36 Y/o Male - Any Advice Appreciated (7 Months finasteride +min&nizoral) Pic.

[WalesUk1981]

Hi,

Around 14 months ago I started using Rogaine (5% foam) as my temples had started receding. I did not see much improvement so around 7 months ago I started 1mg Finasteride. The first two weeks of finasteride my libido shot up unbelievably, this then returned to normal. Things have just kept on getting worse with my hair though and I would say I have lost around 30% density at the very least. I don't really notice any side effects now except for oily skin.

I also use Nizarol and take Hair Folic vitamins. I have an appointment coming up with a Hair specialist who will look at it under the microscope - would this show if I have much hope for regrowth?

My plan is to continue to the 12 month mark and see how things are then - I guess this would be sensible before I considered anything else more drastic (PRP/hair transplant) I am quite concerned by how thin it is now though so any reassurances or advice much appreciated!!

Many Thanks

 

[michel sapin]

you didn't even maintained with rogaine ?
no sides with it such as dark circle , increase wrinkles ?

 

[WalesUk1981]

Yeah I still use the Rogaine. No I haven't noticed more wrinkles or dark eyes.

 

[Unlucky93]

Think most of us would love to have your hairline at 36 lol

You're pretty much doing all you can do for now. I don't use minoxidil, but I've been on finasteride for about 5months and whilst it seems to have thickened my crown, it's definitely taken away from my hairline, but like you, I'll give it a year and then maybe think about dutasteride or minoxidil.

And yes, dermatologists will be able to tell when a follicle is beyond hope.

 

[Alphalete]

got pics on how it was b4 your hairloss?

 

[curiousone]

Your hairline looks really good for your age. Hard to see any problem with the hairline. Its more that your hair looks thin. Is it more diffuse hairloss you are experiencing?

 

[WalesUk1981]

Those pics were September/October 2016 - I just wanted to try and fill in the receding area a bit so I started on Rogaine. I had no issue at all with the thickness. I can't have my hair in a style anything like that now, just way too thin. I have had quite a lot of stress around the time those pics were taken (lost driving licence/job etc..) I would love to get it back to what it was in these pics!

 

[WalesUk1981]

Your hairline looks really good for your age. Hard to see any problem with the hairline. Its more that your hair looks thin. Is it more diffuse hairloss you are experiencing?

Yes I believe so, but I don't really know much about it all - I've been reading these forums for months. Should I carry on with what i'm doing? 7 months in Finasteride now and it's the past couple where it's visably thinner.

 

[WalesUk1981]

got pics on how it was b4 your hairloss?

Have put a couple of pics on from about a year and a half ago - I've lost so much thickness.

 

[Alphalete]

I think you've gotten lower in terms of the norwood chart, but yes, looks like less thickness. If I were you I'd stay and see what happens

 

[Murkey Thumb]

You cant stop now. It can take 12 months to see results with the big 3.

 

[curiousone]

Im same age as you. Im the opposite problem. I have hairline recession and my hairline is not as tight as yours but my hair is very thick once it hits the hairline. But with minoxidil I am starting to think my hair is regrowing at the temples.

 

[WalesUk1981]

Thanks for your replies. I shall ride it out and as mentioned I have an appointment to have my scalp looked at. I'll post an update after I have been.

I was hoping that the loss or shed I have had is a sign that the medication is working and I will start to observe some regrowth - however I fear that maybe the truth is I have just accelerated loss of hairs that were at their final stages, and have lost those now for good.

Main problem is I don't really know how to wear it anymore The spikeyish look I had has gone, maybe I should go with how it is in the top pictures - pushed back (but obviously tidier) as although it looks thin, still a hair line there. I have been having it pushed forward & to the sides to try and cover up the sparse areas but one gush of wind and you can see right through it. I use fibres, which do help. I'm not quite ready for the buzz yet!

Cheers

 

[londonhairlossvictim]

I am in your shoes too - I'm 34

Since on Finastride, I noticed some good hope at around 3 months mark but since I think I went through for a good 2 months a shedding phase and now I am 8 months in and I can confidently say my hairline and temple left is worse than what I started with.

I contacted specialist also and it seems everyone says you have to ride it out for 12 months and then decide if it works for you or not.

My specialist when he analyzes my hair he shows me also with the microscope that more health shafts are coming through but obv. at the same time it has damanged my hairline and temples. I find it very hard to style my hair now.

MY understand was that, the hairs will fall out and new ones come in. I hope it's not accelerated and lost for good like your saying.

Your situation with styling is exactly like mine. See my thread here - https://www.hairlosstalk.com/intera...onths-34-male-finastride.114343/#post-1673329

 

[Retinoid]

You also need to realize that when people are looking at your hair they are not pushing it back and looking at it close up...I am sure if you took a picture far away without pulling it back it would look normal. While you are in this waiting period, if it is giving you anxiety, check some hair concealers. There is some really great stuff, such a Topikk or I believe derma match or something that you can put on the hair line (my issue is more of the top).

 

[WalesUk1981]

I am in your shoes too - I'm 34

Since on Finastride, I noticed some good hope at around 3 months mark but since I think I went through for a good 2 months a shedding phase and now I am 8 months in and I can confidently say my hairline and temple left is worse than what I started with.

I contacted specialist also and it seems everyone says you have to ride it out for 12 months and then decide if it works for you or not.

My specialist when he analyzes my hair he shows me also with the microscope that more health shafts are coming through but obv. at the same time it has damanged my hairline and temples. I find it very hard to style my hair now.

MY understand was that, the hairs will fall out and new ones come in. I hope it's not accelerated and lost for good like your saying.

