The world before HairLossTalk.com...

[Hoppi]

Man that must have sucked!

Loads of confused, balding men with no way to come together like we can and discuss and research the best current and upcoming treatments

The internet rules!


Hoppi ^_^

 

[ajax]

Agree with that!

I did some research in 2003 when I first noticed I was losing my hair (and it was very aggresive!)

I didn't know about these types of forums, but did find info on Propecia. I got some and started taking it... until a Doctor ask me "why I was putting that sh*t in my body?"

It scared me and I stopped using it.

In 2 years I lost a lot of density and receeded. It was only when I found this forum I realised he was talking sh*t! I got a good regimen going thanks to posters on here and have pretty much maintained what I had in 2003 until now in 2011.

In fact I had some great thickening, but have lost ground a bit recently due to chopping and changing my products.

I'll never get back the hair I lost in the 2 years before I came on here thanks to that stupid doctor... But HairLossTalk.com helped me achieve a good result none the less.

I know i'm not the only one who would like to thank everyone from owners, to mods, to everyday posters for their great work :bravo:

 

[s.a.f]

You dont know how lucky you are compared to those of us who had to face it in the 1990's. With no advice or support.

 

[Hoppi]

Yeah, I can't even imagine what that must have been like s.a.f... I mean, I know people make out it's not a big deal and it shouldn't bother you and that, but I mean of course it does, especially for people who have longer hair like me or who take particular pride in their hair or the way they look with it!

I don't know what I would have done if I was losing hair without the net... I would certainly not know anywhere near as much, that's a given. Connecting people like this is just as important as developing a brand new treatment, IMO


And ajax.. wow really? You've been fighting this one for a long time then!

That doctor.. I mean I understand why some people are quite opposed to finasteride or react like that, but it can do harm if he can't think of an alternative! Thing is, even if someone doesn't want to touch finasteride, posters like Rogazzle with his miconazole and minoxidil regimen or joshua with minoxidil, folligen and mega-tek (or even that guy who solved his with Nizoral ALONE), prove that other treatments do work, and again it's because of HairLossTalk.com that we know and can share these things

 

[tsiroutraw]

Totally agree, when i started losing hair and didnt know about these boards i started freaking out that i will lose all like in a few months cuz i was shedding hard and didnt know how hair works (cycles, minutiarization...). In my head each hair that was falling out, was falling out forever. Also these boards saved me from buying some snake oil scams. Now that i have an idea of how hair loss works and what can help and what wont help i feel much better. Its really a great tool, and i think that in the future the solution to hairloss will be found from the combination of the global knowledge and experience of the community + medical research .

 

[Jacob]

I thought this place was the brick wall? :dunno:

 

[ajax]

Yeah, I can't even imagine what that must have been like s.a.f... I mean, I know people make out it's not a big deal and it shouldn't bother you and that, but I mean of course it does, especially for people who have longer hair like me or who take particular pride in their hair or the way they look with it!

I don't know what I would have done if I was losing hair without the net... I would certainly not know anywhere near as much, that's a given. Connecting people like this is just as important as developing a brand new treatment, IMO


And ajax.. wow really? You've been fighting this one for a long time then!

That doctor.. I mean I understand why some people are quite opposed to finasteride or react like that, but it can do harm if he can't think of an alternative! Thing is, even if someone doesn't want to touch finasteride, posters like Rogazzle with his miconazole and minoxidil regimen or joshua with minoxidil, folligen and mega-tek (or even that guy who solved his with Nizoral ALONE), prove that other treatments do work, and again it's because of HairLossTalk.com that we know and can share these things

Yeah Hoppi I was convinced in 2003 i'd be completely bald by the time I hit 30 (2010). I'm 31 now and have as much hair as I did in 2003! Now i'm being greedy and want to keep my hair till i'm 40 :whistle:

I just think there's a lack of education about hair loss treatments in the UK when it comes to doctors. I mean the first doctor I talked to about propecia had no idea what I was talking about... his exact words were "Dont really know anything about it, sounds like you know more than me" :thumbdown2:

Here's a link to my success story with photo's should anyone be interested, like I said it wouldn't have been possible without the help of people on here!

viewtopic.php?f=30&t=30083

Thats from many years ago, i'm probs somewhere in between base and best due to switching regimes recently.

