I started noticing my hair thinning at the temples in 2008 when I was 22. I did nothing about it except start using Vichy Dercos anti-hair-loss shampoo, which I used daily until late 2015. I then switched to daily Vichy Neogenic shampoo.
My hair loss has been slower than I imagined it would be, considering that both my dad and my mother's dad are/were almost completely bald by their mid-20s. In the 8 years since I noticed it, I've progressed to a Norwood III, with very noticible recession and thinning at the temples, and now I'm also noticing an increased thinning at the vertex area. Pics attached. I'm not sure if the shampoos had any small role is slowing down my hair loss (they certainly haven't made me grow new hair though).
I've been thinking of doing something more about the situation for a while, so much so that in 2014 I bought Finasteride and also Minoxidil foam, but ended up never using them. This is because of all the confusing information on the internet.
I think I've been almost completely swayed away from using Finasteride, because of the horror stories - but then some say that the horror stories happen to just a small percentage of users. But, from what I read, it seems that almost everyone experiences at least some erectile dysfunction due to Finasteride. This makes me strongly debate if its worth the risk - I'd rather be bald than not be able to perform.
Recently I've been thinking of starting Minoxidil foam, and stopping the Neogenic (which is likely doing nothing) and replacing it with a good Head and Shoulders shampoo (I currently have an oily, itchy scalp with slight dandruff, so the H&S should help with this, although obviously it's useless for hair loss). I'm hoping the minoxidil can at least help thicken the existing hair I have in the temples.
But it seems that even with minoxidil, things are very complicated. Some people, for instance, seem to shed a lot and never get the hair back. If minoxidil just doesn't work, then that's ok, but if it makes everything worse, it makes you wonder if it's even worth trying. But I do realise that if I do nothing, it will definitely just keep getting worse, while if you at least try, you stand a chance.
Wondering if anyone else is as confused as I am.
My hair loss has been slower than I imagined it would be, considering that both my dad and my mother's dad are/were almost completely bald by their mid-20s. In the 8 years since I noticed it, I've progressed to a Norwood III, with very noticible recession and thinning at the temples, and now I'm also noticing an increased thinning at the vertex area. Pics attached. I'm not sure if the shampoos had any small role is slowing down my hair loss (they certainly haven't made me grow new hair though).
I've been thinking of doing something more about the situation for a while, so much so that in 2014 I bought Finasteride and also Minoxidil foam, but ended up never using them. This is because of all the confusing information on the internet.
I think I've been almost completely swayed away from using Finasteride, because of the horror stories - but then some say that the horror stories happen to just a small percentage of users. But, from what I read, it seems that almost everyone experiences at least some erectile dysfunction due to Finasteride. This makes me strongly debate if its worth the risk - I'd rather be bald than not be able to perform.
Recently I've been thinking of starting Minoxidil foam, and stopping the Neogenic (which is likely doing nothing) and replacing it with a good Head and Shoulders shampoo (I currently have an oily, itchy scalp with slight dandruff, so the H&S should help with this, although obviously it's useless for hair loss). I'm hoping the minoxidil can at least help thicken the existing hair I have in the temples.
But it seems that even with minoxidil, things are very complicated. Some people, for instance, seem to shed a lot and never get the hair back. If minoxidil just doesn't work, then that's ok, but if it makes everything worse, it makes you wonder if it's even worth trying. But I do realise that if I do nothing, it will definitely just keep getting worse, while if you at least try, you stand a chance.
Wondering if anyone else is as confused as I am.
