Please examine my hair!! (photos)

[wendal]

34 years old. Been on finasteride for over three years. Wasnt thinning when I started, just wanted to take it for 'security' so I wouldnt have to worry about losing hair in the future. However I recently noticed some thinning 'lines' on the frontal scalp. This caused me to consider adding minoxidil to my current propecia regimen.


Judging by these pics, if you were me would you take further steps or simply carry on with propecia and keep a close watch?




(close to light)

(with flash)

(no flash, not super close to lighting)

 

[RjiS]

You look to be a diffuse thinner - same as me. I've been on finasteride for 6 months with nothing positive to report. I personally wouldn't suggest minoxidil for diffuse thinners. For one, you'd have to cover the whole damn top of your scalp which can be as messy as it is expensive (3 bottles or so of Rogaine/month). Moreover, minoxidil really doen't benefit the hairline or vertex areas.

I would look into Folligen, perhaps dutasteride if you don't mind the possible sides.

Best of luck dude

 

[wendal]

You look to be a diffuse thinner - same as me. I've been on finasteride for 6 months with nothing positive to report. I personally wouldn't suggest minoxidil for diffuse thinners. For one, you'd have to cover the whole damn top of your scalp which can be as messy as it is expensive (3 bottles or so of Rogaine/month). Moreover, minoxidil really doen't benefit the hairline or vertex areas.

I would look into Folligen, perhaps dutasteride if you don't mind the possible sides.

Best of luck dude

Honestly, I think the vertex and mid-top crown are solid. The only place I'm concerned about is the frontal scalp due to these new thinning lines. But now I'm starting to keep a closer eye on the vertex as well. Like I said I have been on finasteride for over three years and this is the first time I have noticed any kinds of thinning. I can only assume the finasteride has only worked on my vertex area (if at all, i hope i'm not wasting my money every month on finasteride, but I'm too scared to stop taking it). If I were to get on minoxidil I think I'd only apply it around the frontal scalp for now so I dont think i'd be that costly. But I am afraid of all the excess shedding I hear about.

I dont know anything about folligen or dutasteride but i'll research that. The way I understood it, finasteride and minoxidil were the only two proven meds to retain and even grow hair.

Thanks for your two cents.

 

[wendal]

anyone else

 

[Patrick54]

It looks like finasteride isn't strong enough in your case, here's a link to some info on dutasteride, I've been on it for over 2 months, no sides and it's started to grow hair.

 

[wendal]

It looks like finasteride isn't strong enough in your case, here's a link to some info on dutasteride, I've been on it for over 2 months, no sides and it's started to grow hair.

Man, I really dont know why finasteride wouldnt be strong enough for me. I didnt even start thinning until very recently and I'm 34 years old. Up until now I have always had a relatively thick head of hair. I thought for sure finasteride would give me security of not having to worry about hair loss.
Has dutasteride been proven to be stronger than finasteride? Is it easy to get a prescription?

 

[Patrick54]

.1 mg of dutasteride is a little better than 5mgs of finasteride, for hair loss .5 mg of dutasteride is what most use. It depends upon the Doctor for a scrip, I just get mine from inhouse, Dr Reddys Dutas, I pay about 90.00 for 90 soft gels.

Sorry I forgot to put in the link, here it is. http://www.hairsite.com/hair-loss-dutasteride.htm

 

[RjiS]

I have heard of guys that go through shedding cycles on finasteride, so it's possible you're just experiencing the tail end of one of those. If I were in your position, I'd stay on finasteride for another couple of months, keep taking pics to monitor progress, and assess the situation after that. If you continue to shed, Patrick might be right.

minoxidil MIGHT help, but it tends to increase shedding in the near term, and once you start, you dare not stop or you'll likely go through another shed. That's why I won't use it, no matter how my hair is looking. I'd sooner use dutasteride. It certainly is stronger than finasteride as it inhibits both type I and II 5a reductase, but it comes with slightly increased chance of side effects.

In the end, observe it for a couple of months. If there is steady digression, you may want to start looking at dutasteride.

 

[Patrick54]

RjiS has a very good point, it may just be a shed, it might be best to stick it out for awhile and see what happens.

 

[RjiS]

Patrick54,

Your regimen tab states that you're taking MSM. I recently bought a bottle online and am waiting for it to arrive. I've heard that it causes your hair to grow more rapidly but it neither thickens it nor reduces shedding. What's your take on it?

 

[Patrick54]

RjiS, that's about it, it does grow it a little faster but not a lot.

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

I would go ahead and order some minoxidil. Foam would probably work great if you keep your hair that short most of the time. Otherwise try the liquid.

I'd wait a month or two before applying it, though, and see if this is just some kind of shed you're going through. If you don't see any improvement in the areas that you are concerned about, then start minoxidil.