 

[John979]

I was among the first on minoxidil when it came out in 1988 and was on finesteride in the early 1990s before it was approved for male pattern baldness. I might have even been the first to try it topically, as I had my concerns with side effects. At the time, I was in grad school studying biomedical engineering and found that finesteride was solvent in alcohol, so I decided to add to minoxidil.

TBH either oral or topical had little effect. Tried keto shampoo, little effect. Tried Proxiphen, little effect. You name it, I tried it. My doctors in the 1990s included Dr. Lee and Dr. Dr. Cotsarelis.

Basically gave up, other than continued using minoxidil and topical finesteride in the hopes of keeping things "dormant" until a better treatment came along.

In late 2008, I met this one guy who was I think 26 at the time and was facing aggressive hair loss. I did some new research for him and decided to give myself one last balls to the walls effort.

So, I startedXanrox 15%+, 2% Keto Shampoo, Proxiphen (both types). Money was no object. Has some regrowth, but nothing costmetically significant.

One year ago, I changed my thinking. Instead of focusing on what works, I looked at everything from the opposite perspective: why doesn't soemthing work as effectively as it should.

Thus, I came up with a list of why finesteride, minoxidil, spironolactone and such was not effective for me.

Then a light bulb went off. Perhaps dutasteride, daily keto and minoxidil would be effective. Guess what, it was and for the first time in 20 years, I had significant regrowth, albeit not yet complete.

Too bad I did not have my revelation 10 years ago when dutasteride first came available.

What is more frustrating is that a real, effective treatment for male pattern baldness has existed since the late 1980s (azoles+minoxidil+AI) but few doctors seem have put the right combination of drugs together.

 

[Mens Rea]

I was among the first on minoxidil when it came out in 1988 and was on finesteride in the early 1990s before it was approved for male pattern baldness. I might have even been the first to try it topically, as I had my concerns with side effects. At the time, I was in grad school studying biomedical engineering and found that finesteride was solvent in alcohol, so I decided to add to minoxidil.

TBH either oral or topical had little effect. Tried keto shampoo, little effect. Tried Proxiphen, little effect. You name it, I tried it. My doctors in the 1990s included Dr. Lee and Dr. Dr. Cotsarelis.

Basically gave up, other than continued using minoxidil and topical finesteride in the hopes of keeping things "dormant" until a better treatment came along.

In late 2008, I met this one guy who was I think 26 at the time and was facing aggressive hair loss. I did some new research for him and decided to give myself one last balls to the walls effort.

So, I startedXanrox 15%+, 2% Keto Shampoo, Proxiphen (both types). Money was no object. Has some regrowth, but nothing costmetically significant.

One year ago, I changed my thinking. Instead of focusing on what works, I looked at everything from the opposite perspective: why doesn't soemthing work as effectively as it should.

Thus, I came up with a list of why finesteride, minoxidil, spironolactone and such was not effective for me.

Then a light bulb went off. Perhaps dutasteride, daily keto and minoxidil would be effective. Guess what, it was and for the first time in 20 years, I had significant regrowth, albeit not yet complete.

Too bad I did not have my revelation 10 years ago when dutasteride first came available.

What is more frustrating is that a real, effective treatment for male pattern baldness has existed since the late 1980s (azoles+minoxidil+AI) but few doctors seem have put the right combination of drugs together.

Interesting.

I'm happy for you that you can tolerate dutasteride, my body would spontaneously combust. Lucky you. IT's a serious drug.

How do you apply the keto? Just nizoral shampoo?



I'm in the same boat as you but worse.

Tried minoxidil, didn't work. Went off it, hugge shed, so im back on it simply because im reliant on it. Mabe it marginally slows things down but im heavily diffused and toppik reliant at 25 years old. Further isn't so bright for my hair.

I've tried finasteride - didn't work. Worse still, it's gave me sexual issues im still dealing with.

I've tried and do still use nizoral. Nothing.

I've used MEGA-TEK and still do. Nothing, either.

Now:

I still use minoxidil. I've tried many different variations, none make any real difference. My scalp can't even handle PG based minoxidil's so i need non-PG minoxidil. Ridiculous. I only apply minoxidil once a day though - its difficult to do more than that (my hair looks terrible)....do you think minoxidil 2x would help any?

I've bought a laser helmet. On my 4th week. No changes yet.

I'm looking into that new CB topical. Beyond that, im pretty much all out of ideas. I'm sure dutasteride could help (my DHT is way above range!!) but it would ruin me sexually so it's not an option.


