Not Balding, at least I don't think, what should I do?

[notbalding]

I don't know if anyone's heard of this condition but let me tell you my story:

Around 17-18 I noticed people telling more in high school that I had a big forehead. I've never really speculated on it until people started saying that I am balding in a teasing way.

I checked it out and it did seem like I had a big forehead and people might interpret that as balding, so I went to the Doctor to check me out. After a blood test (age 18) they said I wasn't balding based on anything in the test, which makes sense because there's no trace of any balding at all in my family. (I took this test again at age 21 with the same results).

However the Doctor prescribed me propecia because I told her I was concerned. I took it for about a year and didn't see any improvement. My hair was just getting worse and worse.

Now its very thin (the actual strands) and I see a lot of hair falling off me daily. My hair itself is very dry, brittle, and scarce (not very dense, blown away by the wind like straw so I can't maintain any styles except relatively short). In general it's been unhealhty.

I picked up some rogaine but I was told by another person that if I use it without actually balding I can make it worse (hair falling out).

I've used all kinds of shampoo and only use quality shampoo these days, washing every other day. I sleep at least 8-9hrs a day and eat very healthily and exercise. Age 21.

To sum up:

-Officially not balding according to doctors, and 0 history of hairloss in my family. My grandfather still has a thick head of hair!
-Hair is getting thinner, more brittle, and falls out often.. not sure if the hairline has receeded or not but it sure looks like it!
-How to fix?

Thanks guys!

 

[Tyler_Durden]

We won't be able to help much without pictures, but it certainly sounds like your balding to me.

I'm not really sure how a doctor can diagnose whether you are balding or not from a blood test... and when I say not sure, I actually mean can't, because nothing in a blood test determines if you are balding or not - although there is a specialised test you can take to test some genes, I forget the company who do it though, HairDX or something like that.
Maybe you should give that test a crack and see if it says you are likely to bald, I can't remember the name exactly but someone will (if not just have a look around google, shouldn't be too hard).

Like I said though, chuck up some pics and we'll be able to give a better answer.

 

[Hoppi]

Yeah pics would help. Additionally, throw this: (link removed by Moderator) and Nizoral (every 3rd day maybe) in the mix and see if it improves

 

[toocoolforhair]

You should grow a fringe/bangs to cover it up.

 

[Nene]

Yeah pics would help. Additionally, throw Nizoral (every 3rd day maybe) in the mix and see if it improves

Hoppi, stop recommending that useless crap to people.

 

[Hoppi]

Yeah pics would help. Additionally, Nizoral (every 3rd day maybe) in the mix and see if it improves

Hoppi, stop recommending that useless crap to people.

Well if someone is on Nizoral and Finasteride, then the only other 2 things I can see making a huge amount of difference in a short time are reducing sebum and nourishing follicles. You're already combating DHT topically and systemically.

Whatever, I dunno, I mean at the very least it will probably thicken up the hair someone does have quite considerably!

 

[OverMachoGrande]

Minoxidil would be a better choice, I got the best regrowth using it and rather than vitamins, minoxidil would be the next logical step IMO.

 

[Hoppi]

Minoxidil would be a better choice, I got the best regrowth using it and rather than vitamins, minoxidil would be the next logical step IMO.

It's true, but I'm always very wary of Minoxidil as I hear stories of it commonly causing hair loss!

Is this true? I mean that's why I always neglect to mention it, because I figured it could end up doing damage and I was concerned about running that risk.

What do you think?

 

[OverMachoGrande]

Minoxidil regrows hair in ALOT of people, there are always a few that do not respond but in most cases it is a great weapon against hair loss and that is why it is considered one of the "Big3".

 

[Hoppi]

Minoxidil regrows hair in ALOT of people, there are always a few that do not respond but in most cases it is a great weapon against hair loss and that is why it is considered one of the "Big3".

No no but I heard it can actually CAUSE some hair loss in some people! Look:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoxidil#Side_effects

"Ironically, hair loss is a common side effect of minoxidil treatment.[9] Manufacturers note that minoxidil-induced hair loss is a common side effect and describe the process as 'shedding'. Although this phenomenon demonstrates that minoxidil is indeed affecting hair follicles, manufacturers offer no guarantee that the new hair loss will be replaced with hair growth."


I'm not trying to say Minoxidil is bad or anything, I'm just saying this is pretty much the only reason I am wary of it! Oh, that and apparently Rogaine and stuff smells not too great ._. Is that true?

 

[OverMachoGrande]

Minoxidil regrows hair in ALOT of people, there are always a few that do not respond but in most cases it is a great weapon against hair loss and that is why it is considered one of the "Big3".

No no but I heard it can actually CAUSE some hair loss in some people! Look:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoxidil#Side_effects

"Ironically, hair loss is a common side effect of minoxidil treatment.[9] Manufacturers note that minoxidil-induced hair loss is a common side effect and describe the process as 'shedding'. Although this phenomenon demonstrates that minoxidil is indeed affecting hair follicles, manufacturers offer no guarantee that the new hair loss will be replaced with hair growth."


