nineinchnails
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Hello everyone,
Before I tell my story I wanted to say thanx to everyone on these boards for their input, which has helped me throughout the years.
I first noticed I had hairloss when I was about 18 years (I'm 34 now) old when someone was looking at my scalp up close and told me I was beginning to go bald. I didn't pay much attention then, but in the next few years I did realize my hair was beginning to thin-out. I wore a hat a lot and used Couvre back then when I wasn't, so no one really new about my hairloss.
From my early 20's until I was about 26, I did not treat my hairloss. I just used Couvre and then Toppik as I became aware of it. Around 26/27, I began to see multiple Dermatologists regarding my hairloss. I even had a biopsy and was diagnosed w/ male pattern baldness . At this time I began to take 1.25mg of generic Finasteride (which I still take today). A couple years later I began using Nizoral shampoo as well (I also still use it about once very 3/4 days).
So that is my regimen for the last 7/8 years (1.25mg Finasteride and Nizoral). These are the only things I have done to try and treat my hairloss. I have of course used countless products to thicken the appearance of my hair. As a diffuse thinner thickening shampoos and thickeners can really make a difference.
What I currently use for a thickening effect are:
shampoos
1. I have tried a million, but after reading a post here or somewhere else I tried Pregaine shampoo. I ordered it from the UK, anyway, it has been the best shampoo for thickening that I have tried.
2. I also use Neutrogena T-Gel Greasy Hair which I have just started and seems pretty good.
3. Then the Nizoral, which I already mentioned.
thickeners (sprays, gels, lotions, etc.)
1. Aveda Pure abundance hair potion - I pour the crystals directly on my scalp and it does give a nice thickening effect/added texture.
2. Toppik Hair Fattener
3. Couvre Protien Hair Expander - how much of a difference 2 and 3 make I can't say, they do help and I've used them for years. I know it is probably a bad idea but I throw all the lotions and hope I get a benefit from all, but who knows. I have used many other lotions and sprays, but those are the main three that I currently use.
If I could recommend two products to everyone it would be the Pregaine shampoo and the Aveda Pure Abundance.
Concealers
On special occasions, although I hate using them (feeling like a fraud/someone finding out) I use concealers. Mostly I use Dermmatch now, I use it dry and rub a bit on my scalp. I try not and use too much. I also use Toppik, but have used Dermmatch more recently as it is easier for me to apply and I only use a bit and it seems to not come off as much in my hands if I touch my scalp.
Sorry that this is a long post, but i'm trying to get everything in. Now I will explain the type of hairloss I have and the specific issues I have that differ from most w/ male pattern baldness.
Like I said earlier I have diffuse thinning. However I have diffuse thinning all over the scalp (even the sides and back). This of course totally sucks, as its one thing to go bald and have hair on the sides and back and its totally another to lose it all. No hair transplant for me unless BHT's become more common and even then I dont have a lot of body hair so I'm not the greatest candidate. As a sidenote - I saw Dr. Cole (hair transplant Dr. in Atlanta) when he was doing consultations in NYC almost a year ago and he didn't think I was a good candidate for a BHT (Body Hair Transplant).
And I also have two thin spots on both sides of my head in the exact same place, right above my ear that is even thinner than the rest. This was pointed out my a barber about 10 years ago. I was also born w/ a growth on my scalp, it protruded a few inches above my scalp, but went down after a couple years but there is still a scar on my scalp. Also I have scalp acne that I've tried everything to get rid of (I've also battled acne all my life but now I mainly get breakouts on my scalp/butt). I took Accutane three times (I don't think it affected my hairloss though).
So this is my dilema; diffuse thinning all over the scalp and I can't shave my head due to scalp acne/etc. Besides the fact that a shaved head doesnt work for me (I tried once). I can't get a hair transplant as I don't have a donor area on my scalp. I know I can't go bald though. I woudl look like a freak. If had typical male pattern baldness I'd shave my head right now and be done w/ it, I really would. Being a diffuse thinner sucks so bad, I put all this junk in my hair so people think I have a good head of hair, but it is so far from that.
Basically I need to do whatever I can save/grow as much hair as I can. The Finasteride is not maintaining. I know I have thinned in the last few years, but i'm still afraid to stop using it for fear things will get worse. I was on Dutasteride for a month 3 years ago, but get scared of what the sides might be and stopped using it. I have never used Minoxidil so that is one possibility. I have the foam and plan to start using it next week. I have been afraid of shedding but I know I need to use minoxidil and I have finally talked myself into buying it and using it.
I have also had a bad habit of running my fingers on my scalp and picking out white bulb like things, like little beads of sand. i feel for them on my scalp and then pull them out. I've done this for as long as I can remember and and it's hard to stop. I know there must be a medical explanation for what these little bulbs are on my scalp and I know I must have some scalp condition because it is definitely unhealthy with the acne and it can be painful as well. I need a doctor who can actually diagnose a scalp condition but I haven't found one yet so I hope someone can help me find one.
If anyone is still reading I have a few questions:
1. Can anyone recommend an endocrinologist in the NYC area? I want to have blood work done and test for thyroid/hormone issues.
2. Can anyone recommend a hairloss/scalp specialist preferably in NY, but I would travel anywhere in the states for a good dr. Either a Derm. or a Tricologist. Has anyone seen Dr. Kingsley in NY? I was thinking of giving him a try.
3. Any recommendations on what else I should add to my regimen would be appreciated (besides the minoxidil which I will start soon). I was thinking of topical spironolactone, tricomin, etc.
I added a few pics; 2 w/ wet hair and one w/ dry hair, they didn't come out great. I'll add more later.
