Phoenician's Hair Loss Story - Big 3+++

[Phoenician]

Hello,

I am 26, soon to be 27 years old and I have male pattern baldness. It started when I was 18 or 19 years old, at first as thinning on the crown and temples, then (when I was 23) all the hair on the top of my head started thinning and falling out. I visited a trichologist soon after and she told me to use minoxidil but advised me not to start with finasteride because of the possible side effects. I listened to her, bought 5% minoxidil and used it for about six months. I experienced some success, my hair loss stopped and I even regrew some hair but the results were not as miraculous as I hoped so I stopped using it.

Soon after my hair started falling out rapidly and it left me almost bald on the top of my head only three months after stopping minoxidil. To say I was unhappy about it is an understatement. When I was 25 I decided for a radical solution, shaved all my hair off, got micropigmentation done and stopped thinking about it.

In the summer of 2017, my father got prescribed 5mg finasteride for his prostate problems. In about six months he got a lot of his hair back as a side effect. This motivated me to start the treatment once more.

I got used to have a shaved head and it doesn't look bad on me but I still somewhat miss my hair and I feel I never gave them a real fighting chance so I'm doing it now. My hair loss is quite severe so I decided to throw everything I can and feel could help at it to see if something sticks.

Wish me luck.

My regimen:
- Finasteride 1mg (generic) daily
- Dutasteride 0,5mg (generic) twice a week
- Minoxidil (5%) + RU58841 (5%) in Ethanol/PG solution (60/40) twice every day
- Ketoconazole shampoo (2%) twice a week
- Biotin 300mg, Centrum A-Z daily
- Dermaroller 1mm once a week

P.S.: I'm planning an update every month or so so stay tuned.
P.P.S.: Sorry for my English.

Me when I started losing hair in 2010

Before Minoxidil in 2015

Two months after stopping Minoxidil in 2016

Baseline 1 - 12.2.2018

Baseline 2 - 15.2.2018

Me now

A lot of tiny hairs all over my scalp. This gives me some hope

 

[michel sapin]

damn that is some agressive hair loss!
i wish you luck
minoxidil gave you result in the past?

 

[Calchas]

Your situation is in D minor.

 

[Phoenician]

Thanks.
It really did. I found a (bad) photo of me from that time. The real horror started when I stopped using minoxidil, this photo was taken only ~4 months before the third photo in the series so you can compare. I didn't expect it at all and decided just shaving it off is the best solution.

 

[JeanLucBB]

Solid regimen. Interested how effective this will be at this point.

 

[kj6723]

You have basically all bases covered with that regimen

 

[Phoenician]

Solid regimen. Interested how effective this will be at this point.

Thank you. It can't get much worse so I hope it just gets better.
Not expecting miracles though, it would be a success for me if my head just looked a bit better shaved/buzzed.

You have basically all bases covered with that regimen

Thanks. This forum has been a huge help and inspiration.

 

[Phoenician]

Hello,
I started with finasteride/minoxidil/ketoconazole on Feb 6, 2018 and with dutasteride/RU-58841 on Feb 12, 2018 so this is my one month update. I experienced no sides except for a bit watery semen in the second week but it's gone now. I guess I'm experiencing some minor progress, my head feels a bit more fuzzy and the hair seems to grow a little thicker but it's still very early on so it might be just psychosomatic. We'll see in the coming months. Stay tuned and wish me luck!

March 1 - 12.3.2018 (my hair is a little shorter compared to the baseline picture)

March 2 - 12.3.2018

 

[Phoenician]

Hello,
I cidn't want to jinx it but I'm really starting to see some progress. The first photo was taken a month ago on Feb 19 and the second one is from today. Other factors are comparable. What do you guys think?
Edit: My scalp is shinier in the second photo because I used minoxidil right before taking it.