that includes 35 odd cousins and 5 other uncles) are losing any hair. And I'm said to be the picture of my dad when he was 20 as well.

I am not receding directly at the temples like most people do with male pattern baldness (i.e. at the sides of the crown next to your fringe) so I'm thankful for that at least as I know that area is notorousily difficult to grow back. I have though receded about a 1/4 of inch at the corners of the crown to where it get's thick again (I know that sounds measly to get depressed over, and will probably insult a few who are really losing it, but it's the long term picture I'm looking at here), I must stress though that I still have hair from my original hairline and about 12-15 hairs left, within those 1/4 of inch gaps, perhaps a bit more, although my scalp is quite clear, and my biggest fear is that I'm afraid of it getting worse and losing all those hairs there altogether.

I haven't taken any medication yet to fight it as I've been waiting for some proper advice/help on where to start (dermatoligist, you guys etc.) I do have a thing called Silicium 44, a water based solution, which my mom bought, but because I've heard no one talk about on here, or anywhere, I am unsure on whether to use it.

I really really appreciate anyone's help if there's anyone willing to do so, it just that I'm a 20 year old male who's supposed to be having the time of his life at university/college but instead is getting majorly depressed (at times even suicidal) about his hairloss, almost to a point that it's effecting his studies entirely. :(

As soon as I get started on something I think I'll feel a lot better about myself knowing that there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. I just need to know realistically what chances I have of maintaining it/growing it back. I know there's a search function I could use, but I believe every case is different and I wanted to let you hear my story.

PS:I do plan to get some photo's up to show you, just that the $300 camera is being used by mom who's on holiday at the moment in Cyprus and wont be back for another week, so maybe I'll start a new thread concerning those. :wink:

Sorry about the awfully long post. But this has pretty much been the story of my life for the past 2 months now!
 

CCS

Senior Member
Reaction score
27
my web page will give you a quick summary of most the info that has been discussed, though not all of it.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Get on an oral 5 ar inhibitor like propecia or avodart which should hold your current level of hair in place a few years to think about what other treatments you want to add
 

s.a.f

Senior Member
Reaction score
67
Good luck mate we've all been there. the good news is that you have all the info available here. You're still young and have plenty to live for. Try to concentrate on other things like your future career keep doing all the things that you should be doing at 20, dont let hairloss drag you down or before you know it you'll have wasted the best years of your life.
 

Sharpshooter

Member
Reaction score
0
Thanks for the responses guys, I'm fairly optimistic in that because I still have a lot of hair within the thinning areas of my crown, I might have some sort of hope of growing a bit of back. I'm not too bothered about obtaining my exact original hairline, but I am interested in trying to cover up a bit my scalp somewhat. Like it was 3 months ago, rather than a year ago when everything was perfect.

JayMan said:
Get on an oral 5 ar inhibitor like propecia or avodart which should hold your current level of hair in place a few years to think about what other treatments you want to add

Do you think I should chance it and go for a bit more of an aggressive treatment/regimine? Because a lot of the follicles I have are still alive probably (as it's only been a couple of months since I lost most my hairs there), as I believe if I have any chance of growing them it would be now wouldn't it?

When I get some pics it should become a bit clearer, though that'll have to wait till next friday when old folks come back. Hopefully I wont of lost too much more by then. :wink:
 
Reaction score
0
Well, to be honest, I'd get on finasteride at first, because you've only just lost the hair in those particular follicles, you have a good chance of reviving them, and restoring your terminal hair which stems from those that are miniturised.

Personally, I think an aggressive topical regime may be a bad idea, as you would have to be dedicated to it for an indefinite period. Plus, finasteride is a safe bet you'll keep your existing hair.

Ultimately its your decision, but I'd give it some serious thought before you invest time, money, and effort in topicals. Why not try finasteride finasteride solo for 6 months before considering anything else?
 

porajj

Established Member
Reaction score
4
<--- 20 too.

Honestly, the best thing to do is cut it short, and forget about it while taking something like propecia just for the hell of it.

Dont expect miracles from any of the treatments. For the most part, they only maintain your hair or slowdown loss. Regrowth is rather unlikely (but it does happen in some people to a limited extent).

