Re: A 17-year old balding! Pictures!
I think this thread wins the Oscar for worst piece of advice ever.
Fanjeera:
You are obviously receeding above the "mature hairline" border. You are here so you are not in denial. (I had to hit 27 to burst my "male pattern baldness is for others" bubble). That by itself is great.
Do not use Dutasteride topically. As some people said, the effect of anything topically applied is partially due to systemic absorption. You do not want traces of dutasteride in your bloodstream if you are already afraid of finasteride (as dutasteride is a much more effective blocker of the enzyme). Skin is permeable, it is a filter, not a plastic bag. Have you heard of nicotine patches?
You have been using Rogaine for a year now. If you drop minoxidil, you will go over a major shed and a jump to a parallel hair universe where you never used any treatment until now. If cost of treatments is what troubles you, go for generic minoxidil solution and ADD TO THAT. 16 is too early for starting finasteride and I believe you are doing the right thing to wait till you are 18 before starting.
So what is your best bet imo?
1) Read more on hair and more on your options so that your choices reflect a more objective personal view on the matter.
2) Read this:
Secrets to Success - The Three P's.
And then read it once more.
3) ADD TO your regimen, do not replace a treatment with another unless you fully understand what this means. Minoxidil (Rogaine) creates an offset of hair, some extra hair to carry along, it does not counter the cause of follicle shrinkage which is damage due to DHT. This means that stopping Rogaine(a growth stimulant) and replacing it with finasteride or topical dutasteride(!!!)(a dht inhibitor) will not help you maintain the offset of growth that minoxidil allowed you to have.
4) Start using Nizoral every third day or so.
5) Use a topical DHT inhibitor with the more substantial research backing it up (as internal DHT inhibitors are out of question until you hit 18).
6) Don't base a treatment strategy on hairloss forum gossip, rumor or anecdotal "evidence". Do not conduct personal experiments either. (like using topical dutasteride).
You have beaten denial which is a major victory , you have an extremely healthy scepticism regarding treatments (one could jump on anything promising at 16 without giving it a second thought) and you are lucky enough to be on hairlostalk forums, an area full of useful information and people willing to help. When the day ends, it is
your battle, and
your choices to make. So make sure you get a relatively good idea of how hair works, what causes male pattern baldness, what treatments can and cannot offer and where one can set reasonable expectations.
Best of luck.
) bottle?