Current Condition 17 Months On Finasteride And 3 Months On Dutasteride

[MKP05]

From some fairly mild temporal recession in May of 2018 to my current diffusing disaster. I don’t give a sh*t what anyone says about the science of these drugs or if they try to suggest that I just went rapidly diffuse in less than 2 years due to a case of “aggressive hair loss”. Aside from my temples my hair was impossibly thick and coarse just a little over 1.5 years ago. No one will ever convince me that these medicines didn’t accelerate my hair loss exponentially. I’ve lost about 10 years worth of hair in 20 months. I’m not saying that they don’t work for most people. And I’m not saying that if you’re losing hair that you shouldn’t give it a try for 6 months after weighing the various risks.. All I’m saying is that this can happen and it’s been reported numerous times on this and other forums. It might be a small risk but it’s a risk. My advice to anyone who feels that they’ve had an unusually bad response to finasteride or dutasteride is to really consider the risks of continuing after you give it 6 months. Shedding is normal I suppose. But what I experienced wasn’t a shed. This was a systemic response of diffuse hair loss across my entire Norwood region within 4 months. I stayed the course for another 16 months encouraged by the people on this forum as well as driven by my own desperation to get it back. But it never recovered. And I’m in much much worse shape than I was when I started. I wish someone had advised me to start with a lower dose of finasteride and then work myself up in order to mitigate the shock to my system.

First 2 pics - may and June of 2018
3rd pic - 4 months after starting finasteride -
4th and 5th pic - current

 

[Bornwithacurse225]

But how does blocking the chemical that causes hair loss make hair fall out? Are you on any other meds

 

[MKP05]

But how does blocking the chemical that causes hair loss make hair fall out? Are you on any other meds

I don’t know but there’s obviously more to hair loss than blocking DHT or else everyone on dutasteride would have a full head of hair. I believe in the theory that finasteride can cause a detrimental and destructive hormonal shift in some people which causes androgen receptors to become hyper sensitive. It’s not that finasteride isn’t doing it’s job and blocking DHT. the problem is the shock to the hormonal balance leading to massive diffuse hair loss across the scalp. This has been reported numerous times here. Even before I read all of the accounts of people who experienced the exact same reaction I knew that it was not a coincidence. However unlike most of the others I refused to believe my own eyes and mistakenly allowed myself to believe that this was a normal part of the process. I didn’t quit at the first sign of my hair getting much much worse and I’ve paid the price. I don’t give two fucks about those who think this is impossible. And I’m glad it’s a miracle drug for so many.

 

[bluecyclone]

What happened when you stopped?

 

[MKP05]

What happened when you stopped?

I haven’t stopped. Today was the first day in 3 months I haven’t taken dutasteride. The pill is just sitting on my counter. I have lost so much of my hairline in the last 3 months that I’m ready to just throw in the towel. The last few days have been horrific. Large portions of hairline just evaporated. Everything behind the hairline is diffuse, straw like fine hairs and it’s been that way since 4 months on finadteride. Now it’s just thinner than it’s ever been. Like paper thin. Back of hair and sides as well. I part my hair on the side so I’ve been fortunate over the past 18 months to be able to cover it all up like a comb over of sorts. But without the hairline that is no longer a possibility. I know if I stop taking dutasteride or finasteride I’ll probably lose it all within a matter of weeks. Is there even the slightest possibility that this slows down if I quit?? Plus the half life for dutasteride is like 5 weeks so this sh*t will be in my system up until the point where I have to shave it all off and that point is quickly approaching. I look absolutely ridiculous right now.

 

[vinnyg0414]

Why don’t you trim it down to a 1 guard all around for now man. Your hair doesn’t look horrible to the point where if you take it down it’ll still fill in pretty evenly.

 

[Wisemiller]

What happened here is fairly simple. It was your time to lose your hair because that is what your genetics have determined. When balding starts, it is fairly common to become a noticeably balding man in 3-5 years.

And no, there is no such thing as a pill or lotion that stops male pattern baldness, just ask any bald man, there are still plenty, if not more than there used to be.

 

[MKP05]

What happened here is fairly simple. It was your time to lose your hair because that is what your genetics have determined. When balding starts, it is fairly common to become a noticeably balding man in 3-5 years.