It's tough. I know so much about hair loss but i also know my own personal case leaves me in a limited position.

 

[ajax]

I was among the first on minoxidil when it came out in 1988 and was on finesteride in the early 1990s before it was approved for male pattern baldness. I might have even been the first to try it topically, as I had my concerns with side effects. At the time, I was in grad school studying biomedical engineering and found that finesteride was solvent in alcohol, so I decided to add to minoxidil.

TBH either oral or topical had little effect. Tried keto shampoo, little effect. Tried Proxiphen, little effect. You name it, I tried it. My doctors in the 1990s included Dr. Lee and Dr. Dr. Cotsarelis.

Basically gave up, other than continued using minoxidil and topical finesteride in the hopes of keeping things "dormant" until a better treatment came along.

In late 2008, I met this one guy who was I think 26 at the time and was facing aggressive hair loss. I did some new research for him and decided to give myself one last balls to the walls effort.

So, I startedXanrox 15%+, 2% Keto Shampoo, Proxiphen (both types). Money was no object. Has some regrowth, but nothing costmetically significant.

One year ago, I changed my thinking. Instead of focusing on what works, I looked at everything from the opposite perspective: why doesn't soemthing work as effectively as it should.

Thus, I came up with a list of why finesteride, minoxidil, spironolactone and such was not effective for me.

Then a light bulb went off. Perhaps dutasteride, daily keto and minoxidil would be effective. Guess what, it was and for the first time in 20 years, I had significant regrowth, albeit not yet complete.

Too bad I did not have my revelation 10 years ago when dutasteride first came available.

What is more frustrating is that a real, effective treatment for male pattern baldness has existed since the late 1980s (azoles+minoxidil+AI) but few doctors seem have put the right combination of drugs together.

Interesting.

I'm happy for you that you can tolerate dutasteride, my body would spontaneously combust. Lucky you. IT's a serious drug.

How do you apply the keto? Just nizoral shampoo?



I'm in the same boat as you but worse.

Tried minoxidil, didn't work. Went off it, hugge shed, so im back on it simply because im reliant on it. Mabe it marginally slows things down but im heavily diffused and toppik reliant at 25 years old. Further isn't so bright for my hair.

I've tried finasteride - didn't work. Worse still, it's gave me sexual issues im still dealing with.

I've tried and do still use nizoral. Nothing.

I've used MEGA-TEK and still do. Nothing, either.

Now:

I still use minoxidil. I've tried many different variations, none make any real difference. My scalp can't even handle PG based minoxidil's so i need non-PG minoxidil. Ridiculous. I only apply minoxidil once a day though - its difficult to do more than that (my hair looks terrible)....do you think minoxidil 2x would help any?

I've bought a laser helmet. On my 4th week. No changes yet.

I'm looking into that new CB topical. Beyond that, im pretty much all out of ideas. I'm sure dutasteride could help (my DHT is way above range!!) but it would ruin me sexually so it's not an option.


It's tough. I know so much about hair loss but i also know my own personal case leaves me in a limited position.

I feel sorry for you man! All that info out there and you can't do anything with it! You must be like the kid stood at the sweet shop window looking in at the kids eating all the candy!

Have you considered things like Revivogen? I've just ordered some to add to my regimen... I mean its no dutasteride but it might help you a bit?

 

[Mens Rea]

I was among the first on minoxidil when it came out in 1988 and was on finesteride in the early 1990s before it was approved for male pattern baldness. I might have even been the first to try it topically, as I had my concerns with side effects. At the time, I was in grad school studying biomedical engineering and found that finesteride was solvent in alcohol, so I decided to add to minoxidil.

TBH either oral or topical had little effect. Tried keto shampoo, little effect. Tried Proxiphen, little effect. You name it, I tried it. My doctors in the 1990s included Dr. Lee and Dr. Dr. Cotsarelis.

Basically gave up, other than continued using minoxidil and topical finesteride in the hopes of keeping things "dormant" until a better treatment came along.

In late 2008, I met this one guy who was I think 26 at the time and was facing aggressive hair loss. I did some new research for him and decided to give myself one last balls to the walls effort.

So, I startedXanrox 15%+, 2% Keto Shampoo, Proxiphen (both types). Money was no object. Has some regrowth, but nothing costmetically significant.

One year ago, I changed my thinking. Instead of focusing on what works, I looked at everything from the opposite perspective: why doesn't soemthing work as effectively as it should.

