What can finasteride do..?

[Fightingback]

So I've been on proscar/nizoral for almost a month now, and I was excited after the initial shed that my hair loss seemed to stop completely! However it was a shortlived victory, and I'm unsure if it was even correct to have anticipated such a thing. My hairloss continued a week or two later but not nearly to the extent that it used to be, and now I'm wondering if this is all a little premature.

How long does shedding last? How much is a "shed" (4 or 5 hairs in the sink, or 9 or 10)? Does proscar stop hair loss completely, or is that impossible even for people with healthy, full hair?

How long should I wait to see hair growth? I'm thinking I'm seeing peachfuzz but it could be my imagination, it could have always been there. I'm nervously eying the minoxidil but I don't want to be stuck applying it twice a day for the rest of my life. I'd rather just use the shampoo and pop a pill.

 

[Wuffer]

1 month is way too early to be experiencing even a shed.. From what I understand, sheds happen 3 months after treatment (if you even get one). I don't think it's even possible for you to be having any growth yet after a month.. Results in terms of hair regrowth don't appear until 3-6 months, sometimes even longer. Keep in mind that just because you are taking it, doesn't mean you will shed! In fact, it's relatively rare to experience a shed. I think most people misinterpret normal daily hair loss as shedding.

There is no way to define how much hair loss is considered shedding, since some people regularly lose a ton of hair every day; its different for everyone.

I really suggest you forget about it, stop looking at your hair every day and just take monthly photos to track your progress.. The more you look, the more you will trick yourself into seeing things that aren't happening. Also, unless your hair loss is significant and you must regrow to reach your goals, don't bother with minoxidil. After 12 months of consistent finasteride use, if you aren't happy with your regrowth, then consider using minoxidil. I think for most men with mild to moderate loss, finasteride is more than enough.

 

[Fightingback]

Wow, that was tremendously helpful. Thanks. unk: