Risking Propecia - Strange Case Of Rapid Hair Loss

[Wisemiller]

I am 32, and until one year ago I have been fortunate enough to have a very thick head of hair. However, starting one year ago I started losing it rapidly. I estimate that I have lost 25% of my hair in this last year. Not necessarily much of a change in hairline, but thinning all over. At this rate scalp will be visible within the next year. This was a surprise to me as I thought balding would happen more subtle over a longer period of time. If I knew this was going to happen, I would have spent my 20s starting a family instead of concentrating on my career. Rogaine has not slowed this down much over the last 6 months. So when I ask about propecia, I usually get two answers:

1. "Don't use it, your hair loss is too rapid for propecia to work."

2. "Yes use it, your hair loss is so recent that there is almost guaranteed to be regrowth."

And yes I have ruled out other health problems. Adding to the risk is that I can't find a doctor who will prescribe it, and I would have to pirate it into Canada using the same website my friend orders his party drugs on.

 

[bluecyclone]

In a very similar situation. 1.5 years in after no loss at all. Getting the same two opinions. Anyone else able to weigh in?

 

[ElTioLaBota]

You dont loose nothing for trying it

 

[bluecyclone]

Anyone have a decent framework for evaluating sides versus progress. I.e. how long, specifics to monitor and benchmark?

To me worst situation would be a trial that causes and initial shed, yields ambiguous sides, and is stopped short before any new growth.

 

[Runninghair]

Deleted

 

[bluecyclone]

Useless to ask for advice without photos

 

[bluecyclone]

I bought into the Telogen Effluvium thing two derms were preaching. Started minoxidil last May (16) and what had been only aggressive thinning at the crown quickly turned into huge diffuse all over. The only real change I a very healthy lifestyle was a Levoxyl TSH 4 Rx in October 2015 (approximately right after that last post marathon photo).

In the last 4 months (oral minoxidil 1.25, Keto and Capilus I’m losing my temples and most troubling the center front.

Hate the mechanism for Finasteride and another shed. The minoxidil shed cost me a year and nothing is coming back strong. Losing more thin and short hair with very few of the 8 inch wavy black hairs left.

6 different derms all praising the minoxidil. Also Finasteride but I’m considering rolling the RU dice. Doesn’t seem like real hair, good hair ever grows back. Still a lot of miniaturized hairs in the mix, can these go terminal if it’s been less two years? In June derm said I was only .25 inches from juvenile hairline, now I’m staring into giant hole in the front of my hair line.