Your situation with styling is exactly like mine. See my thread here - https://www.hairlosstalk.com/intera...onths-34-male-finastride.114343/#post-1673329

Yes I can see similarities here. Your hair still looks pretty thick in the middle, more so than mine. What i'm clinging on to is that the hair loss is relatively recent (in terms of hair cycles etc) The pictures I attached from 18 months ago I had a good head of hair and it's only the past couple of months I have noticed it being really thin. I've read a lot of reports that the first 12 months are a roller coaster ride on Finasteride, especially months 6-9 - So we have hope brother!!

 

[WalesUk1981]

You also need to realize that when people are looking at your hair they are not pushing it back and looking at it close up...I am sure if you took a picture far away without pulling it back it would look normal. While you are in this waiting period, if it is giving you anxiety, check some hair concealers. There is some really great stuff, such a Topikk or I believe derma match or something that you can put on the hair line (my issue is more of the top).

Yes that is true and yes it is giving me quite a lot of anxiety, which is obviously unpleasant. I understand there are worse things in life but it's not always easy to think in such terms! I've haven't had it cut for a while now and stopped colouring it, which probably doesn't help at all as it's not even styled anymore! (in the pics 18 months ago It was really styled!) I'm going to go get it cut

 

[londonhairlossvictim]

Yes I can see similarities here. Your hair still looks pretty thick in the middle, more so than mine. What i'm clinging on to is that the hair loss is relatively recent (in terms of hair cycles etc) The pictures I attached from 18 months ago I had a good head of hair and it's only the past couple of months I have noticed it being really thin. I've read a lot of reports that the first 12 months are a roller coaster ride on Finasteride, especially months 6-9 - So we have hope brother!!

Well I have one friend, 3 boys and they have male pattern baldness in their family. The 2 elder brothers after 28 got onto Finastride. Their finastride results kicked in after 1 year and they have since had great results.

The other who I have friends with, he didn't want to go on finasteride. as he was too concerned about side effects so he went with the moreless bald look.

If that is what you read in your reports I would definetely agree as that exact period your mentioning is where I felt the worse situation of my hair.

3 months in I was happy, I felt my hair was stronger and i saw some filling up and I see my hair specialist dr once every 3 months and he provied it to me with their scalp lens they use that compared to first them, there were new hairs growing, darker healthier hair shafts rather then faded pink colored one that meant they were dead.

BUT then from my I would say from 5 months in to now (8 months) is my worst hair feeling ever and worst look. It went from my temple and also effected the hairline starting from that temple area. It's definetely thinned out. I saw my Dr in 6 month mark and he said it's still showing hair shafts coming through but they are just taking longer to come through and he agreed i went through some type of shed but he said that's normal and expected and you have to hold out for longer. He knew it was bothering me alot so he said another option if it's bothering me that much is a transplant for 3K GBP which he classifies as an aesthetic treatment purely for that area - basically this https://www.instagram.com/p/BexdSFxhOEU/?taken-by=treatmentroomslondon

Now it is 8 months for me - definetely it's worse then what I started but I do feel just now in last week that it's possible it is stablising. I just hope the new baby hairs come out now faster and thicker.

 

[WalesUk1981]

Well I have one friend, 3 boys and they have male pattern baldness in their family. The 2 elder brothers after 28 got onto Finastride. Their finastride results kicked in after 1 year and they have since had great results.

The other who I have friends with, he didn't want to go on finasteride. as he was too concerned about side effects so he went with the moreless bald look.

If that is what you read in your reports I would definetely agree as that exact period your mentioning is where I felt the worse situation of my hair.

3 months in I was happy, I felt my hair was stronger and i saw some filling up and I see my hair specialist dr once every 3 months and he provied it to me with their scalp lens they use that compared to first them, there were new hairs growing, darker healthier hair shafts rather then faded pink colored one that meant they were dead.

BUT then from my I would say from 5 months in to now (8 months) is my worst hair feeling ever and worst look. It went from my temple and also effected the hairline starting from that temple area. It's definetely thinned out. I saw my Dr in 6 month mark and he said it's still showing hair shafts coming through but they are just taking longer to come through and he agreed i went through some type of shed but he said that's normal and expected and you have to hold out for longer. He knew it was bothering me alot so he said another option if it's bothering me that much is a transplant for 3K GBP which he classifies as an aesthetic treatment purely for that area - basically this https://www.instagram.com/p/BexdSFxhOEU/?taken-by=treatmentroomslondon

Now it is 8 months for me - definetely it's worse then what I started but I do feel just now in last week that it's possible it is stablising. I just hope the new baby hairs come out now faster and thicker.

To be honest mate, I think you just need to get to 12 months at least before even considering anything else, especially something so drastic. You have had your scalp checked and it sounds as if the results from that are positive. I hope that when I go to have mine checked I am told something similar. This would give me a lot of positive vibes. We're both at around a similar stage - 7/8 month mark and everyone says to give it 12 months minimum - think we just need to sit tight for a bit

 

[londonhairlossvictim]

To be honest mate, I think you just need to get to 12 months at least before even considering anything else, especially something so drastic. You have had your scalp checked and it sounds as if the results from that are positive. I hope that when I go to have mine checked I am told something similar. This would give me a lot of positive vibes. We're both at around a similar stage - 7/8 month mark and everyone says to give it 12 months minimum - think we just need to sit tight for a bit

Agree - but its hard but I can do it. Have to get by using hair fibres otherwise i hate going out especially wind here and there always making me concious

When I workout now, I'm always wearing a cap