Update On Hair Loss - Need Advice (Pictures)

[Simptom]

Hi everyone. I am updating my condition with some new pictures because I've been shedding a bit more than usual lately and I'm just about to make an appointment with my doctor to get a referral for a dermatologist again as we speak. This time I'll be asking for a new specialist who won't mock me.

I wanted to do an update (original is here: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=60029&p=568503&hilit=don%27t+pull+any+punches#p568503 ) because this time I wanted to show what my hairline looks like with all the miniaturized hairs pushed down and my healthy hair pushed back. It's not looking good.

I think I know what the answer is going to be here, but I just need to hear it from other people who are suffering from this. Again, extremely aggressive patterned baldness (that affects both men and women) runs on my father's side of the family. My hairline in the past 5 to 6 months has really taken a beating. When I see the doctor I'm going to request a script for finasteride as Rogaine does very little for those in my family.

What's the consensus guys? Looks like it's time to start treatment to me. I'm a Norwood 2.5 now aren't I? There's no thinning (at least from what I can tell) in back, yet. I think it's about time to start taking action. What do you say?

 

[G k]

Hey man,

It doesn't look horrible. Even with receded temples you still look good with long hair. People don't focus on it too much usually.

BUt yeah there is a good chunk taken out of your hairline int he temples. Get on finasteride and watch it magically grow back!(hopefully)

 

[toocoolforhair]

You are definitely visibly losing your hair at the temples now. While you're getting it treated I would opt for a buzzcut. It'd look like you had a full head of hair again.

 

[Simptom]

Thanks for the advice guys. A buzz cut's kind of out of the question; it doesn't reflect on my personality at all, although I was thinking of cutting it short finally and getting something choppy. I don't wear it combed off to the side like that either.

I was wondering though, it is time to get on finasteride or to start some sort of proactive preventative measures, isnt it? And is this considered the mature hairline or is it getting past that point now? I'm 26 and would this be age appropriate or no? The shedding I think is in my head because it's about the same number as it's always been, just my hair is the longest it's ever been and I think because it looks like more because of length I'm freaking out more. Still, I'm thinking of making an appointment with a dermatologist either today or tomorrow. Anyone know of any good dermatologists in Philadelphia?

Thanks.

 

[sergiotahini]

In your last thread I said you should consider getting on propecia, and I stand by that advice. You're at the early stage of male pattern baldness, so now is the time to start treating it as it's much easier to maintain the hair you have than it is to regrow what has been lost. finasteride is the only thing that can possibly allow you to keep your current hair for the next ten years; dietary changes, vitamin supplements, etc., are futile.

 

[Simptom]

Sergio, thank you for your advice. This was not meant as a repost, more like a more accurate portrayal of my hairline. I think I'm just going to have to suck up the fact I'm aging and make the appointment, something I'll be doing within the the next day or two.

On a side note, I find it so funny that I've been watching my hairline like a hawk since I was 18 or 19. It was then that I noticed extremely slight arches into my golden tuft along my hairline. I've been drawing my entire life and I suppose you can say that I have an extremely keen eye for detail. So with that I was able to notice the earliest of earliest signs of my M.P.B. By 21 I lost just about all of that tuft and became a Norwood 1 or 1.5. I find it funny that from the ages of 18 to especially 25, I was completely neurotic about losing my hair when no regular schlub off the street would have considered me balding. Now I'm dealing with the real thing and I don't fear it so much because I've realized that it's just a part of the aging process, as sucky as that is. I won't let it get me down though.

I'll be bald eventually one day, even if I'm on medication I know hair loss will still progress, albeit very slowly (if it works). If I go bald, I go bald and I shouldn't fret nor do I think I will, as long as I know put effort into trying to keep it.

Thanks for bringing me down to earth Sergio. As for Rogaine, it has barely worked for anyone in my family. I'm getting extremely hairy and most likely will have hair all over my back, between my chest and back, etc. and will have to be waxing soon. I feel I must have way too much D.H.T. coursing through my blood. That coupled with an extremely fast metabolism doesn't bode well in regard to M.P.B. I want to avoid Rogaine not just because it's had little effect for my other family members, but I do not want an increase in body hair where it may fall onto when I wash my hair in the morning. The last thing I need is to be noticeably balding with hair peaking out the back of my shirt.

Thanks again.

D.H.T. isn't right by me!

 

[sergiotahini]

There's no reason to start rogaine at this point, in my opinion. Your hair still looks good, so if you can just maintain for a few years it would be a success considering your known family history. Still, if things start to really go south minoxidil may be worth a try, as you never know how you will respond to these drugs.

The finasteride may actually help the excessive body hair growth you write about. I'm also a hairy guy and noticed that since taking finasteride I have much less hair on my hands; luckily this is the only side effect I have noticed from the drug.

Good luck.

 

[Defiance]

Seing as youve been slowly receding for that many years im pretty sure finasteride would halt any further loss till maybe your 30's.

Personally i would just take the quarter 5ml finasteride daily, grab some spironolactone at night for the hairline, (its reasonbly cheap) , get a short choppy cut (use matte paste to syle) and your golden.

If after a year you were still slowly losing add minoxidil.