Is thinking about future treatments helpful?

[Boondock]

This is just a post on my general outlook on future treatments, which I believe is the most effective and safe way to approach this topic.

I base my view on two premises:

1. We have no idea as of yet whether any future treatments will solve the hair loss problem in the way we need them to.

2. If treatments do come forward, they may not arrive in the timeframe most of us want, and there are strong grounds to be sceptical about 3-5 year claims.

I also think there are modest dangers in going too far down the 'future treatments' line of thought. It makes you plan your future on assumptions that may not happen. It also makes you focus even more on the hair loss problem, since you're continually 'waiting' for something to come along. There are users here who've even based their decisions to get a dubious hair transplant on the assumption that, by the time it looks too odd, they'll be able get HM to cover up the damage.

Therefore, my outlook is to act 'as if' they'll never happen. This is an outlook that lets you focus on what we have now, and therefore avoid making present decisions on future assumptions that may be incorrect. It also allows you to drop cornucupian, wishful thinking, and to get on with your life without having to be transfixed on this future miracle - which some people here are almost putting their life on hold for.

If treatment does come out, fantastic. I'll be the first to jump on the flight to get it. But if it doesn't, this form of pragmatic pessimism at least means I don't get burned.

 

[sadscalp]

Therefore, my outlook is to act 'as if' they'll never happen. This is an outlook that lets you focus on what we have now, and therefore avoid making present decisions on future assumptions that may be incorrect. It also allows you to drop cornucupian, wishful thinking, and to get on with your life without having to be transfixed on this future miracle - which some people here are almost putting their life on hold for.

If treatment does come out, fantastic. I'll be the first to jump on the flight to get it. But if it doesn't, this form of pragmatic pessimism at least means I don't get burned.

Same here. I've more or less come to terms with the fact that I'm balding, though I do have my bad days too. I certainly don't expect something to come out within the next five years that'll fix my hair loss situation, and even if something does come out I'll be sceptical until I see any results.

If a "cure" is found, and I find it to be affordable and doable, then excellent. If not, I'll work with what I have.

 

[Cassin]

Probably the most interesting threads I have seen in a long time.

I would say no its not helpful.

Since I have been here I have only seen improvements to existing treatments (exr Lees 6% minoxidil with finasteride over his item #500, Hair Signals over Folligen and Spectral DNC over off the shelf minoxidil) but nothing truly new that has staying power. Loads of new stuff comes and goes...flashes in the pan only to be forgotten like everything else. Like right now you have some guys using that RU garbage which will be replaced by something new and risky soon enough. I can't even keep track of the random stuff people have tried in desperation who get very upset when the masses don't accept it as a practical treatment.

Right now I use Finasteride and Minoxidil daily. I use Copper peptides and Nizoral occasionally. Not sure what else I can do and I am not foolish enough to think it will last forever. When everything heads south I have done all I reasonably can.

 

[Artas]

Well they have identified the two genes that cause hair loss in males, but will that enable them to come up with new treatments? Maybe in years to come, but I reckon it wont be in out life time.

However, they may come up with better ways to hide hair loss, they are always coming up with better hair systems and who knows... Hair transplants could become cheaper. Hair loss is becoming a more serious issue now, so I reckon this will drive some people to research more about it and come up with better concealers and what not.

 

[Cassin]

It all comes down to money...there simply is not enough of it for big companies to invest in it. Sure it's fruitful for small guys like dr lee but his R&D costs are small since he's adjusting pre existing products based off other studies.

 

[Boondock]

For me it's less about the money involved, and more about the technological challenge.

There's stacks of cash to be had for whoever beats the baldness problem. Is there the investment that we have in cancer, aids, heart disease, or alzheimer's? Of course not. But research teams tend to be able to get finance if what they're doing is promising.

The trouble is rather in finding a way to defeat hair loss itself. People think it's easy because, hey, hair's simple right? But it's not. It's a genetic program wired into us; unlike cancer, we're not trying to fix our bodies, we're trying to stop them from doing what they naturally want to do. Your body wants to lose that hair on top, remember.

Many of the solutions out there could work, I just don't think they'll be here anytime soon.

But that's not really my point.

What I'm saying is: even if they're going to be here in 5 years, it's better to behave 'as if' they will not be.

The reasons for this are:

1. It's impossible to predict the future, and they might not be available anytime soon.

2. Psychologically, it's beneficial not to focus on 'future cures' and to try and work with the here and now. And if future cures arrive, you'll be better set in your life, financially and emotionally, if you take this approach. Crossing your fingers and hoping is a waste of energy and an emotional drain.