That's about it I guess. Thank you to everyone for their time and feedback.
michael
Before I tell my story I wanted to say thanx to everyone on these boards for their input, which has helped me throughout the years.
I first noticed I had hairloss when I was about 18 years (I'm 34 now) old when someone was looking at my scalp up close and told me I was beginning to go bald. I didn't pay much attention then, but in the next few years I did realize my hair was beginning to thin-out. I wore a hat a lot and used Couvre back then when I wasn't, so no one really new about my hairloss.
From my early 20's until I was about 26, I did not treat my hairloss. I just used Couvre and then Toppik as I became aware of it. Around 26/27, I began to see multiple Dermatologists regarding my hairloss. I even had a biopsy and was diagnosed w/ male pattern baldness . At this time I began to take 1.25mg of generic Finasteride (which I still take today). A couple years later I began using Nizoral shampoo as well (I also still use it about once very 3/4 days).
So that is my regimen for the last 7/8 years (1.25mg Finasteride and Nizoral). These are the only things I have done to try and treat my hairloss. I have of course used countless products to thicken the appearance of my hair. As a diffuse thinner thickening shampoos and thickeners can really make a difference.
What I currently use for a thickening effect are:
shampoos
1. I have tried a million, but after reading a post here or somewhere else I tried Pregaine shampoo. I ordered it from the UK, anyway, it has been the best shampoo for thickening that I have tried.
2. I also use Neutrogena T-Gel Greasy Hair which I have just started and seems pretty good.
3. Then the Nizoral, which I already mentioned.
thickeners (sprays, gels, lotions, etc.)
1. Aveda Pure abundance hair potion - I pour the crystals directly on my scalp and it does give a nice thickening effect/added texture.
2. Toppik Hair Fattener
3. Couvre Protien Hair Expander - how much of a difference 2 and 3 make I can't say, they do help and I've used them for years. I know it is probably a bad idea but I throw all the lotions and hope I get a benefit from all, but who knows. I have used many other lotions and sprays, but those are the main three that I currently use.
If I could recommend two products to everyone it would be the Pregaine shampoo and the Aveda Pure Abundance.
Concealers
On special occasions, although I hate using them (feeling like a fraud/someone finding out) I use concealers. Mostly I use Dermmatch now, I use it dry and rub a bit on my scalp. I try not and use too much. I also use Toppik, but have used Dermmatch more recently as it is easier for me to apply and I only use a bit and it seems to not come off as much in my hands if I touch my scalp.
Sorry that this is a long post, but i'm trying to get everything in. Now I will explain the type of hairloss I have and the specific issues I have that differ from most w/ male pattern baldness.
Like I said earlier I have diffuse thinning. However I have diffuse thinning all over the scalp (even the sides and back). This of course totally sucks, as its one thing to go bald and have hair on the sides and back and its totally another to lose it all. No hair transplant for me unless BHT's become more common and even then I dont have a lot of body hair so I'm not the greatest candidate. As a sidenote - I saw Dr. Cole (hair transplant Dr. in Atlanta) when he was doing consultations in NYC almost a year ago and he didn't think I was a good candidate for a BHT (Body Hair Transplant).
And I also have two thin spots on both sides of my head in the exact same place, right above my ear that is even thinner than the rest. This was pointed out my a barber about 10 years ago. I was also born w/ a growth on my scalp, it protruded a few inches above my scalp, but went down after a couple years but there is still a scar on my scalp. Also I have scalp acne that I've tried everything to get rid of (I've also battled acne all my life but now I mainly get breakouts on my scalp/butt). I took Accutane three times (I don't think it affected my hairloss though).
So this is my dilema; diffuse thinning all over the scalp and I can't shave my head due to scalp acne/etc. Besides the fact that a shaved head doesnt work for me (I tried once). I can't get a hair transplant as I don't have a donor area on my scalp. I know I can't go bald though. I woudl look like a freak. If had typical male pattern baldness I'd shave my head right now and be done w/ it, I really would. Being a diffuse thinner sucks so bad, I put all this junk in my hair so people think I have a good head of hair, but it is so far from that.
Basically I need to do whatever I can save/grow as much hair as I can. The Finasteride is not maintaining. I know I have thinned in the last few years, but i'm still afraid to stop using it for fear things will get worse. I was on Dutasteride for a month 3 years ago, but get scared of what the sides might be and stopped using it. I have never used Minoxidil so that is one possibility. I have the foam and plan to start using it next week. I have been afraid of shedding but I know I need to use minoxidil and I have finally talked myself into buying it and using it.
I have also had a bad habit of running my fingers on my scalp and picking out white bulb like things, like little beads of sand. i feel for them on my scalp and then pull them out. I've done this for as long as I can remember and and it's hard to stop. I know there must be a medical explanation for what these little bulbs are on my scalp and I know I must have some scalp condition because it is definitely unhealthy with the acne and it can be painful as well. I need a doctor who can actually diagnose a scalp condition but I haven't found one yet so I hope someone can help me find one.
If anyone is still reading I have a few questions:
1. Can anyone recommend an endocrinologist in the NYC area? I want to have blood work done and test for thyroid/hormone issues.
2. Can anyone recommend a hairloss/scalp specialist preferably in NY, but I would travel anywhere in the states for a good dr. Either a Derm. or a Tricologist. Has anyone seen Dr. Kingsley in NY? I was thinking of giving him a try.
3. Any recommendations on what else I should add to my regimen would be appreciated (besides the minoxidil which I will start soon). I was thinking of topical spironolactone, tricomin, etc.
I added a few pics; 2 w/ wet hair and one w/ dry hair, they didn't come out great. I'll add more later.
That's about it I guess. Thank you to everyone for their time and feedback.
michael
