Need advice on my hair loss/thinning and finasteride

[ra91]

Hi everyone,

Now, I know I'm going to seem like a total A-hole for coming on here with a good amount of thick hair still on my head, but I've recently noticed some thinning in the frontal area, especially the temples. I'm 21, turning 22 in 2 months, and I've come on here to get some opinions on my hair loss and whether I should go on finasteride. I've done a tonne of research on hair loss over the last few months, and even now I still feel as thought there's a chance I may not specifically have male pattern baldness. But at the same time, there's clearly thinning and recession of my hairline, so I think it's male pattern baldness at a relatively slow pace. My hair behind my hairline and temples (crown) is quite thick, with no signs of thinning at this stage. It's really quite odd because I seem to have it pretty good in comparison, but of course I don't know how long this will last.

So, finasteride. I know that if I go on it I'll be stopping it quite early and I should be able to regrow my temples and have a healthy head of hair again. Of course I'm worried about the side effects as they have been well documented, but I'm also worried about what would happen if I went off finasteride after I tried it. Say I take it for 3 years, and I decide to stop. Will the hair I've grown that is reliant on finasteride fall out and leave me at the stage I would have been in 3 years have I not used finasteride? Or will all of my hair suddenly become reliant on it and my male pattern baldness will progress at a more rapid speed? Because right now, I'm happy with what I have, but I know this won't be forever. Hell, it may not even be this good by the end of the year. I hope this is clear, but if it's not, just let me know where you require clarification.

Thank you guys for reading! Pics are below.

frontal thinning


pulled back thinning

left temple

right temple

 

[talmoode]

hi there! looks like its thinning at the temples and in the front.......any family history of hair loss?..propecia, minoxidil and nizoral are your best bet for holding onto the hair you have!!..good luck!!

 

[Stamos11]

Looks like my hair, to be honest...I'm 24, been thinning out and receding very slowly for about 6 years now, since I was 18. I started finasteride 1mg/daily last year (Feb.12)...It was my best bet, however I haven't seen much progress...hairline on my left side appears to be slightly worse but it's hard to tell... That's my story at least...similar hair loss and stage as yours.....I would talk to a doctor to see what's best for you.

 

[The_Mentalist]

You said you have done extensive research but then you are asking basic questions such as if you would stop using finasteride. after benefits, if you would lose hair you regrew etc. I think this has been answered over and over again.

If you go medicinal route, you need to commit for a long haul, possibly life, until something better comes up. Getting benefits and then stopping sudenly will be a disaster because you would lose your gains in weeks. I can only guess from your picture if you have Androgenetic Alopecia, then it is in very early stages, and for people with darker hair, it is usually, not always, slower and subtle loss over the years before it can be classified as "balding"

 

[Abercrombie]

Your hair looks alot like mine (frontal thinning), im a couple of years older than you though...I started losing it at a pretty young age but have managed to slow it down with meds (finasteride, min). Slowing it down is our best bet! It is crucial to slow it down as much as possible, at least if youre aiming to get a hair transplant in the future. I feel like reaching the age of 30-35 with a decent amount of hair is a huge success since youre then able to get a hair transplant.

Anyways, good luck man!

 

[ra91]

I have a fair bit of hair loss in my family, but a majority of them lost it in their 40's/50's. I know I'll have to stick to finasteride to keep the gains around, but how about the hair that would be there without finasteride? I know it's hard to gauge because once you go on meds, you don't know what the natural progression of your hair loss would have been, but I'd hate to go on finasteride, get side effects and quit after a couple of years, and have it worse when I quit than what it would have been if I never went on meds. Do you get what I mean? That's really the only thing stopping me from going on finasteride asap. But of course, if finasteride works great for me, then I'm incredibly lucky for stopping/slowing it at this stage.

Edit: Oh, and cheers for the replies guys! I really appreciate the help.

 

[talmoode]

unfortunately that's the risk we all have to take:sobbing:....hair loss sucks! ..Good luck mate!!!

 

[HairGuru22]

Without finasteride male pattern baldness will progress regardless, at what rate? We dont know, but clearly you need take the risk because your hairline is pretty destroyed. Dont mean to sound harsh but without finasteride you won't stand a chance against male pattern baldness. I am on finasteride for over a year and I must say that I dont have any side-effects. I am too horny to have side-effects anyway

 

[KMcraft]

If I was you I'd go for it, what do you have to lose?It might work it might not. Worth a try regardless