Overwhelmed!

[InjunJoe]

Hi all!

New user -- and I am completely overwhelmed! Tens of thousands of posts, an incredibly strong community. Just browsing through a few threads I have realised that many of you here are "old pro's"

To be honest, I am completely new to the hair loss issue. I will try to keep my story short. My hair is fine and black, but was always thick when I was a teenager. I had my first doubts when I was 19, as I could swear I could see some skin beneath my hair when under lights (I had spikey hair), but I wrote this off to paranoia. But as the years have passed by, it has become more and more of an issue. The real wake up call was a couple of years ago when I realised I simply didn't have the strength towards the front of my head to bang my hair up; it was as though I had the hair at the front, but fewer hairs behind it to reinforce it (if that makes sense?)

I am 27 now and got a real short haircut a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately even though my hair is brushed down in a Caesar cut, I can still see a hint of skin at a distance. I am not quite at "big, big trouble" status as yet, but I am very nearly there. So I want to take action now.

I don't expect you guys to give me all the answers. But I'd really appreciate some guidance if you could provide some. I'd REALLY appreciate any feedback from anybody who has the same kind of problem that I do (hair loss in the front-middle), as well as any tips on what products I might want to investigate.

Thank you all for your time. I look forward to being a part of this community

 

[Emuler]

Welcome aboard! i'm a newbie myself I've been experiencing hairloss the past 5/6 years, at first i thought it was just my own paranoia too, but as time went on it got worse, anyhow i came to the realization that i needed to fight this hairlloss issue, a little research on the net led me here and other forums. So just from my experience by reading about the popularity of the big 3, (Propecia/Proscar, Rogain foam/or liquid 5%, and Nizoral 2% ) seem to be the big winner among ppl fighting hairloss. The big 3 should help you maintain or possibly regrow any hairloss, hopefully your one of the good responders.

There you have it my input, Get on the big 3 a.s.a.p I'm a diffuse thinner btw. My regimen is Propecia 1mg/day, Rogain foam 3x/day, Nizoral 2% 3x/week

Good Luck

 

[Hans Gruber]

look into 'the big three'

nizoral 2% shampoo
rogaine 5% foam
propecia/proscar 1mg a day

this regimen followed religiously should in the least maintain the hair you have

 

[InjunJoe]

Thanks a lot for your time and posts, guys! I have been reading up on your suggestions; boy, I had no idea there was so much information to take in. Getting stuck in

I'd really appreciate advice on something though. I am having a difficult time identifying my particular type of hair loss. My hairline seems to be reasonably okay and I guess from a distance I wouldn't look like a man with hair loss issues. But if you were to place around a palm's width in from the top of the front hairline, THAT is where I am losing hair. Whenever I look in a mirror in a brightly-lit room, I can see more of my skin on that front part. The back of my head (the crown?) remains thick and bushy; I just seem to be losing density in the "middle-front".

I am wondering...does this sound like "diffusal thinning"? I will try to take a photo soon, but any pointers would be great!

 

[Emuler]

Yes pics would most certainly help in identifying your hairloss problem so if you can post them please do so a.s.a.p, that way you
can get the proper advice with what treatment is best suited for ur situation.

 

[InjunJoe]

OK guys, I have taken some photos.

I've seen some guys torn apart on this forum for posting "full heads of hair". While I don't quite have a full head of hair, I do appreciate that I am better off than many people on this forum; I have NO wish to insult anybody with my photos. I know I am lucky enough to have caught it pretty early, and I could really do with your expert advice. So please go easy

The two "big picture" photos:

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj92/manhunter08/Picture0170.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj92/manhunter08/Picture0168.jpg

The close-up and "money shot":

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj92/manhunter08/Picture0166.jpg

So as you can see, from a distance my hair looks in good shape. You can see the fading at the side of my head (that used to be a lot fuller) as it begins to square off. But the main concern is at the front of the head. Whenever I am under lights, I am well and truly exposed. I used to be able to cover it up well, but nowadays I am seeing the scalp at the front of my head much more frequently. Is this "diffusal" thinning? Whatever it is, it extends back about 3 - 4 inches across the front-centre. The back of my scalp remains bushy

I find myself caught between a rock and a hard place at the moment. My hair is not bad enough to warrant taking major risks just yet, but I don't want to stand still and watch it get even worse over the next year or two. Any suggestions?

 

[RaginDemon]

why you take pics in the dark?

 

[InjunJoe]

why you take pics in the dark?

I don't. All the lights are on. I suppose it is a gloomy house! I also have to use the camera fixed on my computer, which is no easy task :$

 

[ghg]

Your situation sounds like mine 1.5 yrs ago. Been on treatments ever since, but the hairloss has crept on. Hopefully you'll do better. Those pics are of no use, even my hair would look good in that lighting.

 

[metalheaddude]

It is to dark to tell. However based on those pics, id have to say your hair looks pretty damn awesome! You should just use some hair thickening gel like Surf Hair Wax or Manga Head Putty. Adds massive volume to your hair and stops it from being see through.

Although having said that you know your hair better than anyone else and if you have a gut feeling something weird is going on, id just get on 1mg of Finasteride immediately (wish I did that when I had my gut instinct). By doing this at 27 you will basically ensure that you will maintain the current state (if not improve) the current look of your hair for the rest of your life. And based on the look of your current hair you should be a very happy man indeed!

 

[Emuler]

I just lightened up ur pic 4 u in Photoshop, hope it helps! i hope you don't mind.

 

[Emuler]

Going by that pic , i suggest... "the Big 3" but i'm a newbie, hopefully others will give you better advice.

 

[InjunJoe]

Thanks for the pointers so far, fellas, and thanks for the Photoshop touch-up Emuler! I'll try to take a much better photo of the problem area under lamp light later on.

Also thanks for the understanding. I know my hair is a lot better off than it could be, and I am grateful for that. I'm just looking to nip this problem in the bud

 

[Guest]

yeah you have to take pics in better lighting but you're clearly diffusing. a picture with adequate house lighting or natural lighting(sun) would show it. diffusers always look better in the dark because it creates the illusion of more hair than there actually is