Am I in denial (with pics)?

[bwaters2000]

As far as I can remember I always thought that my crown is noticeable and at 18, someone said that I was balding based on the look of my crown, and during my early 20s, I was told that I lack voulmes on the lateral side of the head when getting my haircut, and the pics show how my hairs are looking at 39.

As far as I can remember, I belive my side part from right side of head have gone to the back of the head, but I am developing some suspicion that I have thinned around the crown....

One scalp biopsy returned "androgentic alopecia" diagnosis, but my bloodwork returned normal DHT level, and I am trying to get a 2nd opinion from another dermatologist. This dermatolgist is saying that DHT level doesn't have to be high for one to go bald, and he wants me to go on Rogaine regardless. He says he uses Rogaine twice a week himself as a precautionary measure even though he has no hair loss, but I think he's precautioning because his father is bald..

If I am going bald, I would want to start Rogaine as soon as possible, but from what I research out, I am very afraid of initial shedding process, and for some Rogaine/Minoxidle has made their hair problem worse. Also, wikipedia states "Paradoxically, hair loss is a common side effect of minoxidil treatment. Manufacturers note that minoxidil-induced hair loss is a common side effect and describe the process as "shedding". Although this phenomenon demonstrates that minoxidil is indeed affecting hair follicles, manufacturers offer no guarantee that the new hair loss will be replaced with hair growth. " I don't want to go on Rogaine without know for sure I need it.

What is your opinion? For past two weeks, I have been on Biotin 5000 mcb a day, laser comb 15 min three times a week, daily scalp massaging.... All these might be hit or miss but so is Rogaine as far as I can research out.

 

[Rawtashk]

Find a picture of your crown from earlier so that you/we have something to compare it to.

About DHT...I could be wrong here, but I don't believe that excessive DHT is always the cause of hairloss. I think it's more of just how your body REACTS to the DHT. Some follicles are immune to it, and some wither away and die at the sight of a DHT particle.

 

[niff1239]

Your pictures look like early stages of male pattern baldness. However you're almost 40 and have been balding for 20 years, so it's not agressive at all. If I were I you, I would give give up propecia/minoxidil.

 

[bwaters2000]

If I were to not start propecia/minoxidil which I am not comfortable with due to the possibility that it can make the problem worse, and it does not help everyone, what should I do? I don't have pic of the crown from earlier years. Should I just keep monitoring it while doing non-agressive stuffs like Biotin, scalp massaging, and laser comb? Even if I were to go to one of those doctors, I don't think they will have anything magical, as most people's experience seem to be having their head looked at for about 1 min and being told to use Rogaine for the resf of their life.

 

[abcdefg]

Its your choice, but without propecia you have no chance at slowing/stopping hair loss long term. I mean there is only 1 real choice right now to either use propecia or just let your hair run its course. Well maybe get a hair transplant if it gets bad.

 

[bwaters2000]

Ok. Can someone with my kind of hair situation give Rogaine or Minoxidil a try like every other day instead of every day, and see what it does over at least 4+ months? Could that be an option?

If I'm really balding genetically (as the scalp biopsy indicated), it may not be an agressive case, so I don't want to be too aggressive with Rogaine or minoxidil....

 

[rtc84]

Honesty, biotin will do absolutely nothing for you if it's male pattern baldness. Rogaine might help, but it doesn't get to the root problem. If you really want to do something about this, get on finasteride. You don't have to worry about side effects. Many people here (like me) experience no sides at all. And the finasteride works. You'll only hear about the horror stories on here most often because people don't come out and say when they have no side effects. Also, if you react negatively to finasteride, it's not a life commitment. You can stop taking it. In my opinion, you have nothing to lose, and potentially everything to gain.

About the shedding. Many people don't shed very much, and if you do, almost everyone on here says it grows back. They manufacturer would make a disclaimer like that to save their ***. Go on finasteride, if you experience no sides, stay on it for a ear then analyze your situation. Also, some sides go away after a few months. So you would have to stick with it for a bit. You'll never know unless you try.

 

[Chris87]

Honestly for 39, you probably have better hair than most of your peers hah. In my opinion, the laser comb is bullshit. I have never seen one before and after success story on this forum of someone just using laser comb. I bought one myself (and spent $500) when i first started losing my hair and it didn't do anything.

minoxidil works but it doesnt really stop the balding process..it just slows it down a bit..and if you want to keep the hair that minoxidil regrows/saves you'll have to use it forever because the hair becomes dependent on it and if you stop it will fall out. Also, I don't see how using it only a couple times a week would do anything.

I would get on finasteride if you're worried about it. Given how at 39 you have a pretty good head of hair, I think you could probably take .25mg every day and probably AT LEAST maintain what you have now