Lurker Finally Posts; Finasteride Anxiety

[UncertaintyisReal]

Good morning, all. I'm just shy of 31, and I've recently come to the conclusion that I've been denying my receding hairline long enough. For reference, the top picture, though admittedly of poor quality (even as a kid I wasn't fond of having my picture taken) is meant to show that I've always had a large forehead, long before male pattern baldness could possibly have hit me. I think I'm about 8 in that photo. Unfortunately, from about age 20 until recently, I wore my hair very long, so I have no more recent hairline pictures to share. The other four are my hair as of yesterday. I know I'm not as badly off as a lot of other people on this forum, and if I could maintain myself right where I am, I'd be reasonably happy. As such, I've been on minoxidil 5% drops for about a month consistently, I'm using a pair of shampoos thought to assist in hair growth, and I'm about to start finasteride.

That last one brings me to my reason for posting. I've always been one to do extensive (some might say excessive) research, and I've been coming across a lot of horror stories to the effect of "Using Finasteride absolutely destroyed my hair, and I wish I'd never touched it. My hair got worse immediately and never recovered." As you can see, my volume and thickness are totally fine - it's just my hairline that I'm unhappy with, and would be VERY unhappy to have recede any farther.

If you've read my wall of text to this point, thank you. My question is this; what are your experiences with finasteride/minoxidil, specifically regarding their effects on your hair? I'm aware of the other side effects, and I'll gauge those if and when they happen, but I'm a little (read: extremely) worried that I'm going to start taking finasteride today and it's going to make things irrevocably worse when I'm not HORRIBLY poorly off to begin with.

Thank you in advance for your replies.

 

[Hairs45]

no one knows how your body will react to Finasteride.

But as for me, it has helped me keep my existing hair and I haven't had any hair loss since taking it 4 years ago.

As a result it has helped with my depression from hair loss.

The side effects that I got from this is loss of libido, weak erections, no morning wood, etc. But I'm fine with this.
you should be more worried about the side effects instead of it thinking it will make your hair worse.

 

[Hairicane]

I've been taking it nearly 3 months and so far I've seen nothing at all. No side effects, no intended effect either.
I thought it helped my prostate but I think I just imagined that. My life is a hell and I spend every moment thinking about whether it's working.

 

[Hairicane]

no one knows how your body will react to Finasteride.

But as for me, it has helped me keep my existing hair and I haven't had any hair loss since taking it 4 years ago.

As a result it has helped with my depression from hair loss.

The side effects that I got from this is loss of libido, weak erections, no morning wood, etc. But I'm fine with this.
you should be more worried about the side effects instead of it thinking it will make your hair worse.

How long was it before you noticed anything? Sides or hair I mean.

 

[disillusioned]

im just scared of me getting gyno and penis shrinkage.

im 18

 

[brahmabull117]

lol @ these NW1.5 people with absolute supreme hair density worrying about nothing

OP I would cut off my left arm to have your hair, stop your nonsense

 

[UncertaintyisReal]

lol @ these NW1.5 people with absolute supreme hair density worrying about nothing

OP I would cut off my left arm to have your hair, stop your nonsense

1.5? Are you sure? It's hard for me to tell, what with having always had a high hairline, and I've never quite been able to correlate my hair to the Norwood scale. I am pretty sure, however, that I can see more scalp along my hairline than anywhere else if I make a "fake" hairline there (by pulling hair in different directions along a horizontal part.) Is that not what's meant by miniaturization - hairs being lighter and finer within the hairline itself? Is the fact that my left corner is higher than my right not a warning sign?

I'm not trying to be argumentative or sarcastic here - I've waffled back and forth on this, on and off, for a while, because I can't quite get a picture in my head of what I'm supposed to be looking for in terms of warning signs. I'll decide I'm fine, forget about it for a few months, then spend a day or two worrying, repeat ad nauseum. Any notes from those of you with more experience would be helpful, even if it is just "Shut up, you're fine and here's why."

 

[HLV]

lol @ these NW1.5 people with absolute supreme hair density worrying about nothing

OP I would cut off my left arm to have your hair, stop your nonsense

While I fully agree with you that his hairloss if any, is very minor compared to a lot of people, and he is fortunate especially to have that at the age of 30, i understand what his worried about.

When I started finasteride at the age of 18, my main concern wasn’t so much how I looked at the time but how things could potentionally get much if I didn’t start treatment.

The OP is wanting to be pro active and and treat this now. To the OP,
From personal experiences and studies over the years, if you decide to take finasteride 1mg you have a very high chance you will keep most of your hair for years, especially as you are now 30 and most people who ended up losing a lot of hair begin losing it in their teenage years.

the problem with forums is that anyone can make a post, but you don’t know if they are being honest in their posts or what their reasons are for posting. The only objective thing we have are the studies which say if you take it you will be fine for years. My personal experience and observations in 13 years of treating hairloss confirms the studies.

You will be fine.

HLV

 

[Hairicane]

While I fully agree with you that his hairloss if any, is very minor compared to a lot of people, and he is fortunate especially to have that at the age of 30, i understand what his worried about.

When I started finasteride at the age of 18, my main concern wasn’t so much how I looked at the time but how things could potentionally get much if I didn’t start treatment.

The OP is wanting to be pro active and and treat this now. To the OP,
From personal experiences and studies over the years, if you decide to take finasteride 1mg you have a very high chance you will keep most of your hair for years, especially as you are now 30 and most people who ended up losing a lot of hair begin losing it in their teenage years.

the problem with forums is that anyone can make a post, but you don’t know if they are being honest in their posts or what their reasons are for posting. The only objective thing we have are the studies which say if you take it you will be fine for years. My personal experience and observations in 13 years of treating hairloss confirms the studies.

You will be fine.

HLV

It's good to start early.

 

[Maxihair]

Great hair. There is nothing to worry about!

 

[UncertaintyisReal]

Just out of curiosity, this is my hairline pulled back so you can see what I'm worried about more clearly - the fact that the hair is finer in the front and for a short distance into my hairline, especially around that sort of "reverse widow's peak"-looking area in the middle - where the hair is noticeably higher in the center than around the sides. Are both of those really normal/nothing to worry about? I've been operating under the assumption that I'm eventually going to lose all of that finer hair.

 

[Hairicane]

Normally in male pattern balding the points above the temples are higher, and it's lower in the center. That's how my hair line is shaped and I'm definitely balding.

I seriously don't think you are balding, but I am not looking down on you for your concern over the issue. It's good to be proactive.

I think you will be fine for the foreseeable future.