Started on the big 3 today!

[31LosingHair]

Today is the day. I finally convinced myself to start on the big three. I am 33 years old and have been steadily losing my hair for about 10 years now. I wish I would have done this five years ago... It's time to fight the good fight. Please wish me luck!

I'm taking 1.25mg of Finasteride (Proscar 5mg cut into 1/4ths), 5% Minoxidil foam once daily, and Nizoral.

Here are the "before" pics.



I'm interested in some support. Does anyone out there have a success story that would relate to mine (33 years old, mostly losing hair in the front, been losing it steadily for a long time).

I'm not looking forward to the big shed that is probably going to happen over the next few months... Hopefully I don't get that too bad.

Does anyone who has gone through this have any tips?

 

[2bald2young]

Well first off I really wish you luck!


Secondly results really depends on the person the other one can get good results and the other one bad. But the changes that your hair will improve are high .


I wish you the best off luck again!

 

[31LosingHair]

I'm about 6 weeks into my treatment using the big three. I have done a very good job of taking the 1.25mg of finasteride every day, minoxidil 5% every morning and nizoral 2 to 3 times per week. So far I have noticed some shedding and no regrowth yet. I'm not expecting any regrowth so it's not getting to me. I'm not really even looking close to see if I've got regrowth yet.

I do have a question on the shedding. What exactly causes that? Is there a cut and dry article somewhere that explains it?

 

[dehoha]

This site may give you sufficient explanation. http://www.hda-online.org.uk/hair-loss/propecia/propecia-hair-shredding.html

"The way Propecia works is that it stops your current growth cycle and starts a new healthier cycle. Therefore, the hair strand that is in the middle of a growth cycle will fall out and will later be replaced by a new stronger hair strand. The fact that your hair is actually shedding shows that your follicles are responding to the Propecia treatment."

I read on somewhere that hair follicles cannot suddenly become thick/healthy. Miniaturized shafts have to be pushed out first before new shafts begin to grow.

 

[31LosingHair]

I am now 3 months into the fight against baldness! I have been religious with my treatment. 1.25mg of finasteride every morning, 5% minoxidil every morning and Noziral shampoo every 2 or 3 days for 5 minutes in the shower.

I continue to notice hair on my hands in the shower and around the sink, but no more or less than I have for the past few years. It doesn't appear that I'm shedding any more or less than I was before I started the treatment.

I have noticed some small hairs coming in where my hairline is receding in the front, but I never looked for them before so for all I know they've always been there.

So far no side effects, but I do feel like I have to urinate more often. Not sure if it's related.

Here are some pictures at the 3 month mark. Feedback would be appreciated.

 

[ThatHairStruggle]

It looks thicker and darker for sure. It could be the lighting and length of hair but I'm inclined to believe your treatment is working, since 3 months is right where I started seeing results.

 

[31LosingHair]

yes the lighting is different. I have a skylight in my bathroom and the first photos were taken with the sun shining in. I'll try and take some more in similar conditions soon.

 

[31LosingHair]

I'm now 6 months into treatment. I have been very good about taking the finasteride and using the minoxidil every day. I have not missed a day in 6 months! I have noticed in the past few weeks that my shedding has increased. Part of me is worried that the finasteride is no longer working and now I'm losing all of my hair. Another part of me is hopeful that this is the big shed that I never really got in the early months of taking finasteride.

Is it common to get a big shed 6 months into treatment?

 

[introvertedextrovert]

Don't get discouraged. finasteride would not just stop working at the 6 month mark. There are some people who just don't respond well at all, and will continually shed without regrowth. I think it is too soon to tell for you, but not likely. I have also heard to ease into the big 3. Taper onto the finasteride, then nizoral, then minoxidil. To each his own though, it's not an exact science. I wish you the best of luck.