Should I Try Propecia/finasteride Or Not?

[Eman25]

Im 19 and have a receding hairline. It’s been confirmed. Anyway I started rogaine in February about 5 months after I noticed it. Over winter I lost quite a chunk of my hairline. Anyways now that it’s June I can see that rogaine is working and making hairs thicker but my hairline seems to be in pretty bad shape. Btw my dad is 50 and crown balding and moms side has no hairloss. What should I do or am I screwed. I would not look good bald and I can’t really get buff because of muscle problem. Also can’t grow facial hair at all really. One of these photos is in January and the others are taken yesterday.

January-
https://ibb.co/RvFHbMx
https://ibb.co/2Svk660
https://ibb.co/mb51nYs
https://ibb.co/7Cjhp76
https://ibb.co/mvhPYbq
https://ibb.co/s61cZ9C

 

[Eman25]

Bump

 

[Hairs45]

who confirmed your balding?

I think youre NOT balding Your hair is maturing a bit, like youre losing your baby hairs but youre not balding

dont take Propecia yet, let your body mature some more

 

[Ikarus]

In my opinion, I believe you should use some sort of a hair loss medication. ‘Maturing hair’ is just cope. I don’t believe in that...

 

[Eman25]

who confirmed your balding?

I think youre NOT balding Your hair is maturing a bit, like youre losing your baby hairs but youre not balding

dont take Propecia yet, let your body mature some more

Bosley hair place did. They used this microscope sh*t. Of course it is beneficial to them money wise if you’re balding but I can see with my eyes I have receded. There is about inch recession on my corner temples which seems like balding rather than maturing. Idk tho

 

[Eman25]

In my opinion, I believe you should use some sort of a hair loss medication. ‘Maturing hair’ is just cope. I don’t believe in that...

What tho. I’m using rogaine rn which is definitely working. Propecia? Anything else I should try?

 

[Michael1986]

Your hair loss, if you have any, is very minimal. It might be that it won't progress much further than it has already, especially in view of your family history. I'd advise you not to take Propecia just yet. Keep a close eye on your hair, and if you notice it getting obviously worse then get back to us on these forums again.

 

[Ikarus]

What tho. I’m using rogaine rn which is definitely working. Propecia? Anything else I should try?

In all honesty, I am quite confused to why you believe you are experiencing hair loss. I am the same age as you and I quite literally have around 40% of the density you have... You could stop any hair loss from ever occurring and regrow your hairline with anti-androgens, but you could get gynecomastia and you will never have the ability to grow a beard. Basically, you would be freezing your current state with how you look.

You could use 5AR inhibitors like finasteride/dutasteride but is there a point? I think your hair is great and you should be happy with how it is!

 

[Hairs45]

Bosley hair place did. They used this microscope sh*t. Of course it is beneficial to them money wise if you’re balding but I can see with my eyes I have receded. There is about inch recession on my corner temples which seems like balding rather than maturing. Idk tho

you also have a baby face too. let your body and face mature as well or else you will get told you dont look your age at 30!

 

[g.i joey]

In all honesty, I am quite confused to why you believe you are experiencing hair loss. I am the same age as you and I quite literally have around 40% of the density you have... You could stop any hair loss from ever occurring and regrow your hairline with anti-androgens, but you could get gynecomastia and you will never have the ability to grow a beard. Basically, you would be freezing your current state with how you look.

You could use 5AR inhibitors like finasteride/dutasteride but is there a point? I think your hair is great and you should be happy with how it is!

Why are you completely contradicting yourself in the same thread lol.

Op I’d wait till it gets worse, for example if you experience thinning anywhere throughout your scalp I’d definitely get on finasteride at the next sign of further progression.

 

[Ikarus]

Why are you completely contradicting yourself in the same thread lol.

Op I’d wait till it gets worse, for example if you experience thinning anywhere throughout your scalp I’d definitely get on finasteride at the next sign of further progression.

I didn't look at his photos until now. I based my original comment on:

who confirmed your balding?

I think youre NOT balding Your hair is maturing a bit, like youre losing your baby hairs but youre not balding

dont take Propecia yet, let your body mature some more

I don't think he is experiencing hair loss to the extent that he has to worry, but if he truly did want to never go bald he would have to use an anti-androgen, not a 5AR inhibitor.

 

[Michael1986]

I don't think he is experiencing hair loss to the extent that he has to worry, but if he truly did want to never go bald he would have to use an anti-androgen, not a 5AR inhibitor.

I'm not sure what antiandrogens you're referring to, but 5AR inhibitors are themselves antiandrogens, and they are the most powerful viable treatment option currently available.

 

[Ikarus]

I'm not sure what antiandrogens you're referring to, but 5AR inhibitors are themselves antiandrogens, and they are the most powerful viable treatment option currently available.

Finasteride/dutasteride shouldn’t be called anti-androgens in my opinion. Both don’t have a direct effect on androgens, but instead inhibits 5AR enzymes so they testosterone can’t convert to DHT. And, they aren’t the most powerful treatments; I would say they are ‘safer’ treatments when it comes to sexual side effects and gynecomastia. But they are nowhere near the most powerful treatments, and will only have a temporary effect.