Thus, I came up with a list of why finesteride, minoxidil, spironolactone and such was not effective for me.

Then a light bulb went off. Perhaps dutasteride, daily keto and minoxidil would be effective. Guess what, it was and for the first time in 20 years, I had significant regrowth, albeit not yet complete.

Too bad I did not have my revelation 10 years ago when dutasteride first came available.

What is more frustrating is that a real, effective treatment for male pattern baldness has existed since the late 1980s (azoles+minoxidil+AI) but few doctors seem have put the right combination of drugs together.

Interesting.

I'm happy for you that you can tolerate dutasteride, my body would spontaneously combust. Lucky you. IT's a serious drug.

How do you apply the keto? Just nizoral shampoo?



I'm in the same boat as you but worse.

Tried minoxidil, didn't work. Went off it, hugge shed, so im back on it simply because im reliant on it. Mabe it marginally slows things down but im heavily diffused and toppik reliant at 25 years old. Further isn't so bright for my hair.

I've tried finasteride - didn't work. Worse still, it's gave me sexual issues im still dealing with.

I've tried and do still use nizoral. Nothing.

I've used MEGA-TEK and still do. Nothing, either.

Now:

I still use minoxidil. I've tried many different variations, none make any real difference. My scalp can't even handle PG based minoxidil's so i need non-PG minoxidil. Ridiculous. I only apply minoxidil once a day though - its difficult to do more than that (my hair looks terrible)....do you think minoxidil 2x would help any?

I've bought a laser helmet. On my 4th week. No changes yet.

I'm looking into that new CB topical. Beyond that, im pretty much all out of ideas. I'm sure dutasteride could help (my DHT is way above range!!) but it would ruin me sexually so it's not an option.


It's tough. I know so much about hair loss but i also know my own personal case leaves me in a limited position.

I feel sorry for you man! All that info out there and you can't do anything with it! You must be like the kid stood at the sweet shop window looking in at the kids eating all the candy!

Have you considered things like Revivogen? I've just ordered some to add to my regimen... I mean its no dutasteride but it might help you a bit?

I've been looking into revivogen, yes. I used lipogaine before which is 5% minoxidil plus most of the active ingredients of revivogen, actually. I just don't seem to be a great responder to things. My high DHT level and high testosterone level dont help.

I might try revivogen but my only worry is saw palmetto. I'm honestly that weary of sides these days, I mean, finasteride already messed up my hormones and have given me erection trouble Saw Palmetto is similar. Taing it topically, should be ok, though.

 

[ajax]

Hmm I posted a reply to this but its not showing up? :dunno:

My advice owuld be ask about Saw Palmetto in the experimental treatments section... they might have a better idea than me. I can understand why you'd be cautious after long term problems with past finasteride use!

 

[John979]

I'm happy for you that you can tolerate dutasteride, my body would spontaneously combust. Lucky you. IT's a serious drug.

I apply dutasteride topically, every other without side effects. Every third day might even be effective. That, in conbination with 2% keto cream twice per day is working for me.

If you have aggressive hair loss like myself, then nothing is going to work until you start using a fully effective anti-androgen.

You note skin sensitivity. Same with me. Tried a permanent dye once to darken my unpigmented vellus and had a severe reaction - hives covering my head!

 

[global]

I'm happy for you that you can tolerate dutasteride, my body would spontaneously combust. Lucky you. IT's a serious drug.

I apply dutasteride topically, every other without side effects. Every third day might even be effective. That, in conbination with 2% keto cream twice per day is working for me.

If you have aggressive hair loss like myself, then nothing is going to work until you start using a fully effective anti-androgen.

You note skin sensitivity. Same with me. Tried a permanent dye once to darken my unpigmented vellus and had a severe reaction - hives covering my head!

How do you make the dutasteride topical?

Put the contents of a capsule into alcohol and PPG?

 

[Primo]

Let's just say I'm glad I grew up as a hairloss affected teen and young adult in the early noughties, and not the early 90s!

Back then in the grunge era all the cool kids had to have ultra long hair and I don't know what I would've done, because long hair with a badly receeded hair line looks pretty awful in my opinion.

I'm very grateful for HairLossTalk.com, discussing in depth ALL the treatments and their repective pros and cons. Without it, I'd probably be like all the other clueless males in the UK desperately buying into Alpecin or any other treatment advertised on TV for lack of a better idea.