Using finasteride by itself, thoughts?

[dinosaur_sr]

Hi everyone, been lurking for a few weeks and thought I'd ask a few questions.

Background on my hair loss - Hairline receded to a 2-2.5 when I was about 19 - didn't even notice it for a while, don't mind it too much now I have, doesn't effect the way I look too much.

Now about to turn 22 and about month or two ago I noticed my hair had thinned a bit on top. No scalp showing from above, but hair much finer, bit less at the front, can't really grow my hair like I used to as it's stringier/less dense. Might be some minor crown loss too, hard to tell. Basically, enough loss that I've noticed it and am pretty sure it's male pattern baldness, but not enough for anyone to comment, and it still looks the same short -med length. What's worrying is how quickly it could progress.

Question - Would it be reasonable to take finasteride by itself in an attempt to stabilize what I've got? Regaine/Minoxidil seems to be about improving/regrowing hair, which for now isn't a major concern to me, as I am happy with what I have, just not keen for it to get much worse in the short term (I'm only 22! And yes I realise there are people who have it worse than I do) Not really sure how important Nizoral is, anyone? People often seem to combine these three products, from what I've read. Anyway, would this be an effective solution?

 

[Joe-1991]

You could start propecia, i am sure it will do no harm to try. Although here are some things to think about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nXWVTStnHs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAZ3-t7vJeg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXxUpiExMtQ

Finasteride:

Preventing erections and priapism

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19616292

Causing cancer

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/96/4/338.full

Depression

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19655698

Castrate effects on rats and humans

http://books.google.ca/books?id=ODBL...ceptor&f=false

Causing erectile dysfunction

http://www.medworm.com/rss/search.ph...rugs&r=Any&o=d

Suicide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXxUpiExMtQ

 

[dinosaur_sr]

Thanks!

Anyone know how long it takes finasteride to work on average? I have read anywhere between six months and two years, although for some of the success stories on this site it seems to have happened even quicker (I would imagine they're luckier than average, though).

Also, does this mean that any loss sustained during that initial period would be permanent? Say it took 2 years for it to kick in and I lost more hair during that time, would that hair be gone permanently?

EDIT I know I've read up on the side effects, am consulting a doctor before I commit. Plus you post all over this site so I could hardly have missed it

 

[IrishFella]

Thanks!

Anyone know how long it takes finasteride to work on average? I have read anywhere between six months and two years, although for some of the success stories on this site it seems to have happened even quicker (I would imagine they're luckier than average, though).

Also, does this mean that any loss sustained during that initial period would be permanent? Say it took 2 years for it to kick in and I lost more hair during that time, would that hair be gone permanently?

EDIT I know I've read up on the side effects, am consulting a doctor before I commit. Plus you post all over this site so I could hardly have missed it

In a 5-year study of men with mild to moderate hair loss, 2 out of 3 of the men who took 1 mg of finasteride daily regrew some hair, as measured by hair counts. In contrast, all of the men in the study who were not taking finasteride lost hair. In the same study, based on photographs that were reviewed by an independent panel of dermatologists, 48% of those treated with finasteride experienced visible regrowth of hair, and a further 42% had no further loss. Average hair count in the treatment group remained above baseline, and showed an increasing difference from hair count in the placebo group, for all five years of the study. Finasteride is effective only for as long as it is taken; the hair gained or maintained is lost within 6–12 months of ceasing therapy. In clinical studies, finasteride, like minoxidil, was shown to work on both the crown area and the hairline, but is most successful in the crown area.

 

[dinosaur_sr]

In a 5-year study of men with mild to moderate hair loss, 2 out of 3 of the men who took 1 mg of finasteride daily regrew some hair, as measured by hair counts. In contrast, all of the men in the study who were not taking finasteride lost hair. In the same study, based on photographs that were reviewed by an independent panel of dermatologists, 48% of those treated with finasteride experienced visible regrowth of hair, and a further 42% had no further loss. Average hair count in the treatment group remained above baseline, and showed an increasing difference from hair count in the placebo group, for all five years of the study. Finasteride is effective only for as long as it is taken; the hair gained or maintained is lost within 6–12 months of ceasing therapy. In clinical studies, finasteride, like minoxidil, was shown to work on both the crown area and the hairline, but is most successful in the crown area.

Thanks - I've seen this before I think! So I guess "Average hair count in the treatment group remained above baseline" means it keeps your hair at the level it's at as soon as you begin taking it.

 

[guy83]

ok i thiink it's good to start finasteride by itself just so you can tell what it's doing for you. Honestly, If i can go back in time to your age me personally i would have done all top 3. only because i regret letting all these years go by which i could have benefited from.

i guess try finasteride for 1 year see what you get, if you wanted more growth add the Rogaine.


cheers

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

If your loss isn't too substantial I would get on finasteride alone. minoxidil is a hassle and annoying, but worth it if you definitely need the extra growth.

 

[dinosaur_sr]

Thanks for the advice everyone! Will talk to my doctor and report back - have done plenty of research and want to get a professional opinion.

Thought I'd post a couple pictures just to see if they elicit any different responses - I haven't washed my hair in two days, so it looks worse than when it is washed, particularly around the crown. Figured it can't hurt to take the pictures though. The thinning's affected the front middle (fringe/bangs area) the most (might be harder to see in the pictures) and seems to have gone through the middle, pretty standard balding procedure.

[attachment=1:1ca9huu7]hair 1 unwashed.jpg[/attachment:1ca9huu7]

[attachment=0:1ca9huu7]hair 2 unwashed.jpg[/attachment:1ca9huu7]

 

[Rawtashk]

finasteride first, minoxidil later.