 

[Michael1986]

Finasteride/dutasteride aren’t anti-androgens. Both don’t have a direct effect on androgens, but instead inhibits 5AR enzymes so they testosterone can’t convert to DHT. And, they aren’t the most powerful treatments; I would say they are ‘safer’ treatments when it comes to sexual side effects and gynecomastia. But they are nowhere near the most powerful treatments, and will only have a temporary effect.

I personally would count 5AR inhibitors as antiandrogens, because they reduce DHT levels from 5AR type 2 to practically zero by inhibiting this enzyme. Whether you count this as a direct or indirect action, it doesn't change the fact that virtually all this DHT is removed. I wouldn't say that 5AR inhibitors are only capable of having a temporary effect. I'd say that for some users, the effect is temporary, but for others, the effect could be permanent. I could see Dutasteride stopping hair loss indefinitely for a good responder, especially if their hair loss is not too aggressive to begin with.
The only treatments that are arguably more effective than 5AR inhibitors are those treatments that will basically turn a man into a woman. These are not viable treatment options for most male pattern baldness sufferers.

 

[HLV]

I personally would count 5AR inhibitors as antiandrogens, because they reduce DHT levels from 5AR type 2 to practically zero by inhibiting this enzyme. Whether you count this as a direct or indirect action, it doesn't change the fact that virtually all this DHT is removed. I wouldn't say that 5AR inhibitors are only capable of having a temporary effect. I'd say that for some users, the effect is temporary, but for others, the effect could be permanent. I could see Dutasteride stopping hair loss indefinitely for a good responder, especially if their hair loss is not too aggressive to begin with.
The only treatments that are arguably more effective than 5AR inhibitors are those treatments that will basically turn a man into a woman. These are not viable treatment options for most male pattern baldness sufferers.

Thank you for your logical opinion. Even though it again challenges Ikarus’s opinion who is an 18 year old individual who is convinced he is above medical professionals.


HLV

 

[Ikarus]

I personally would count 5AR inhibitors as antiandrogens, because they reduce DHT levels from 5AR type 2 to practically zero by inhibiting this enzyme. Whether you count this as a direct or indirect action, it doesn't change the fact that virtually all this DHT is removed. I wouldn't say that 5AR inhibitors are only capable of having a temporary effect. I'd say that for some users, the effect is temporary, but for others, the effect could be permanent. I could see Dutasteride stopping hair loss indefinitely for a good responder, especially if their hair loss is not too aggressive to begin with.
The only treatments that are arguably more effective than 5AR inhibitors are those treatments that will basically turn a man into a woman. These are not viable treatment options for most male pattern baldness sufferers.

We can agree to disagree. And, they are only able to have a temporary effect since DHT isn’t the only hormone which contributes to hair loss.

And, I agree that prostate cancer medications aren’t a viable option but that’s not my point. If he never wants to deal with hair loss and be cured, he would have to use an actual anti-androgen such as cyproterone acetate/flutamide/bicalutamide/estrogen.

 

[Ikarus]

Thank you for your logical opinion. Even though it again challenges Ikarus’s opinion who is an 18 year old individual who is convinced he is above medical professionals.


HLV

FUE

 

[Michael1986]

We can agree to disagree. And, they are only able to have a temporary effect since DHT isn’t the only hormone which contributes to hair loss.

Whether or not other hormones play a (minor) role, DHT is by FAR the biggest contributor. It is a known fact that males who have congenital 5ar type 2 deficiency never lose any of their hair. They don't even develop a mature hairline. All their other hormones except for DHT are at normal levels. Since the lack of DHT from 5ar type 2 permanently prevents hair loss for these individuals, it is reasonable to assume that finasteride and especially dutasteride can be expected to permanently halt hair loss, at least for some individuals.

And, I agree that prostate cancer medications aren’t a viable option but that’s not my point. If he never wants to deal with hair loss and be cured, he would have to use an actual anti-androgen such as cyproterone acetate/flutamide/bicalutamide/estrogen.

If they are not viable treatment options, I don't see the point in bringing them into this thread in the first place.

 

[HLV]

Whether or not other hormones play a (minor) role, DHT is by FAR the biggest contributor. It is a known fact that males who have congenital 5ar type 2 deficiency never lose any of their hair. They don't even develop a mature hairline. All their other hormones except for DHT are at normal levels. Since the lack of DHT from 5ar type 2 permanently prevents hair loss for these individuals, it is reasonable to assume that finasteride and especially dutasteride can be expected to permanently halt hair loss, at least for some individuals.
.

Exactly. That is the medical fact of it. It is insane an 18 year old is advising oral anti androgens and estrogen etc to beginners to hairloss because it’s “the only way.” It’s dangerous and irresponsible.

HLV

 

[HLV]

We can agree to disagree. And, they are only able to have a temporary effect since DHT isn’t the only hormone which contributes to hair loss.

And, I agree that prostate cancer medications aren’t a viable option but that’s not my point. If he never wants to deal with hair loss and be cured, he would have to use an actual anti-androgen such as cyproterone acetate/flutamide/bicalutamide/estrogen.

No, you can’t agree to disagree because that would imply you and Michael are on the same level. You’re not Icarus. You’re arguing with solid facts that Michael has presented.

HLV