Help on where to start :S

[youngen]

Hello to the community!

I've been reading posts and the website in general for a few weeks, and have finally decided to start up an account so that I could get some help of my own.

I'm 17, soon to be 18 and have noticed that my hairline has begun to recede. My dad lost all of his hair on the top of his head at around 30. My brother is 20 and has gone VERY thin on top. I have always had quite thick hair (thicker than my relatives at my age), and it still is on top. Though, it is beginning to go thin around the temporal area.

I want to start treating this asap, and was wondering if anyone had any advice.

I would much rather avoid using finasteride, mainly due to the cost. Also, I live in the UK (maybe effects possible treatment methods, im not sure)

My plan was to begin using kirkland minoxidil and an anti androgen such as Nizoral or something, but my judgement may be completely off . Any help is much appreciated

 

[SheSawMyCombover]

Hey youngen I started the balding process at 17 as well so I know what you're going through. The first thing I would say mate is try not to fret or worry too much about this. I know it's an absolute kick in the balls to realise you're losing your hair this young but the thing you've got to always keep in mind is that hairloss doesn't occur overnight. With that being said rest assured you're in the right place to try and assemble a regimen that will hopefully arrest your male pattern baldness for a considerable period of time.

With regards to Finasteride mate I think your GP would be reluctant to prescribe it to you because of your age. Your combo of minoxidil and nizoral, in my opinion, seems like a solid foundation to begin with.

 

[youngen]

Alright man, thanks alot yeah, I have read that it's only for 18+, but even if I could get it prescribed, i'd have literally no way of payin for it .

But yeah, I think the regimen that I already have planned would be the most effective, not to mention the low price.

 

[SheSawMyCombover]

Alright man, thanks alot yeah, I have read that it's only for 18+, but even if I could get it prescribed, i'd have literally no way of payin for it .

But yeah, I think the regimen that I already have planned would be the most effective, not to mention the low price.

Another problem is youngen, and I think this something most of us guys in the UK have encountered, is most GP's aren't always informed about how finasteride can combat male pattern baldness. For instance, I recall reading on here about how one chap was told that the only remedy to male pattern baldness was a pair of clippers. It really is a lottery with regards to how much knowledge your GP has on male pattern baldness.

Plus as you've already highlighted there is also the factor of cost to take into account. I'm sure branded finasteride can set you back around £60/£70 easily a month which can be hard to find if you're still at school/college/or starting uni which I'm assuming you are. You may want to look into generic finasteride, which is far cheaper, some point down the line but overall I think minoxidil and nizoral is the best and safest option given your age.

 

[youngen]

Yea, I have been to my GP about it, and he told me that there was nothing which could be done and recommended that I washed my hair less to avoid it happening quickly, which really slapped my confidence, and it also sucked knowing that I wasn't going to get support from doctors.

At the moment, I'm happy to maintain what I have, and if minoxidil/Nizoral does that for me, I'd be ecstatic.

 

[SheSawMyCombover]

Yea, I have been to my GP about it, and he told me that there was nothing which could be done and recommended that I washed my hair less to avoid it happening quickly, which really slapped my confidence, and it also sucked knowing that I wasn't going to get support from doctors.

At the moment, I'm happy to maintain what I have, and if minoxidil/Nizoral does that for me, I'd be ecstatic.

Yep, it's exactly experiences like that as to why I never bothered going to see my doctor about my male pattern baldness. Honestly, though I'm totally aghast about a GP coming out with that wash your hair less often. :shock:

Yep, that's exactly the best way to approach it mate. If you can maintain what you have you can count it as a resounding success.

 

[youngen]

Yea I was hoping to bring up minoxidil or something with my GP but he just started rattling out bullsh*t and I just wanted to get out haha.

Thanks alot for your responses man, made me really stoked on trying out the products.
s
I think that i'm lucky to have family members with male pattern baldness that have reacted really well. As my brother has just gone through university with really bad thinning hair and had an absolutely awesome time an said he just didn't let it affect him.

 

[SheSawMyCombover]

Yea I was hoping to bring up minoxidil or something with my GP but he just started rattling out bullsh*t and I just wanted to get out haha.

Thanks alot for your responses man, made me really stoked on trying out the products.
s
I think that i'm lucky to have family members with male pattern baldness that have reacted really well. As my brother has just gone through university with really bad thinning hair and had an absolutely awesome time an said he just didn't let it affect him.

Tbh mate your story and family history sounds nigh on identical to my own. Both me, my older brother and father all started losing it in our teens and in the case of my dad he was pretty much bald by the time he was 30. I'm only 22 so I'll probably be in for the same fate unless my regimen can maintain/or slow down the process. In the meantime I'm just trying to get on with life knowing that I'm doing all I can to halt my male pattern baldness. I'm not saying it's plain sailing by any means and I most certainly have my peaks and troughs. But as you say with family members who have went through the same thing to relate to it can make the male pattern baldness process that little bit easier to come to terms with.