I suggest starting one of those 2 first, then moving on after several months if you feel like you need to. The problem with starting multiple things at once is....how can you be sure which of the treatments is what's working?

I started nizoral, finasteride, Rogaine all at the same time. My approach is working....but I'm always a bit curious which one is really doing all the work.

 

[dinosaur_sr]

finasteride first, minoxidil later.

I suggest starting one of those 2 first, then moving on after several months if you feel like you need to. The problem with starting multiple things at once is....how can you be sure which of the treatments is what's working?

I started nizoral, finasteride, Rogaine all at the same time. My approach is working....but I'm always a bit curious which one is really doing all the work.

Thanks, good point! No point in using anything unnecessary. Although doesn't finasteride often take at least 6 months to work? The NHS website says 3-6, but most of the information I've read seems to say you want to take it for around a year before you can really know if it's working.

Small side note, I washed my hair this morning, after two days not washing it, and it feels and looks thicker than when I wash it every morning. I've noticed this before, too. It's appearance only, but anyone else noticed this?

 

[Rawtashk]

You're suppose to give it up to a year to decide if it's helping your hair or not. Some people see results within a few months, but some are slower to respond. I think the reason they put the 12 month time frame in there is because by then you'll be able to tell if it at least slowed down or stopped your loss. Which, by the way, is still considered a success

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

In your situation I would be using finasteride and minoxidil, it's probably the only way you'll get back a lot of hair.

 

[dinosaur_sr]

That would be a success to me Rawtashk

In your situation I would be using finasteride and minoxidil, it's probably the only way you'll get back a lot of hair.

I'm not really fussed about getting back hair I've lost for now, just keeping what I've got and avoiding further loss. When washed my hair still looks decent short, pictures were only put up to show where I've lost hair as the greasiness highlights the gaps - they're pretty much unnoticeable when it's washed.

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

That would be a success to me Rawtashk

In your situation I would be using finasteride and minoxidil, it's probably the only way you'll get back a lot of hair.

I'm not really fussed about getting back hair I've lost for now, just keeping what I've got and avoiding further loss. When washed my hair still looks decent short, pictures were only put up to show where I've lost hair as the greasiness highlights the gaps - they're pretty much unnoticeable when it's washed.

You definitely want finasteride. minoxidil is a hassle, and you may or may not get great results from it, but if you do then it definitely makes it worth it.

Finasteride definitely helped my hair.

 

[rwhairlosstalk]

I would add nizoral 2% just because it doesn't create a hassel because you are already going to wash your hair daily, so I'd wash every other day with the nizoral and let it sit during my shower.

 

[Rawtashk]

:agree: :agree:

 

[dinosaur_sr]

You definitely want finasteride. minoxidil is a hassle, and you may or may not get great results from it, but if you do then it definitely makes it worth it.

Finasteride definitely helped my hair.

Thanks man. Plan is to hopefully stabilize with finasteride (regrowth if I'm lucky), then try minoxidil, toppik and the like to see if I can get a fuller, thicker look. If none of it works at least I tried! Glad to hear you've had success with finasteride.

I would add nizoral 2% just because it doesn't create a hassel because you are already going to wash your hair daily, so I'd wash every other day with the nizoral and let it sit during my shower.

Thanks, I'll look into it - not a large addition to the expenses and time I'd use on shampoo anyway, and seems to have a lot of support behind it.

Thanks for all the help, everyone!

 

[dinosaur_sr]

Here's a picture of most of my hair washed. Still pretty much full coverage for now other than a little loss at the crown imo.

[attachment=0:3cbxr4jd]hair 3 washed.jpg[/attachment:3cbxr4jd]

 

[Wuffer]

I've stablized and regrown quite a bit on finasteride alone. You should start out with that alone, and give it at least a year to work. If you are not happy with your results after 1-2 years, you should add minoxidil. The problem with starting both at the same time is you don't really know which one is working for you. minoxidil might cause initial shedding, or great results followed by a lot of loss after a few years. You might blame this on finasteride, then decide to drop it even though it's actually helping in the long run.

Make sure you manage your expectations. Start on finasteride with your best expectations to be maintaining what you have. If you experience growth as well, that's awesome, but don't expect it.

I haven't touched minoxidil and I don't think I will need to for the next 5-10 years. By then, i'm hoping something even better will be available!

 

[dinosaur_sr]

I've stablized and regrown quite a bit on finasteride alone. You should start out with that alone, and give it at least a year to work. If you are not happy with your results after 1-2 years, you should add minoxidil. The problem with starting both at the same time is you don't really know which one is working for you. minoxidil might cause initial shedding, or great results followed by a lot of loss after a few years. You might blame this on finasteride, then decide to drop it even though it's actually helping in the long run.

Make sure you manage your expectations. Start on finasteride with your best expectations to be maintaining what you have. If you experience growth as well, that's awesome, but don't expect it.

I haven't touched minoxidil and I don't think I will need to for the next 5-10 years. By then, i'm hoping something even better will be available!

Cheers! Glad to hear you haven't needed minoxidil. Do you use Nizoral? What situation was your hair in when you started taking finasteride? How long have you been on it?

I'm actually tempering my expectations to the prospect it might not work at all - apparently it doesn't for 17 odd percent of users. Side effects seem relatively rare so hopefully that won't be an issue. Honestly, if I can just maintain that'd be fantastic. I'd love a bit more thickness at the front, and a better hairline (probably not gonna happen lol) but it's not a big deal.

Doctor's are being a pain, can't see one for at least a week - annoying. Bought some light brown Toppik recently to experiment with and it was awesome, really thickened my hair up. Need to keep it in for a day to see whether it sets and feels ok, but I was very impressed.