The BIG 3 - My Unanswered Questions... Please help

[Aus]

Quite a long first post, but - I have recently noticed some thinning at the front and top of my head (sorry not up with the technical terms yet). I have seen a dermatologist and he said it isn't male pattern baldness, but it is noticably thinner to me (who looks at it in the mirror everyday). Although I am noticing a reasonable amount thinning, the hair line doesn't seem to be receding and I don't notice hairs falling out on my pillow, in shower etc.

I have been taking 1.25 mg of Finasteride daily for about 7 weeks. The thinning seems to have continued. I also used Nizoral 1% for the first time this morning.

Now for the questions. I have done a lot of reading on this site but there are still some questions that remain unanswered for me.

FINASTERIDE:
- Is there a period of continued thinning before this will start working?
- What is the usual timeframe before you would expect to see some positive results?
- What happens if I take it for a period of 6 - 12 months and decide to stop if I don't see any benefit?

MINOXIDIL:
- Does everyone experience a "shed" when first using this treatment?
- How noticeable is any "shed" and how long do they last?
- If I don't notice any regrowth, is there a risk in stopping using?
- On the Rogaine box it says not to use if you do not have a family history of male pattern baldness. Why is this?

NIZORAL 1%:
- Will start using every 3 days. Do you use a conditioner after use?
- Is there a need to use any other shampoo on the Nizoral "off days"?

Please help with these questions. I don't feel like I am getting anywhere with just Finasteride but I am hesitant to use minoxidil due to the "shed" and the commitment if it is not required and I just need to wait a little longer for the effects of the finasteride to start.

Thanks in advance.

 

[kadosh]

finasteride :

usually when you start you shed some hair so there could be more thining .
you need to give it a couple of month but it varys .
minoxidil :

usually there is a shed when you start using it . mine was pretty minor shed and lasted 3 weeks but it could be longer . if you stop using minoxidil you will lose all the hair you regrew cause the hair gets minoxidil dependent so even if you didnt see a regrowth you might experience a shed.
nizoral:

you don't have to conditioner after and you don't have to use another shampoo on "off days" but you can if you like .

 

[casperz]

This is how it went for me using all three:

- Is there a period of continued thinning before this will start working?
No for me... has lost most of it to start with.

- What is the usual timeframe before you would expect to see some positive results?
Between 3 and 4 months for me

MINOXIDIL:
- Does everyone experience a "shed" when first using this treatment?
I have not after 8 months.


- Will start using every 3 days. Do you use a conditioner after use?
I use Tricomin

- Is there a need to use any other shampoo on the Nizoral "off days"?

I do... I workout, could not get by without it. Could not tell you what it is... wife buys it.

 

[Aus]

Further to my original post, it has now been just over 3 months since I started with finasteride and I have continued to thin in the crown to the point where it is now noticeable. I don't believe I had much (if any) thinning in the crown prior to commencing finasteride. Can I expect that this hair will regrow?... and at what time?

What is the effect of someone taking finasteride who isn't suffering from male pattern baldness? I mean, could I be doing more harm than good?

 

[Jake_89]

you got any before and now pics?