23 year old - 6 Months on Finasteride Results; Time to start Rogaine?

[Gildash]

Hey all, so I started taking finasteride about 6 months ago back in October 2012. You can find these pictures from the night that I started as the first set down below. I just took the last set a few minutes ago.

From what I can see, my hair loss has continued. I have experienced some loss of sex drive as a result of the finasteride, but I'm still (NSFW here folks) masturbating roughly 1-2 times a day, although sometimes I can go 2-3 days without the urge so I'm not sure how much of it is habit. Also, I would say general interest in the finer sex has decreased as well, much to my chagrin.

I told myself I would give it 6 months before considering Rogaine as a potential addition to my solution. At this point, it's in for a penny in for a pound and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to save my hair.

Even while on Fina, I still get itching along my hairline, as well as stinging pains which I can only imagine are the last desperate cries of dying hair follicles. Sometimes it's so itchy/painful that it wakes me up. As of right now, I have you stereotypical M shaped Norwood 2, but I have a feeling as though if I don't take it to the next step, it will continue to get worse.

Ask me anything about my 6 months on Fina and I will be glad to answer! Also, any and all recommendations as to what I should do now that I'm willing and able to add new parts to my regimen are welcomed as well. The summer is about to start so I'm willing to get risky with my hair in preparation for the fall semester!


October 2012: This is the day I started taking the Fina:


April 10th, 2013:


Again, any and all questions and/or advice is welcome!

 

[Woodyy]

What dose are you on? 1mg a day?

I wouldn't even consider you were balding by looking at you, especially if you grew your hair out a bit.

I guess you could give minoxidil a try, I like to stick with things where we completely understand the process behind why they work, that fact coupled with the amount of minoxidil horror stories I've heard over the net means I'll probably never use it.

You could get on Nizoral? I've heard that cures the itch for a lot of people and is a decent addition to a regimen with finasteride.

 

[IrishFella]

Your hair looks better in the six months pictures, if ever so slightly, can't see any degradation. If I were you, I'd wait, at the very least 12 months, before using Rogaine/Regaine.

 

[Gildash]

Thanks guys... I think I'll wait until the year long mark to consider it, or at least revisit the problem in 3 months time at the 9 month mark. What I don't want to happen is have those newly bald hair follicles in the front to die out completely before I can start the rogaine regimen, because I hear after a certain period of time it becomes impossible to grow new hair.

Also, I was on nizoral for about 3 months, and then went off of it for almost 3 months. I'm about week 3 of being back on it.

And I am on 1.5mg a day.