Another newbie looking for additions to the regimen

[Y-grec]

Hi to all,
a great site you've got here. I've been following the forums for a while and have browsed through the large history, but still can't decide what to do.
Perhaps the experienced and the knowledgeable posters here might help. :roll:
So I'm a 30 y/o that has been loosing hair for several years. Used minoxidil a few years ago, it didn't seem to do much so I quit after some 6 months (now I guess it might have been worse without the minoxidil). Used different "food additives" as well as Crinagen for some 4 months, which didn't seem to make much difference - but it didn't get worse.
At the beginning of the year I decided to get more or less scientific about the treatment. Started minoxidil again, got pretty good regrowth at the crown. After a few months I added topical spironolactone. But in the last couple of months the haircount has deteriorated: there's an arid spot around the crown, although it just about can be concealed by combing, and the frontal hairline has receded somewhat. I'd say I'm between Norwood 3A to 3V. The big question is what do I add to the regimen to make it more effective? I'm very reluctant to take finasteride, cos' I'm weary of messing up with the hormone levels, and also of possible side effects. Ah, I'm also afraid of addiction of some kind. I prefer to stay away from Revivogen cos' it's too messy and also expensive. So I'm considering going back to Crinagen and adding Folligen or Tricomin. But I'm really not sure. Do I use both, and add them to minoxi and spironolactone? If so - in what order they should be applied? Or must I really take finasteride?
Sorry if my post is to lengthy. Any thoughts and suggestions will be much appreciated.

 

[Felk]

Nizoral shampoo, and an SOD like prox-n, tricomin or folligen would both definately be good additions.

And if you don't take finasteride, and spironolactone isn't cutting it in fighting DHT, perhaps another antiandrogen such as

- flutamide (research this, perhaps issues with systematic absorption)
- fluridil (not proven independently, expensive)
- RU (best antiandrogen out there, but very expensive, and you need to mix your own after importing from china)

Adding retin-a to minoxidil would be beneficial, but could irritate your scalp so you might have to apply it just a few times a week. Very cheap.

Id definately recommend an SOD and nizoral though.

I'd also recommend doing a forum search for "newbie, questions, advice, etc" Collegechemistrystudent has some very extensive advice posts.

 

[Guest]

Hi to all,
a great site you've got here. I've been following the forums for a while and have browsed through the large history, but still can't decide what to do.
Perhaps the experienced and the knowledgeable posters here might help. :roll:
So I'm a 30 y/o that has been loosing hair for several years. Used minoxidil a few years ago, it didn't seem to do much so I quit after some 6 months (now I guess it might have been worse without the minoxidil). Used different "food additives" as well as Crinagen for some 4 months, which didn't seem to make much difference - but it didn't get worse.
At the beginning of the year I decided to get more or less scientific about the treatment. Started minoxidil again, got pretty good regrowth at the crown. After a few months I added topical spironolactone. But in the last couple of months the haircount has deteriorated: there's an arid spot around the crown, although it just about can be concealed by combing, and the frontal hairline has receded somewhat. I'd say I'm between Norwood 3A to 3V. The big question is what do I add to the regimen to make it more effective? I'm very reluctant to take finasteride, cos' I'm weary of messing up with the hormone levels, and also of possible side effects. Ah, I'm also afraid of addiction of some kind. I prefer to stay away from Revivogen cos' it's too messy and also expensive. So I'm considering going back to Crinagen and adding Folligen or Tricomin. But I'm really not sure. Do I use both, and add them to minoxi and spironolactone? If so - in what order they should be applied? Or must I really take finasteride?
Sorry if my post is to lengthy. Any thoughts and suggestions will be much appreciated.

I hope you only eat self grown biological food then....... :roll: The food we are consuming on a daily basis is full of hormones. And why do you worry about finasteride side effects before you have them? Give it a try and then decide! And i don´t understand what you mean by "addiction"? Do you think finasteride is like Heroin or something?

You definetly need to fight DHT as Felk pointed out, additionally Saw palmetto is said to have a similiar effect as finasteride, much weaker though.


Think about it and decide! Good Luck!!

 

[Y-grec]

I hope you only eat self grown biological food then....... :roll: The food we are consuming on a daily basis is full of hormones. And why do you worry about finasteride side effects before you have them? Give it a try and then decide! And i don´t understand what you mean by "addiction"? Do you think finasteride is like Heroin or something?
You definetly need to fight DHT as Felk pointed out, additionally Saw palmetto is said to have a similiar effect as finasteride, much weaker though.
Think about it and decide! Good Luck!!

