28 y/o diffuse thinning

[DoggyD]

My story began at the age of 26 when I noticed that my hair was falling out. Most likely, shedding started 1 or 2 years ago. I went to the dermatologist and he said it was Androgenetic Alopecia and I started minoxidil. I have been using minoxidil for 2 years. 4 5 months ago, the density of my hair was very good, I thought that I could protect it until the age of 35 maybe 40 with minoxidil. I didn't think it could be diffuse thinning, the temples were slowly pulling back, my vertex density was decreasing, even though my density on the upper side decreased, it was more than enough. With the start of summer, I noticed an incredible decrease in density and yesterday I cut my hair very short and Boom! My upper part is completely thinned and my skin is visible in the sunlight. I don't want to use Finasteride I'm really scared about the side effects. I think topical finasteride do you think it will work? Do I have an aggressive shedding and lose my hair immediately (if I hold it with my hand right now, it comes to 4 5 hairs) or does it progress slowly and if you write your positive and negative opinions about my hair, I would be very happy. Photos with long hair photos taken within 1 month since I did not anticipate diffuse thinning, I was usually checking my vertex, so I do not have a photo from the top.

 

[ramla]

You should start with propecia 1mg everyday or 1.25 finanstride 4-5 days in a week. It will stopp your hairloss. But maybe it will take 1 year.

 

[DoggyD]

I actually said that I didn't want to use it, but if I use it for 1 year and leave it without any side effects, my hair will go back to its old state, so continuity is needed and I think that the use of finasteride is not suitable for long-term use, so is it possible to protect the existing hair with topical finasteride + minoxidil?

 

[JohnSmith21]

Oral Finasteride is your best bet. I’ve been on it for over 2 years with zero sides. 99% of people won’t get sides. If you do get sides, they go away when u stop taking it. It’s worth a shot

 

[DoggyD]

I think I will try topical finasteride, if I do not get the result I want, I will use oral finasteride as you said as a last resort. If I get side effects from it, I will have to accept my defeat.

 

[NickyA]

Topical Finasteride is more expensive and some people believe it may not be as effective as oral finasteride, but it might be the best option if that'll give you peace of mind. You cannot stay on just Minoxidil since that doesn't adress the root cause of hair loss, the DHT that is destroying your hair follicles. Make sure to get Topical Finasteride from a pharmacy if you decide to go that route.

You could try starting with a lower dose of oral Finasteride and titrating upwards, that's what two australian doctors suggest to people on their Youtube channel (The Hair Loss Show) since 99% of their patients don't report any side effects with that strategy. I did that and started with 1 mg of oral Finasteride thrice a week for three months, and then upped the dosage to 1 mg five times a week... Have been on that dosage for four or five months without any problems at all.

 

[DoggyD]

thanks for your comment. This is the first time I've heard of starting with a low dose, I think I might try it this way. The reason I chose topical is that if it works, I can continue for a long time with maybe no side effects, maybe a few side effects, but I do not think that oral finasteride can be suitable for long-term use. But I can start with 3 times a week.