How Many Men Actually Treat Their male pattern baldness?

[Assemblage23]

Sometimes I wonder if taking my meds is making me part of the chosen ones. Or if it's all a big joke and everyone is secretely on dutasteride+RU.

It seems that 90% of the newcomers have that "anything but finasteride" approach. In my opinion, you are not treating your male pattern baldness without anti-androgens. But still, how many guys who share our curse are using effective medication according to you guys? How many just let themselves go?

 

[GoldenMane]

Sometimes I wonder if taking my meds is making me part of the chosen ones. Or if it's all a big joke and everyone is secretely on dutasteride+RU.

It seems that 90% of the newcomers have that "anything but finasteride" approach. In my opinion, you are not treating your male pattern baldness without anti-androgens. But still, how many guys who share our curse are using effective medication according to you guys? How many just let themselves go?

Most guys don't know. Family and friends tell them there's nothing to do and just accept it, print media and most websites say likewise, and if they do mention treatment, it's usually supplements, shampoos and at best minoxidil, but never finasteride or dutasteride. GPs are next to useless at diagnosing male pattern baldness and offering treatment, my GP never even heard of finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia.
Given all the misinformation and lack of education, many men will just believe there's nothing they can do.
When I told my mam I was taking finasteride she told me it's probably just a scam snake oil and that I can only accept it. For everyone offering good advice on male pattern baldness, there are 100 offering bad advice/uninformed garbage and old wives tales.

male pattern baldness is an information war, early diagnosis and treatment is crucial and were terrible at doing so.

 

[Assemblage23]

male pattern baldness is an information war, early diagnosis and treatment is crucial and were terrible at doing so.

Very good way of summing thing sup.


My guess is that most men remain in denial until a combover is no longer possible, and then half of them try to do something. On this half, another half tries snake oil crap and f*****g shampoos, thinking they will get away with it.

I'd guess about a third of men eventually get on finasteride. How many stick with it enough to get their destiny back is another question.

How about transplants?

 

[GoldenMane]

Very good way of summing thing sup.


My guess is that most men remain in denial until a combover is no longer possible, and then half of them try to do something. On this half, another half tries snake oil crap and f*****g shampoos, thinking they will get away with it.

I'd guess about a third of men eventually get on finasteride. How many stick with it enough to get their destiny back is another question.

How about transplants?

No way a third of men with male pattern baldness get on finasteride! I'd be surprised if it was even 10%!
Most men think transplants alone will suffice, that they won't need finasteride. Some men don't even know what hair transplants are, one friend thought the hair was harvested from corpse donors!

Don't underestimate the ignorance of the world regarding male pattern baldness, nor the blow hard offering their terrible, uninformed advice regarding treatments.

 

[Assemblage23]

10% sounds more realistic indeed it was my first thought actually, let's say a third at least hears about it and tries minoxidil.

 

[resu]

If we had a treatment that was affordable and actually gave good results everyone would be on it.

 

[That Guy]

Sometimes I wonder if taking my meds is making me part of the chosen ones. Or if it's all a big joke and everyone is secretely on dutasteride+RU.

It seems that 90% of the newcomers have that "anything but finasteride" approach. In my opinion, you are not treating your male pattern baldness without anti-androgens. But still, how many guys who share our curse are using effective medication according to you guys? How many just let themselves go?

Most stats I see pop up anywhere put the numbers somewhere between 5% and 10%

I'm inclined to believe it true, since I see tons of men where it's terribly obvious that they are not using any treatment whatsoever; there's no way they are so ineffective as to leave so many men so bald.

I had to see three doctors before one of them was like, "Well, I can give you propecia and rogaine." I had no idea what those were until then; I'd never even heard of them. The two old doctors I had seen before just told me to live with it. The one doctor even shrugged her god-damn shoulders at me. People, even in the medical field, see baldness as a non issue. Many older men, who started balding in middle age and onward, are blissfully unaware of how it affects social perception of them. Most of the men who are seeking treatment are men who started balding young, at an age where one is more likely to experience the sure-fire social ramifications and diminished satisfaction with body image.

 

[whatevr]

I know several young balding guys in my town alone and from what I've managed to gather from talking with them is that none are on treatments. Most are either delusional or cope-downplay the effect that baldness is going to have on their life. It's sad really, I'd like to step in and help, but it's nosey of me to suggest treatments. And I don't really want anyone to know I'm taking sh*t either unless I am asked for advice.

 

[GoldenMane]

I know several young balding guys in my town alone and from what I've managed to gather from talking with them is that none are on treatments. Most are either delusional or cope-downplay the effect that baldness is going to have on their life. It's sad really, I'd like to step in and help, but it's nosey of me to suggest treatments. And I don't really want anyone to know I'm taking sh*t either unless I am asked for advice.

I told a young balding guy about finasteride and minoxidil a few months ago. He REALLY appreciated it and is seeing good results... We need to look out for and inform our young balding brothers

 

[Assemblage23]

If we had a treatment that was affordable and actually gave good results everyone would be on it.

Generic finasteride is dirt cheap.

 

[Assemblage23]

After talking to a few bald men, the general consensus out there seems to be that there's nothing you can do. Accept and shave. Most seem oblivious to the social effects, though they recognize it is better to have hair than to not have it. I'm not surprised that the figure for men who treat it is low.