And no, there is no such thing as a pill or lotion that stops male pattern baldness, just ask any bald man, there are still plenty, if not more than there used to be.

But this wasn’t 3-5 years. This was in 18 months - the damage of which mostly occurred in the first 4-6 months all over my scalp after starting finasteride. I had zero thinning in my forelock, mid scalp or crown prior to starting treatment. Zero. Within 4 months all of those areas were affected majorly. And then stabilized (but never improved) for the next 12 months while my temples and hairline continued to recede. I agree that genetics likely caused my hairline and temples to continue to recede but the damage done everywhere else was caused by the shock to my hormones from starting treatment. It’s fine if you don’t agree but I lived through it so I’m confident in my assessment. My dermatologist who is a top NYC doctor also said she’s never seen anything quite like it and agrees that the medication likely played a role in this.

 

[MKP05]

Why don’t you trim it down to a 1 guard all around for now man. Your hair doesn’t look horrible to the point where if you take it down it’ll still fill in pretty evenly.

Why don’t you trim it down to a 1 guard all around for now man. Your hair doesn’t look horrible to the point where if you take it down it’ll still fill in pretty evenly.

Why don’t you trim it down to a 1 guard all around for now man. Your hair doesn’t look horrible to the point where if you take it down it’ll still fill in pretty evenly.

The problem is that I’ve diffused everywhere. My sides and back as well after starting dutasteride. I also have a large bald spot right in the middle of my forelock. Definitely need to change my hairstyle and maybe getting it real short will just rip the band aid off.

 

[MKP05]

What happened here is fairly simple. It was your time to lose your hair because that is what your genetics have determined. When balding starts, it is fairly common to become a noticeably balding man in 3-5 years.

And no, there is no such thing as a pill or lotion that stops male pattern baldness, just ask any bald man, there are still plenty, if not more than there used to be.

Oh and I also have an identical twin brother. Same exact genes. No hair loss at all. None. So yeah. Must have just been my time due to my genetic makeup.

 

[vinnyg0414]

The problem is that I’ve diffused everywhere. My sides and back as well after starting dutasteride. I also have a large bald spot right in the middle of my forelock. Definitely need to change my hairstyle and maybe getting it real short will just rip the band aid off.

yeah man, i think if you try a shorter look it’ll look much better. wish i could help more. i hope i have as much hair as you do when i’m your age

 

[MKP05]

yeah man, i think if you try a shorter look it’ll look much better. wish i could help more. i hope i have as much hair as you do when i’m your age

I hope so too. Rapid balding at any age sucks but I’m fortunate to have made it this far. Good luck.

 

[vinnyg0414]

I hope so too. Rapid balding at any age sucks but I’m fortunate to have made it this far. Good luck.

Do you think you’re done with medication though? Kind of curious to see if your hair actually improves

 

[bluecyclone]

Sorry man that’s rough I’d say I too accelerated my thinning by starting medication. Still there but diffuse and differ t

 

[Ollie]

There is speculation that once you hit 40 your progesterone takes a massive hit which is why balding suddenly triggers. 5ar is used to synthesis OH-progesterone which is its stronger metabolite and as it becomes impaired through finasteride it might give merit to this theory. I agree that there is more to hairloss than just the obvious androgens but rather a needed balance.

 

[justbeconfident]

Idk, im 26, im on finasteride for 5 months and im in same boat

I think all these 'wait at least 12 months' are complete horse sh*t

if you dont see any improvement by month 3-4, you are doomed

We not only got unlucky for having genetic hair loss, but also medication doesnt help us

What the actual f*** with this life

 

[MKP05]

Idk, im 26, im on finasteride for 5 months and im in same boat

I think all these 'wait at least 12 months' are complete horse sh*t

if you dont see any improvement by month 3-4, you are doomed

We not only got unlucky for having genetic hair loss, but also medication doesnt help us

What the actual f*** with this life

The worst part about this is that, baring an act of God, today is the best my hair will ever look again. Tomorrow it will be worse. Next week even worse.

