Big day tomorrow - GP

[Renatus]

So i'm 22 year old man and embarassingly i have bit the bullet and overcome my fear of the bad news to see the GP tomorrow. There is extensive history of male pattern baldness on my Dad's side (even though all of the men on my mum's side have virtually a whole head of hair their whole lives). I may just be paranoid I am losing hair but i feel like a little is going at the temples and I want the GP to spot the signs. I am expecting the worst because usually I have bad luck. I am admittedly a vain guy and losing my hair will be terrible. Has anyone had much success with the treatments (not surgery, i don't want surgery).


I am in the UK (England) so i don't know how much the treatment will cost. Some guy mentioned a pill cutter for the proscar i think it was (on the sticky thread)? Is that applicable here in the UK? Is it doable?

 

[Quantum Cat]

GPs can be very variable in their knowledge of male pattern baldness and the treatments, so be warned. If you're not satisfied then ask to be referred to a dermatologist

 

[Renatus]

GPs can be very variable in their knowledge of male pattern baldness and the treatments, so be warned. If you're not satisfied then ask to be referred to a dermatologist

GP said my temple and crown were fine. Won't deny that my hair has gone a little bit lighter though. But I also read that over the age of 20 or 21 all men start to recede a bit. http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/shortcuts/2013/feb/12/10-rules-bald-men-david-cameron

I just want to know when the time comes, what is the best treatment? I don't mind taking propecia (however i am worried about side effects, not infertility because i don't want kids but cancer i am afraid of, i don't want to die or anything from it) and minoxidil when the time comes. I just don't want to lose my hair and become a bald looking guy.

 

[Quantum Cat]

that's quite a good article, but I think they're wrong about the 'baldness goes through your mother's side' - that's an urban myth

 

[Benjamin36]

that's quite a good article, but I think they're wrong about the 'baldness goes through your mother's side' - that's an urban myth

All of the males in my ex-girlfriends family all have thick heads of hair, and her brother, when he was drunk, made a joke about my hair line at a Christmas family get together in front of everyone. I'm not an evil person, but I have to admit that it bothered me so much (I really wanted to punch him out it was embarassing) that I'd love nothing more than to see him start to thin so that he knows how it feels. They always brag about how they'll never go bald because the mother's side all have thick hair too, so that would be satisfying.

 

[Quantum Cat]

I have first hand evidence that the 'mother's side' theory is false.

The men on my mother's side all have good hair into old age. The men on my father's side are all bald.

it's a complex combination of genes probably from both sides of the family that causes male pattern baldness, and seems to be unpredictable.

 

[TheHandsomeLurker]

I have first hand evidence that the 'mother's side' theory is false.

The men on my mother's side all have good hair into old age. The men on my father's side are all bald.

it's a complex combination of genes probably from both sides of the family that causes male pattern baldness, and seems to be unpredictable.

I don't think the "mother's side" notion is entirely false, but it's not a perfect predictor. This study found a gene on chromosome 20 which increases likelihood of male pattern baldness. That said, it doesn't increase your risk as much as the androgen receptor gene on the X chromosome does.

Statistically speaking, if your mother's father didn't go bald, and your mother's brothers didn't go bald, it is significantly less likely that you will go bald.

 

[Benjamin36]

Ha ha, apparently my post offended someone and I got neg repped.

 

[Quantum Cat]

Ha ha, apparently my post offended someone and I got neg repped.

maybe it was your ex brother in law?


you can see who negged you by going into 'my profile' and then 'reputation'

 

[Benjamin36]

maybe it was your ex brother in law?


you can see who negged you by going into 'my profile' and then 'reputation'

That would be awesome.

No, it was TheHandsomeLurker. I'm sorry for offending you, Buddy. Maybe we should go get a beer?

 

[Renatus]

Man, i just lost 15-20 hairs in the shower. This doctor was a partner in his surgery (the head partner) but I am beginning to have my doubts. My Dad had decent enough hair until 40, then he deteriorated quickly. I am 22. My Mum's side has no hair loss at all. I am just afraid that i'm going to get a super ****ing quick deterioration that just takes the piss. Was going to go to the person that cuts my hair tomorrow anyway and asking for a second opinion there. Hopefully they will know something.

 

[TheHandsomeLurker]

My girlfriend sheds a lot in the shower, and everyone in her family has perfect hair. It's not necessarily a sign of anything.

Also a very quick deterioration is most easily remedied by the treatments available.

If you're really worried, take pictures and see if you notice any changes over a few months. But don't pull your hair out over it, literally or otherwise.