Ive been on propecia for 10 months now, and it has only maintained my hair a little but with some minor loss. My father also started receeding at 19-20, and kept a Norwood 2-3 with no bald spot. Hes almost 60 and still has the same Norwood 2-3 hairline he did when he was my age. We have the same hair texture too. So hopefully there is hope we both are the lucky MPBers who dont have to worry about a totally disappearing hairline :p
 

Sharpshooter

Member
Reaction score
0
Hi guys, bit despressed again.

I'm still waiting for this dermatologist appointment on the 24th, but I'm beginning to worry that I'm leaving it too late.

I still have SOME hairs from my original hairline, and within those little 1/4 inch gaps I've only got about 6-10 strong thick hairs left, (I said 12-15 2 weeks ago, but I think it might be less now :( )

I'm very ambitious in growing some of it back, mainly because most of my hairs within those gaps were still there 3-4 months back and I want to revive them some of them.

I know most people can't regrow their hairline, and it's only for the fact that I have some hairs left (albeit not many) that gives me some hope. I'm not some guy wanting to revive a lost hairline that was gone 2-3 years ago. I'm getting incredibley anxious (sweating palms and all the rest of it) about perhaps not being able to revive them because of how much time I'm taking.

So basically I just want to know how long is too long?
 

CCS

Senior Member
Reaction score
27
Re: silicom 44:

I doubt it will shed your hair. At worst it will not do anything. I have not heard of silicon helping hair, though it might help with fibrosis. It should not stop hair loss. At best the shampoo will work as well as tricomin. The stuff looks expensive. I would not buy it. But if your mom already sent it to you, and it is just a shampoo and does not stay in your hair, you might as well use it. Most scam shampoos have good quality shampoo at least, even though they don't regrow hair.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Sharpshooter said:
[Do you think I should chance it and go for a bit more of an aggressive treatment/regimine? Because a lot of the follicles I have are still alive probably (as it's only been a couple of months since I lost most my hairs there), as I believe if I have any chance of growing them it would be now wouldn't it?

No I don't, because they're a hassle and if you add topicals at the same time then they are a hassle to play and you'll never be able to distinguish which results are attributable to which treatment.

minoxidil(rogaine) will be just as effective in a year or two while the finasteride/dutasteride holds your hair where it is.

And dude, waiting an extra couple weeks for propecia is not a big deal. If you don't already know, propecia and finasteride(finasteride) are synonymous. But nothing significant is going to happen to your hair in two weeks.
 

Dave001

Experienced Member
Reaction score
0
Re: 20 Year College Student Losing His Hairline (Please Help

Sharpshooter said:
Hi I'm new here, I wont try and waste your time for too long here, this isn't meant to be a novel, but really appreciate if you could read it.

[details snipped]

In a nutshell: topical spironolactone, topical finasteride, topical ketoconazole (Nizoral shampoo), tretinoin (Retin-A), minoxidil (Rogaine).

Of the above options, the latter two -- especially the minoxidil -- are probably of lesser importance if your goal is simply to maintain what you have. They deserve consideration if you are also determined to regrow what you can.

A combination of the above three, if properly formulated, should effectively prevent further loss in most individuals.
 

SarahDeamer

New Member
My Regimen
Reaction score
0
Hair loss in students is quite a serious problem, I think you should study this article, where you will find a lot of interesting things, I will be glad to hear feedback.
 

Cowboys fan

Established Member
My Regimen
Reaction score
145
<--- 20 too.

Honestly, the best thing to do is cut it short, and forget about it while taking something like propecia just for the hell of it.

Dont expect miracles from any of the treatments. For the most part, they only maintain your hair or slowdown loss. Regrowth is rather unlikely (but it does happen in some people to a limited extent).

Ive been on propecia for 10 months now, and it has only maintained my hair a little but with some minor loss. My father also started receeding at 19-20, and kept a Norwood 2-3 with no bald spot. Hes almost 60 and still has the same Norwood 2-3 hairline he did when he was my age. We have the same hair texture too. So hopefully there is hope we both are the lucky MPBers who dont have to worry about a totally disappearing hairline :p
All you guys must remember the food you eat today is not as pure as it was for your father. Some of today's foods especially dairy contain growth hormones. And they can .really unbalance yours .so watch what u eat in addition to any hairloss meds you may take
 
Top