Hey guys I'm 20 years old and I need your opinions.

[sanchez5123]

Hello everyone!!

Well I'm 20 years old and I think I'm beginning to notice a bit of a bald spot on the back of my head.

Some history of mine in terms of hair. I'm not sure if I have dry or oily hair to be honest. I've always had dandruff problems so basically all throughout middle school and high school I used Head and Shoulders to keep it at bay which worked. My mother usually cuts my hair and was the first to notice some thinning on the back part of my head so she gave me Bosley to use. I also wash my hair everyday mainly because my hair just gets kind nasty just after a day and I notice flakes as well feeling really oily and greasy if I skip a day of shampooing. I've been using Bosley for about 6 months now but I honestly wasn't even concerned about hair loss the entire time and it has only began to attract my attention recently. I've also just recently moved out and living on my own which has increased my stress which I bet is also a factor. So I'm basically here to ask for people's advice on what I should do as well as for some peace of mind.

Kind of a side note, I'm a college student so I'm kind of on a budget. So, the cheaper the better.

Now onto the questions.

1. Should I wash my hair everyday? As in shampooing + conditioner? I've read that if you have oily or greasy hair you should wash everyday but the opposite is true if you have dry hair. And if I shouldn't wash my hair everyday do I want to avoid getting it wet completely or it okay to have water run through it?

2. What products do I want to use to at least slow down the process of losing hair and maybe even thickening?

3. Do DHT inhibitors really play a role in people under 25?

4. I've been considering Rogaine as a solution sense it's a stimulant rather then DHT inhibitor. Is Rogaine okay to use if you're only 20? Is there a thinning phase when first starting and if so for how long? Would I gain some thickening if I JUST used Rogaine?

5. Should I continue to use Bosely or should I switch to another shampoo/conditioner and if so which?

Once again I'm on a budget so I'm looking for a regimen that I can realistically keep up with.

Thanks for reading all this, I really appreciate it

ps. Took this picture in the morning before I showered so that's why my hair is a mess xD

 

[antman]

Definitely hair loss there

1) i don't think it matters that much - just depends on the person

2) i'll answer that below

3) yes

4) yes, some people get a 'shedding phase' with rogaine. You might get thickening with rogaine.

5) Nizoral shampoo twice weekly is commonly used


2) i'm just gonna copy and paste this sorry

Proven for hair loss:

1) 1mg oral Propecia (finasteride) once daily - this is a prescription drug from a doctor and purchased at a Drug Store (eg Pharmacy) - any doctor will probably prescribe to you if you ask

2) 1ml 5% topical Rogaine (minoxiidl) twice daily - this can be purchased online or in a store google will direct u

Some evidence for hair loss - these are extra and can improve results whilst using 1) and 2):

3) Shampoo 1 or 2% Nizoral (ketoconazole) twice weekly - depending on where you live this is prescription or over the counter

4) relaxation techniques - yoga, mediation or whatever floats your boat ~ (stress = more cortisol = lots of other hormone changes)

5) better diet (will explain below)

6) Avodart (Dutaseride) - stronger version of 1) - i don't recommend this

7) Any Anti-Androgens - i don't recommend this

8) AHK-Cu - expensive and lacks evidence - i don't recommend this

9) Bimatoprost - expensive and lacks evidence - i don't recommend this

10) Low-level light therapy - i find these studies to be suspect - i don't recommend this

11) LY 191704 (a benzoquinoline derivative), All-trans- retinoic acid [(tretinoin) (3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-tri- methyl-1-cyclohexenyl)-non-2,4,6,8 tetraenoic acid)], 6-benzyl-aminopurine (6-BA) and pentadecanoic acid (PDA), cromakalim, etanercept, infliximab, RU58841, and latanoprost are some newer hair growth-promoting agents

12)Possible role of anti-inflammatory medications in the treatment of MPHL
In Androgenetic Alopecia, scalp biopsies show decreased anagen hair and increased vellus hair. There is perifollicular lymphocytic infiltration and perifollicular concentric fibrosis around the upper and lower follicles, suggesting that anti-inflammatory treatments may benefit such patients.

back to 5)
Importance of nutrition for the anagen phase
To re-enter anagen from a resting phase, the dermal papilla cells show a high spurt in cell division and increased growth rate at the onset of the cycle. This requires a good supply of nutrients and a toxin-free environment for the growing cells. If these requirements are not met, the resting phase is prolonged and the growth phase fails to commence. Hair loss is associated with anemia, which may not be detected. Low iron levels are compensated by re-absorption of iron from the spleen, bone marrow, etc. In such compensated states, low serum level may not always be identified, but iron is not available for the growing hair. Serum ferritin is raised in inflammatory disorders and the iron-binding capacity can be high in a low-iron state due to low percentage saturation. Blood calcium levels are continuously maintained in exchange with bone and hair. Hypoproteinemia is associated with thin, dry, brittle hair and hair loss. Antioxidants and nutritional supplements have to be used even in clinically normal levels of iron, calcium, amino acids, vitamins and minerals in order to achieve hair growth. These can be better used in a preventive low dose, once in 3 days, instead of a higher everyday use in therapeutic dosage.


Also, feel free to vent on these forums - hair loss can really suck and make you feel like crap on some days especially when other people make comments toward you.

 

[sanchez5123]

awesome!! thanks for all the advice!!

I guess I'll start with buying Nizoral Shampoo and begin using Rogaine. I kinda of want to avoid DHT inhibitors for now.

I'll also start keeping track more of what I'm eating. What, in general, should I be eating? Iron rich foods?
I also need to manage my stress more and good thing I took a yoga class last year xD guess I'll put what I learned into actual practice more often.

Also just to clarify is it okay to wash my hair everyday? And should I continue using Bosely or should I switch to a different shampoo on the off days that I don't use Nizoral?

Again thanks for your response. By having a better idea of what I should do alone is granting me peace of mind