On the other hand, this is what I would reply to anyone commentating on my hairloss. Not going to show I'm freaking out about it 24/7. But I'm on finasteride and minoxidil!

 

[Roberto_72]

After talking to a few bald men, the general consensus out there seems to be that there's nothing you can do. Accept and shave. Most seem oblivious to the social effects, though they recognize it is better to have hair than to not have it. I'm not surprised that the figure for men who treat it is low.

Weirdly this is not what happened to my family. Both my father and my cousin immediately tried minoxidil when it came out in the 80s. The problem is they quit because it did not work for either. At least not in three months.

I think the main problem with present meds is that results are very very slow so many are discouraged.

People are used to meds that give an immediate response (think painkillers).

How many balding people are willing to take a drug that takes 6 months to show its effects and in the meantime risk a limp d*ck? I mean: I am willing, but I understand why someone might not want to embark on this adventure.

 

[Massive]

I know quite a few people in real life that take propecia or use minoxidil, found out from small talk at the gym/work/uni.

It seems like some the propecia users are completely unaware about minoxidil or any other treatments. While just about every minoxidil user is aware about propecia and is either afraid to take it or uses it in conjunction with propecia.

Though I have never yet met anyone that's aware about RU / dutasteride and so on... It seems like most people just go see a dermatologist that knows less about hair loss than the first time users here, and end up either getting a prescription for propecia or use minoxidil and never look further into this whole hair loss subject.

I also noticed that unlike this forum here where fullheads think they're a NW3, in real life a lot of people are quite oblivious to that hair loss state, and are in denial regarding their balding.

 

[Runninghair]

I would agree most guys think theirs nothing can be done. Their knowledge usually goes about as far as minoxidil as theres the odd advert about it on tv in uk. Though as so many are bald many guys assume it is snake oil.

I know have some friends that are bald or balding and have no clue about treatment.

When i was 18 and started losing i was straight into the internet to find out what i can do. I guess some guys just get in with it until a point nw3 where they believe its too late.

 

[Hangin'on Hair]

Im not treating chemically (yet) and Im trying to stay away from it.
Im doing the natural, snakeoil,LLLT, shampoo route for now.

My story....started noticing hair loss at around age 28. Thinning in the crown and temples receding. I'm now 40 going on 41 in a couple of months and I still haven't used any of the pharma sh*t that's out there. My hair is a lot worse now than when it started going, but I still have a lot of coverage. When wet, my hair looks terrible. Enough to the point where I don't really want to swim in public. Wind and rain are my enemies.
But.. I have not had one person come up to me and say " dude! you're losing your hair!, you're getting a little thin on top!"
And trust me, any one of my good friends would come out and say it flat out without hesitation. Heck, my older brother would say something, but hasn't noticed.
But one thing is for sure, the hair loss is there and it bothers the sh*t out of me.

I just don't want to be a slave to a pill that's gonna f*** up my body for the rest of my life.
Who knows, out of desperation I might jump on it. But most likely not. Because even when taking finasteride, you're still gonna be that guy who looks like he's losing his hair.
I don't want puffy nipples, limp dick and foggy head also. And please, don't tell me these sides are uncommon. They are very common. I guarantee there are a ton of finasteride users out there with nasty side effects. Not everyone on this planet is going online and joining hairloss sites and telling people about it.

Right now my hair is still pretty manageable and I'm hoping it stays this ways. It's been 12 years since I started losing and I'm still looking good. I'm steering clear of this "whoa is me" attitude everyone around here seems to have. That's not gonna help anyone. Keep positive, keep healthy. Christ, the amount of suicide talk around here is f*****g ridiculous!
The more you keep your body and mind in a negative, depressed state, the more hair you will probably lose.
Chin up everyone.


I

 

[Assemblage23]

You simply don't have aggressive male pattern baldness. You would not have kept this mindset if you were losing half a Norwood every year after 18yo like many of us.

 

[Hangin'on Hair]

Wh

You simply don't have aggressive male pattern baldness. You would not have kept this mindset if you were losing half a Norwood every year after 18yo like many of us.

When I get a chance, i'll post a pic of my hair when wet and dry. It's pretty bad male pattern baldness. I just don't cut my hair super short like most people who suffer do. Length can be your friend. And I would like everyone's take on my situation.

 

[FuianoMonster]

Well, when people say that propecia is snake oil, i can't blame them.
You see so many balding men every day that people just assume nothing works.

Afterall, if a real cure existed, no one would ever walk around with a bald spot on their head.

 

[Hangin'on Hair]

The whole chin up thing, all that is is a message to everyone. I know it's a f*****g terrible thing. I just want everyone to keep a positive attitude. That's all.
No, I'm not spreading "FUD" about finasteride. I just don't want t use it because of sides.
My loss, I know, is not a severe as a lot of you out there. And I'm not trying to down play things.
I'm a single 40 year old who cares a lot about his appearance as do all of you.
The hairloss I have, is pretty bad to me.
But I'll let you all be the judge when I put up a picture a little later.
I hope I didn't come across like a dick with my post. And I apologize if I caused any distress to the people who have it really bad.

 

[Grasshüpfer]

Also for so many forums around the level of information is terrible. I took me a long time to get the information together and to find out that even finasteride is quite safe if you do it right. (Like watch your hormone levels and use low dose combine with other treatments like cb, ru, seti etc.)