Hair loss 22 year old soilder

[fitz]

Hello all there. I am 22 years old getting ready to leave in the next four months over seas. My hair just started thinning and not growing back within the previous 4-5 months. I have been doing some research but it was not until recently I got over the sorrow and denial to take a step in fixing this problem. I am currently not doing any treatment for my hair due to I have not seen a doctor or a dermatologist yet. I was wondering if I could get some feedback from all of you due to I figure you guys are the real experts. Any products to recommend? Should I just skip the doctor and see a dermatologist or actually go through with both? My grandfather on my Dad's side was almost completely bald so I am thinking this is probably hereditary. My diet has been very very horrible the past couple of months really just fast food, pizza, greasy food. My exercise also has been under par as well. I have GOT to get this under control before I leave any advise I will follow. There are some pictures below if there are any questions please just let me know or more pictures or anything I need to follow up on. THANK YOU so much for the help, please help me beat this. This is has been devastating to me and completely shut down my confidence. I believe the last two pictures had flash on so it kind of looks worse than it is, but never the less you get the idea

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[fitz]

I have already changed my diet completely by the way and have been exercising every day but it has only been about a week or two solid with both, so far no changes. PLEASE HELP!

 

[fitz]

I also smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, but am determined to quit. Especially if it is playing any roll in my hair loss

 

[cuebald]

If you are genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness (and it looks like you are), cigarettes and diet will play a very minor part in how your male pattern baldness progresses.

Your hair loss does look like classic male pattern baldness, in the diffuse pattern. There isn't really much you can do to prevent it other than to take the recommended medical treatments (a tablet called Finasteride, a topical called Minoxidil (ROGAINE), and a shampoo called Nizoral).

Stress/Diet related hair loss is usually either patchy or occurs all over the scalp. Genetic male pattern baldness will occur only on the crown, and is primarily related to DHT levels. Diet, etc, will affect those levels very minorly.

If you see a Doctor/derm they'll likely prescribe you Finasteride (over here in the UK they will just tell you to shave it and get over it). I don't know if you can take Finasteride if you're in the forces, though.

There's no other real treatments for male pattern baldness. You can try covering it with "hair fibres" such as Toppik, but again, they are only covers.

It's quite aggressive hairloss for a 22 year old, but then I know someone who was a NW6 at 20 years old.

 

[fitz]

Do you know if I could get a hair transplant surgery? and also would I be dumb to do it right now if it was possible or wait a couple of years? Also any clues you can give me to how long I got? what would you rate me on the hamilton/norwood scale

 

[s.a.f]

:agree: Its not your diet or excercise. Its purely genetic and your losing it in a classic m.p.b pattern.
As a soilder it may be difficult to use the big 3 products as mentioned above, and unless you can get some serious leave time a hair transplant is out of the question. At 22 and with that loss I would'nt recommend it anyway. Honestly sorry to say but I reckon without finasteride you could be bald in 3/4/5 yrs. But at least buzzing it wont look too out of place.
Right now you're still a NW2 but diffusing in a NW6 pattern.
I'd say the big 3 and Finasteride particularly are your only hope, but at least you've caught it early so if these products work for you you can hang onto what you've got and maybe even see some improvement.

 

[fitz]

Thank you so much for the advise, I agree with the difficulty of using the products in the service will be very difficult. Would it be wise for me to get a transplant after the majority that is lost within the 3,4,5 year frame? Would I even be a candidate? If I plan on getting the transplant anyways do you recommend me not if using the products mentioned above?

 

[fitz]

Do i have to get finasteride prescribed from a Doctor or derm?

 

[s.a.f]

Transplants, can only replace a limited amount of hair so if you do progress to NW6 its very unlikely that you'll be able to get back to looking even close to the way you do now. You should forget about transplants for now. Unless you can use meds to hold onto what you still have and then wait another 5/6/7 yrs at least to see what the situation is.

You will probably need to buy finasteride online most Dr's wont prescribe the drug for Hairloss alone. If you are in the UK google Dr Ashcroft finasteride. Buying a generic version of the drug saves a lot of money.