Need advice--considering Rogaine Foam and Finasteride

Gene_Fighter

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Hey all, I'm new here so excuse my lack of formatting and all that jazz.

I'm considering starting Rogaine Foam or Finasteride sometime soon--or possibly both--but I'm still torn about whether or not it will be worth it or if it will really work for me, so any advice/ personal expereinces/ suggestions/ questions or comments will be very helpful.

I'm 22 and today I'm probably around NW3. I've been losing my hair since I was about 14, although I doubt anyone could really notice it until I was about 19 or 20. My hairline recedes from just above my sideburns back in a widow's peak, and in the past year or so I've noticed general thinning on the top of my head as well.

My primary concern is keeping the hair on my temples where it is or even regrowing some of it. I know that Finasteride has no proven benefit on the frontal regions--but I've heard that Rogaine Foam can be used for this, although it sounds a bit gamey, to say the least. I've read a lot of personal experiences about Rogaine Foam and while many people do use it for frontal balding, there also appears to be a pretty brutal shedding period associated with this, and not much regrowth afterwards. I'm concerned that my hair line would not survive the shedding period and wouldn't grow back much afterwards.

I'm also considering using Finasteride but I'm just not really cool with the potential side-effect of permanent impotence right now. Has anyone here tried Finasteride, and was it successful/unsuccessful? And has anyone here experienced any of the dreaded side effects?...

All the men on my mother's side are bald and I feel that fate (and genetics) are set against me, so I'm not sure if Rogaine Foam or Finasteride would have any significant effect. However I know that prevention can be the only viable method, so I'm giving it a try now.

If anyone here has used Rogaine Foam for the frontal regions or finasteride for general male pattern baldness then any advice on either of these products would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
 

Flavio

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Gene_Fighter said:
Hey all, I'm new here so excuse my lack of formatting and all that jazz. [...]

It's true that finasteride and minoxidil work better in the crown area, but the frontal area can also benefit from those drugs.

I've been using finasteride and minoxidil everyday for the last 10 years or so. There were no side effects and I'm happy with the results. My crown is perfect and my hairline has receded a bit, but I consider my hair loss problem solved.

The sooner you start the treatment, the better. But always consult your doctor first. Good luck!
 

Gene_Fighter

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But were you initially a receder or a diffuser? I'm wondering because I'm not sure if I've ever heard any success stories with receders on finasteride....
 

Quantum Cat

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Flavio, in 10 years have you noticed that the effectiveness of finasteride has decreased, or stayed the same? It's good to hear that it can last that long :bravo:

Have you ever considered moving onto Dutasteride?
 

Petchsky

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Gene_Fighter said:
But were you initially a receder or a diffuser? I'm wondering because I'm not sure if I've ever heard any success stories with receders on finasteride....

Then you have not been looking.
 
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