Noob in need of advice:

[Hair Gnome]

Hey all:

I'm 37 and in good health. I still have a full head of hair but it is starting to thin out. I didn't realise it at the time but I must have been thining the last few years and now I notice. Anyone not familiar with my hair when I mention that I'm losing it thinks I'm crazy but I know better.

I've done a bunch of research, and now know the problem is likely to be DHT related. As such I have formulated the following plan which I hope someone can help me refine:

minoxidil 2% for the first month, moving to 5% thereafter. Apply 1ml to problem areas evenings, and mornings after showering. Purpose: regrowth.

Crinagen applied 2 times per day also mornings and evenings. Purpose: topical DHT inhibitor/Antiandrogen.

Tricomon Shampoo/Conditioner/Spray as directed. Purpose: Minor regrowth, scalp conditioning.

Propecia: On hold for 2 reasons.... Need to get to a doctor for the perscription, and am a little nervous of side effects.

Nizoral: 2x per week. Purpose: Anti-Inflammatory


I'm not sure if this is over-kill or not, but I wanted to try and hit every cause for the hair loss. I was thinking of adding dietary suppliments too, but after reading through this board it seems not to be a solution.

Any thoughts?

 

[SE-freak]

You are 37 and from the sounds of it, you do not have a strong tendency to go bald.

Propecia alone could do it. Sides are extremely uncommon. Although this site is roaming with info, it is not the best place to get an idea of side-effect probability.

It would be better if you posted some photos of your scalp, to get better advice. I cannot advise you on minoxidil, since I am not sure what amount of regrowth you are in need for. The one month on 2% would be completely unnecessary though.

 

[Hair Gnome]

I'lll try to post some pics tonight. When my hair is dry and cut short it looks normal. When it's wet, or I grow it out it really shows.

I have noticed the quality of the hair itself degrading, each individual strand is getting thinner, and for lack of a better word, feels 'deader'.

Are there any things that I should do like 'Don't use X with Y' or 'Use Y before X'?

 

[Hair Gnome]

Update:
After a week of treatment, noted above, I have seen a dramatic reduction in the amount of shedding. I have a nervous habit of running my hand through my hair, and after doing so I would normally see a couple of hairs fall out as well as a couple on my hands. This has been going on since my late 20's.

As of yesterday I was quite surprised to see no hairs fall out. I'm optimistic that I have have either stopped the bleeding, or slowed it to an imperceptible rate. I'll now wait patiently, for what I'm guessing will be 6-12 months, to see some regrowth.

Questions:
In the morning I have been applying my crinagen, then minoxidil waiting 30 minutes or so, and then take my shower. Would it be better to apply those after my shower/shampoo? I don't like the fact that they have a tendency to matt the hair together giving a thinner than usual appearance.

Also, is it better to apply Crinagen and then minoxidil, or the other way around?

Last, I have been reading that minoxidil will only be effective for a couple of years and then it will become ineffective. Is there anything I can do to prevent or slow this?

 

[Britannia]

Hair genome give yourself a break. The first wave of attack should be in the form of the clinically proven treatments, i.e. Propecia, Minoxidil and Nizoral shampoo. Maybe for someone such as yourself, all you really need is Propecia. Side effects are very rare and wouldnt swallowing one pill a day be a lot simpler than all that topical stuff?

 

[Hair Gnome]

I agree! Propecia is in the works, I just need to get to the Doctor for a prescription, and Nizoral is on the shopping list for my next Supermarket run.

I just started a new job, so I'm waiting a couple of weeks before asking for a day off for a doctor's visit.

My aim was to hit all the root causes right off, regroth via minoxidil, topical dht reducer, Propecia, and the Nizoral. My next round after I get the propecia I may drop the Tricomen in favor of the nizoral. exclusively.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Dinzy]

You don't need a prescription. Just order some over the net. I recommend you go for Proscar or better yet a generic and cut the pills up. It's much cheaper that way

 

[SE-freak]

After a week of treatment, noted above, I have seen a dramatic reduction in the amount of shedding.

Do not freak out if around the 3 week mark you start shedding cats and dogs- it sometimes happen. It is a reaction of the telogen follicles to minoxidil. My 3 weeks shed was very noticeable- almost hilarious.