OK, I mostly eat organic foods, though not self-grown. And do my best not to touch GM foods. As for finasteride - well, forget the side effects, I'm just very uncomfortable with the idea of messing with the hormones levels. What I meant by "addiction" is that perhaps in some way the body might become dependant on it, and if/when I quit the hairloss might get worse than what would've been without the finasteride. And maybe that suspicion is c%$p. I also thought of possible long-term effects. It would be great to hear from guys who've been on finasterid for several years. Any unwanted effects?
As for Saw Palmetto, from everything I've read here it seems that the stuff is rubbish as far as male pattern baldness is concerned.
Felk, I am using Nizoral, have been for a few months. I will try to add Folligen, but I still have no idea how to combine it with the minoxidil and spironolactone. And I suppose I still have to add something to tackle DHT. Could Crinagen qualify?
And if I really must take finasteride for good maintenance and possible regrowth, could I be better off with a 0.5 mg/day dose? I've read there's no significant difference in the effect of finasteride from 0.2 to 1 mg per day.
Ah, and thanks for your replies

 

[Felk]

Firstly if you do take finasteride, you have to keep taking it to maintain the results.

I don't think anything about crinagen, but im not sure how effective it is.

I'd add prox-n on thinning areas. It's the one copper peptide which also contains minoxidil-like NANO growth stimulators. However it's a little expensive compared to other copper peptides, so you don't apply it to your entire scalp as much as just the thinning areas. It goes on after a shower while your hair is wet, spreads really well, smells very nice, and is cosmetically acceptable, also. http://www.drproctor.com

If you stick to the recommended 8-10 drops per day, the "2 month supply" will last more than 6 months. If you feel like applying 1ml each day, as you would minoxidil, then it will last only 2 months.

Folligen or tricomin are also good.

Good luck!

 

[CCS]

i don't think prox-N has nano. And if you have a large aread to cover, 10 drops might not cut it, but you can try. But to reverse minaturization drastically, SODs are our best allie right now. But without finasteride or dutasteride, I can't vouch for your success.

 

[Y-grec]

Firstly if you do take finasteride, you have to keep taking it to maintain the results.

I don't think anything about crinagen, but im not sure how effective it is.

I'd add prox-n on thinning areas. It's the one copper peptide which also contains minoxidil-like NANO growth stimulators. However it's a little expensive compared to other copper peptides, so you don't apply it to your entire scalp as much as just the thinning areas. It goes on after a shower while your hair is wet, spreads really well, smells very nice, and is cosmetically acceptable, also. http://www.drproctor.com

If you stick to the recommended 8-10 drops per day, the "2 month supply" will last more than 6 months. If you feel like applying 1ml each day, as you would minoxidil, then it will last only 2 months.

Folligen or tricomin are also good.

Good luck!

Thanks!
Does that Prox-N do anything against DHT/5AR, or is it just a SOD? My thinning areas a pretty small, so I shouldn't need too much of it. I just wonder how it measures against Folligen and Tricomine?
The part of having to keep taking finasteride is what I don't really like. Maybe I'll get on finasteride for a few months, and then switch to topical spironolactone.

collegechemistrystudent, I wonder what do you reckon about Crinagen, and how effective it's likely to be in blocking DHT and/or 5AR? Last but not least (sorry I keep asking so many questions 8) ) - if I use both Crinagen and one of the copper peptides products, won't they neutralize each other, since Crinagen contains zinc?

 

[Felk]

i don't think prox-N has nano. And if you have a large aread to cover, 10 drops might not cut it, but you can try. But to reverse minaturization drastically, SODs are our best allie right now. But without finasteride or dutasteride, I can't vouch for your success.

No, Prox-N does indeed have NANO

"Proxiphen-N ( "Prox-N" ) is a topical formulation of many of the nonprescription hair-loss treatment agents coming out of our screening program. These include various SODases, copper-binding peptides, and pyridine-N-Oxide hair growth stimulators." From http://www.drproctor.com

(pyridine-N-Oxide = NANO)

 

[CCS]

Then why did I spend $80 on NANO shampoo?

 

[Felk]

Hehehe, well it treats your entire scalp, and it an easy addition to a regimen. Bryan described it as a way for people using prox-n to get a little more NANO to their scalp.

Furthermore, 2 bottles could last you over 2 years, i know someone who bought a bottle and it lasted him over a year.

The conditioner is awesome, makes my hair look great, but half the size of the shampoo unfortunately. You can also leave it in your hair, so the ingredients stay on for longer. It's apparently weaker than the shampoo however.