aussieguy88
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Hi guys,
First time poster... but have been doing some reading around on these forums for the last hour or so.
I'm in my early 20s in Australia and have had my hair start thinning when I was about 17-18. It was becoming noticeable in photos and it was generally weak. Could not style it etc. My scalp would show through my hair as it was thin and crappy and I began to notice suddenly in showers daily I would begin to lose a noticeable amount of hair (which has totally stopped now) which would collect at the shower drain.
At about that time after finishing high school I went and visited my local Ashley & Martin clinic. I bought everything they told me and I've forked out some serious ca$h over the last.... half decade or so.
I have read a few threads on here about A&M and I understand the general opinion to be that they're are just charging you a hefty premium for hair loss medications you can get elsewhere for cheaper. All the stories of other aussies on here about the pressure and "deals" (that only last while you're there on THAT day) applied to me as well. The fear tactic worked.
At the moment I'm spending about... $1800-$1850 a year to maintain my hair. I cant remember the original costs but I think when I started with them I was put on an 8month program before going into "maintenance".
For the 1800 I spend yearly I get with it a dozen of their "special" shampoos and conditioners (not sure how useful they are and if I really need them?) and also a years supply of Finasteride 5mg (under prescription of a doctor they refer me to). I take 1/4 a table a day of this finasteride. With this I also take 1 saw palmetto tablet a day... from what I remember, it's there to keep the crane downstairs working perfectly as Finasteride can in some cases cause impotence.
Lastly for these costs I get a years supply of MINOXODIL 7% & RETINOIC ACID 0.01% in 100ml bottles. I use 2ml of this daily onto my scalp.
Overall I think my hair has improved. Sure it's not as thick as I'd love it but my hairline is fine; just the hair is thin and my scalp can show through occasionally depending on how oily my hair is / length etc.
I am wondering what my options are? I know this may have been done to death on these forums about this company but from the little I have read the general idea is I can get all of this stuff for much cheaper online or through other sources, possible such as dermatologists??
I am under the belief what I am using now is needed but if anyone here has any insight as to whether I need ALL of these medications - it would be appreciated - or at least direct me to a place I can get a legit professional opinion on what I need to take.
So any other aussies who were/are in my position who can shed some light on what my best options are?
(While I'm here: this is anonymous so... here goes: I am aware Finasteride can cause impotence in some males. I am wondering what issues any other guys here have had with this? Things are working for me downstairs well... but not 100% as best as I'd like. I wont go into details but basically it hasnt really caused any issues yet. No complaints from the misses. But I guess the problem is that it's risky for me to get off the finasteride for an x amount of time in order to check whether things alter downstairs while risking my hair thinning/falling out again)
Thanks in advance. Sorry for the long post.
First time poster... but have been doing some reading around on these forums for the last hour or so.
I'm in my early 20s in Australia and have had my hair start thinning when I was about 17-18. It was becoming noticeable in photos and it was generally weak. Could not style it etc. My scalp would show through my hair as it was thin and crappy and I began to notice suddenly in showers daily I would begin to lose a noticeable amount of hair (which has totally stopped now) which would collect at the shower drain.
At about that time after finishing high school I went and visited my local Ashley & Martin clinic. I bought everything they told me and I've forked out some serious ca$h over the last.... half decade or so.
I have read a few threads on here about A&M and I understand the general opinion to be that they're are just charging you a hefty premium for hair loss medications you can get elsewhere for cheaper. All the stories of other aussies on here about the pressure and "deals" (that only last while you're there on THAT day) applied to me as well. The fear tactic worked.
At the moment I'm spending about... $1800-$1850 a year to maintain my hair. I cant remember the original costs but I think when I started with them I was put on an 8month program before going into "maintenance".
For the 1800 I spend yearly I get with it a dozen of their "special" shampoos and conditioners (not sure how useful they are and if I really need them?) and also a years supply of Finasteride 5mg (under prescription of a doctor they refer me to). I take 1/4 a table a day of this finasteride. With this I also take 1 saw palmetto tablet a day... from what I remember, it's there to keep the crane downstairs working perfectly as Finasteride can in some cases cause impotence.
Lastly for these costs I get a years supply of MINOXODIL 7% & RETINOIC ACID 0.01% in 100ml bottles. I use 2ml of this daily onto my scalp.
Overall I think my hair has improved. Sure it's not as thick as I'd love it but my hairline is fine; just the hair is thin and my scalp can show through occasionally depending on how oily my hair is / length etc.
I am wondering what my options are? I know this may have been done to death on these forums about this company but from the little I have read the general idea is I can get all of this stuff for much cheaper online or through other sources, possible such as dermatologists??
I am under the belief what I am using now is needed but if anyone here has any insight as to whether I need ALL of these medications - it would be appreciated - or at least direct me to a place I can get a legit professional opinion on what I need to take.
So any other aussies who were/are in my position who can shed some light on what my best options are?
(While I'm here: this is anonymous so... here goes: I am aware Finasteride can cause impotence in some males. I am wondering what issues any other guys here have had with this? Things are working for me downstairs well... but not 100% as best as I'd like. I wont go into details but basically it hasnt really caused any issues yet. No complaints from the misses. But I guess the problem is that it's risky for me to get off the finasteride for an x amount of time in order to check whether things alter downstairs while risking my hair thinning/falling out again)
Thanks in advance. Sorry for the long post.