When I look back 2 months ago i thought it was horrible but I’d do anything for that hair now. I thought the same 6 months before that and 6 months before that. When hair loss progresses this quickly you have a tendency to set the bar lower and lower. 6 months from now I’ll look back on today and yearn for the shitty hair I had. Knowing that day is coming and all the days which follow is the hardest part. I don’t have a good shaped head for baldness and I can’t grow a decent beard for the life of me. Must be the Irish in me.

My wife yesterday said “you’ve got a lot of years left to live” to which I replied. “Yeah that’s the problem.” Lol. I really feel for the younger guys going through this sh*t.

 

[justbeconfident]

The worst part about this is that, baring an act of God, today is the best my hair will ever look again. Tomorrow it will be worse. Next week even worse.

When I look back 2 months ago i thought it was horrible but I’d do anything for that hair now. I thought the same 6 months before that and 6 months before that. When hair loss progresses this quickly you have a tendency to set the bar lower and lower. 6 months from now I’ll look back on today and yearn for the shitty hair I had. Knowing that day is coming and all the days which follow is the hardest part. I don’t have a good shaped head for baldness and I can’t grow a decent beard for the life of me. Must be the Irish in me.

My wife yesterday said “you’ve got a lot of years left to live” to which I replied. “Yeah that’s the problem.” Lol. I really feel for the younger guys going through this sh*t.

Yeah, mate. I'm experiencing same thing and had same thoughts. I lose up to 300 hairs a day. Density of hair deacreases singifincantly, so sometimes when i stare in the mirror i realize that today my hair is at absolute best, because week passes and it will get even worse than it is now.

Also yeah, to experience it at mid 20s is absolute nightmare and im not even married yet.

 

[MKP05]

It’s f*****g over. My entire scalp is diffused and now my hairline is wrecked with a large bald spot right in the middle of my forelock. Due in large part that I wear my hair parted on the side I’ve been able to mask my true condition. But that has now become impossible to pass off.

In hindsight maybe I should’ve just stayed on finasteride and might’ve made it through the year. Now? I won’t make it through the summer without making a drastic change which could likely include shaving it. My f*****g worst nightmare come true. I can’t believe you can lose this much hair in less than 2 years being on DHT blockers. And I’m still not “shedding” either. I can barely pull out a couple hairs when I run my hands through my head. But every day more hair is just missing from my temples and forelock. The recession at my left temple is the size of a baseball. My right temple is receding sideways and upwards. Ive just had a complete evaporation and miniaturization of every single hair follicle on my head including the back and sides. For anyone who is taking finasteride and doesn’t get a normal shed but instead experiences drastic diffusing loss my advice is to consider dropping immediately and thinking twice about ever getting on dutasteride especially if you’re hair loss is in the front. It will not save you and it will very likely make your condition exponentially worse. Look up all of the reports where this has happened over and over again. These are not coincidences. They are almost identical reports of the sane type of adverse reactions.

I know guys around my age who have been thinning/receding for years. Their hair literally doesn’t seem to change at all year after year and even though they are probably losing ground slowly it’s not even detectable. There’s at least some dignity in going out like that that. Losing 50% of your hair in 20 months (even in your 40s) is a f*****g joke. I’ll never know how long I would’ve made it if I’d just let nature take its course. There’s no humanly way possible that I would be worse off than I am today. And I love the comments from guys that say “ yeah you definitely lost a lot of hair but you would’ve lost more if you weren’t on a DHT blocker.” Not sure how you can lose hair faster than i did. I’m done with this sh*t.

 

[MKP05]

Do you think you’re done with medication though? Kind of curious to see if your hair actually improves

I honestly don’t know. I’m not a doctor so I’m trying to play the probabilities. I do believe that finasteride caused a sort of telogen effluvium reaction and this is consistent with other people reporting a similar occurrence. And dropping finasteride and getting on dutasteride caused another bad reaction. The question is whether It’s remotely possible for my hair loss to subside by quitting the one thing which is keeping DHT at bay. I honestly think I’m screwed either way. I should’ve stopped at 6 months since It wasn’t damaged enough at that point where I couldn’t have jumped back on. But I don’t have that luxury now. The next misstep could be my last one. I’m meeting with my derm in two weeks and am trying desperately to make it until then before making any other changes.