21 and worried, desperate for advice

[adadzczc]

Hi,

I'm 21 years old and noticed my hairline is receding and thinning around the sides of my crown, and this is especially prominent when my hair is wet - the first time I noticed it I kind of freaked out. All my friends and family tell me that I am being paranoid, but I can really notice a reduced thickness of my hair, an obvious receding hairline and the fact that my Dad is bald as well as all his male relatives on his side basically confirms it for me. My balding is not too serious right now - when my hair is not wet you cannot tell I am balding. However, now that I know that my hair loss has started, I want to slow it down as much as possible and delay my baldness until my 30s hopefully.

I do not think I will take the risk of using Propecia, and would rather explore alternative treatments. I have started using Nizoral and Topical spironolactone S5 cream for the past month ish, and am looking to start using minoxidil (dilemma between using Rogaine or a generic brand, as well as liquid vs foam) within the next week or so. However, I don't know how I feel about having to apply this 2 times a day for the rest of my life along with the S5 cream...

I am also quite worried about Minoxidil causing more harm than good for me? I have read some horror stories about sheds lasting for months and not ending, and been pretty freaked out about it. I have tried to rationalize with the fact that people with positive results will rarely post back, but those with negative stories and experiences are more likely to post back on this forum warning others. When I start my Minoxidil treatment, if I don't see the shed stopping within two weeks or a month should I stop using it? Could someone also shed some light on Rogaine vs generic brand and liquid vs foam?

I'm thinking of going to see a dermatologist but feel it may be a waste of money as they will probably confirm what I already know - that I have male pattern baldness.

From all of your experiences/knowledge, do you guys think these treatments will be enough to show any regrowth at all? Or will it most likely only slow down my hair loss or have barely any visible effect? Any other advice you have for me would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry for the long message, and thanks for reading!

 

[eenrak]

Sorry to break it to you, but success really requires an antiandrogen. If you only start minoxidil, you will only get short term results that will fade quickly.
Do some research on finasteride, that is not based on anecdotes, talk to your derm about it and come to a conclusion. Remember, most people have no trouble taking finasteride.

S5 cream is not a replacement for finasteride.

BTW minoxidil will not hurt your hair.

 

[saja2148]

I've been in the exact situation as you so hear me out.
At the moment no matter what I or others say you probably won't take finasteride because of side effect fear. i was also too afraid to take it so i started with minoxidil first.
The small shed will happen with minoxidil, that is to be expected and you must not freak out. Buy yourself toppik while you going through the shed. It really helps psychologically and helps to get through the shed. Most importantly with minoxidil it is all about the consistency. Results with minoxidil was disappointing in that I got decent hair growth but for some reason every 6 months i'd have the biggest shed and lose all i gained....this happened for 3 years
After 3 years I felt depressed about my hair and how it was affecting every facet of my life and having read ZeroHeats story I got on finasteride. Getting on finasteride completely changes hair growth, for the better, for me anyway.

My advice is don't postpone finasteride for too long. give minoxidil a year and if it doesn't work get on finasteride as well. Don't waste 3-4 years on minoxidil alone and looking miserable. You have to take the small risk of finasteride if you don't want to go bald.

 

[adadzczc]

@saja2148 So after 3 years of taking Minoxidil would you say your hair condition was unchanged, or worsened? So you would see regrowth, but lose this regrowth in hair every 6 months leaving you in the same position as when you started the treatment?

Yes, I feel as though Propecia/finasteride is the most reliable and proven way to stop my hair loss, but I am really afraid of irreversible ED or other sexual side effects which although may happen to 0.001% of people, still seems like a high number to me.

 

[Spanishlad]

You are only 21 so your hairloss has started fairly early, without finasteride you will not save your hair long term

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[adadzczc]

@saja2148 So after 3 years of using Minoxidil, did your hair situation worsen or stay the same? Every six months did you lose the regrowth you had, meaning you saw zero progress at all?

And should I bother continuing with S5 cream then?

 

[corvidae]

hey OP, had the same problem myself. Had a bit of hair recession, but didn't think anything of it. Also shedded a fair amount, like I'd see little hairs on my keyboard and desk. It wasn't apparent that I was losing any hair, but I think that's because the hair is dense enough that if you lose a fair amount it's not noticeable. This continued for over a year
When my hair was wet one day I noticed it seemed very thin around the crown so played it safe and went to the doctor. He said it was MBP. I started finasteride and only one month in it seems to be having an effect. I think, really, finasteride is the best choice in most circumstances. finasteride really isn't a huge risk and has the highest reward of any treatment. Best to start early anyway, it's MUCH easier to _prevent_ hairloss than to revert it

 

[adadzczc]

What kind of doctor should I go to for Finasteride and to confirm that I have male pattern baldness? A dermatologist or a hair transplant doctor, and would a hair transplant doctor be very expensive?

 

[Toms]

i got lucky, i made an appointment with hair transplant doctor, she just checked my hair, confirmed that im receding and told me to visit trihologist, and didn't charge anything.

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im also going to use finasteride, and i am really worried, because im 20....

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Definitely don't visit a dermatologist, they mostly specializes in hair loss in women, they will most probably tell you that you're allright.