I'm not trying to say Minoxidil is bad or anything, I'm just saying this is pretty much the only reason I am wary of it! Oh, that and apparently Rogaine and stuff smells not too great ._. Is that true?

All treatments do not work for everyone but Minoxidil is proven to work in most cases. A shed is normal and usually means it is working and that was the case for me too. As far as the smell, I do not use name brand Rogaine I use the generic and the smell is just fine to me. A slight alcohol aroma compared to losing my hair is fine anyday!

 

[timbo]

Minoxidil regrows hair in ALOT of people, there are always a few that do not respond but in most cases it is a great weapon against hair loss and that is why it is considered one of the "Big3".

No no but I heard it can actually CAUSE some hair loss in some people! Look:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoxidil#Side_effects

"Ironically, hair loss is a common side effect of minoxidil treatment.[9] Manufacturers note that minoxidil-induced hair loss is a common side effect and describe the process as 'shedding'. Although this phenomenon demonstrates that minoxidil is indeed affecting hair follicles, manufacturers offer no guarantee that the new hair loss will be replaced with hair growth."


I'm not trying to say Minoxidil is bad or anything, I'm just saying this is pretty much the only reason I am wary of it! Oh, that and apparently Rogaine and stuff smells not too great ._. Is that true?

Minoxidil doesn't cause hair loss, it causes follicles that are already in the telogen phase to shed quicker. The problem is people who quit using the drug after they see the shed. They don't realize that a newer, thicker hair was going to grow in it's place.

 

[OverMachoGrande]

Minoxidil regrows hair in ALOT of people, there are always a few that do not respond but in most cases it is a great weapon against hair loss and that is why it is considered one of the "Big3".

No no but I heard it can actually CAUSE some hair loss in some people! Look:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoxidil#Side_effects

"Ironically, hair loss is a common side effect of minoxidil treatment.[9] Manufacturers note that minoxidil-induced hair loss is a common side effect and describe the process as 'shedding'. Although this phenomenon demonstrates that minoxidil is indeed affecting hair follicles, manufacturers offer no guarantee that the new hair loss will be replaced with hair growth."


I'm not trying to say Minoxidil is bad or anything, I'm just saying this is pretty much the only reason I am wary of it! Oh, that and apparently Rogaine and stuff smells not too great ._. Is that true?

Minoxidil doesn't cause hair loss, it causes follicles that are already in the telogen phase to shed quicker. The problem is people who quit using the drug after they see the shed. They don't realize that a newer, thicker hair was going to grow in it's place.

You said it better than i did, thanks Timbo! unk:

 

[Nene]

Minoxidil gets a bad wrap sometimes, but it's pretty effective for me. The foam is also much easier on the scalp. The bad thing about minoxidil is the commitment, you have to really be on top of it to get results and it can be a pain. Sorry if I was harsh Hoppi but those vitamins just aren't proven to work.

 

[Hoppi]

Wow, thanks for the info guys, I stand corrected on Minoxidil

To be honest I'm glad I cleared that one up coz it had me quite confused!

Minoxidil gets a bad wrap sometimes, but it's pretty effective for me. The foam is also much easier on the scalp. The bad thing about minoxidil is the commitment, you have to really be on top of it to get results and it can be a pain. Sorry if I was harsh Hoppi but those vitamins just aren't proven to work.

It's ok. Thing is I'm really not saying someone should JUST take vits and stuff, I'm saying that once you've lowered the DHT around your follicles (finasteride, Nizoral) and reduced the sebum (Coenzyme A, good shampoo), if you give them all the "building blocks" that they require to grow (vits, nutrients, amino acids), get them adequate blood (omega 3 and scalp massage) and some kind of stimulation such as Minoxidil seems to give them but also natural sources and all sorts, then you're giving them their best chance

I would imagine that the less you give a hair follicle to work with, the less healthy it's going to be, hence my signature!

 

[Spanishlad]

Hoppi, unless you have some first hand experience of the big 3 I dont think its fair to give people advice based on what you have read on wikipedia.

 

[LewdBear]

if you give them all the "building blocks" that they require to grow (vits, nutrients, amino acids),

You seem quite fixated on this vitamin idea.

Can you provide any proof that men with male pattern baldness are commonly deficient in any vitamin or amino acid?

Can you provide any proof that taking more than the RDA of these vitamins will help male pattern baldness?

Please tell me where you are getting ideas like this :

Whatever, I dunno, I mean at the very least it will probably thicken up the hair someone does have quite considerably!

 

[Nene]

I don't mean to sound like a jerk Hoppi, but honestly you're not very knowledgeable about any of this and have very little first hand experience. I'm just getting annoyed when you have advice for noobs when you're a noob yourself.

 

[s.a.f]

Hoppi's advice on treating hairloss is about as valuble as CCS's advice on scoring with women.

 

[Hoppi]

Fine, I mean I don't really mind if you don't believe me or agree, I'm not asking you to. That's why it's MY opinion.


EDIT -- Additionally, god knows why you're attacking my views on the big 3 when they're actually totally mainstream other than one concern with minoxidil which was just settled anyway...