what can I do?

[dannyboyuk]

hi Im new.

please see attached photo of my head.
my hair on top has been thinning for the past few years. im 25 years old.

Ive JUST started using rogaine / regaine foam on the effected area.

what else should I do?

also, I'm on antidepressants which can cause hair loss? do you think this is a factor? only been on them recently but was loosing my hair way before this.

I've tried toppik... cant get much sucess with it. it just clumps on my scalp and makes it look dirty.
do I have enough hair for toppik? i Dont want to bring my hairline forward. just thicken up the tinning area on top.

 

[s.a.f]

You have easily enough hair for fibres. You must have been using too much. You really need just a tiny amount 1 sprinkle would do you then run your hand through it.

 

[dannyboyuk]

ok thanks ill keep trying with it.
Ive only practiced with it twice.

maybe im putting too much in.

it just seems to fall straight through to my scalp. 1 sprinkle seems to make no difference, so I keep on shaking more on... result = loads on my scalp.

I also have the toppik fiber holding spray so hopefully this will be able to keep it in.

any more tips for applying. I was thinking of the spray diffuser thing. but I don't want to throw good money after bad, if its not the product for me!

 

[dannyboyuk]

another pic.

this one makes it look a lot worse.

do i still have enough?

the bright flash from the camera makes it look a bit worse than it actually does normally.

 

[slurms mackenzie]

Well Db, I doubt the antidepressents are contributing too much as there's definitely a pattern to your hair loss which suggests male pattern baldness.

The first question would be is there a reason why you're only using minoxidil ?

minoxidil will help you get more out of the hair you have, but it won't stop you from losing it, for that you need a dht inhibitor. Have you considered using something like propecia?

 

[dannyboyuk]

Well Db, I doubt the antidepressents are contributing too much as there's definitely a pattern to your hair loss which suggests male pattern baldness.

The first question would be is there a reason why you're only using minoxidil ?

minoxidil will help you get more out of the hair you have, but it won't stop you from losing it, for that you need a dht inhibitor. Have you considered using something like propecia?

thanks sir chugalot.

well basically I have only just stared doing things about my hairloss. (i should really have taken action sooner. but oh well)

I don't know a lot about dht inhibitor.

one thing that puts me off is that I am also quite hairy, body-wise. would this type of medication cause this to worsen, because it makes me really self conscious.

I decided to use minoxidil because I can target to my head.

I feel like my chest, stomach and back have pinched all the hair off the top of my head, to grow it there.

 

[slurms mackenzie]

I think everybody wishes they'd have done something about it sooner ! You're definitely not alone there.

DHT is the hormone which is responsible for hair loss, it's a more active form of testosterone, by reducing levels of it in your body you can reduce hair loss.

The only approved way of reducing dht for hair loss, is by tacking a drug called propecia, you can read about it in the anti androgen section.

There's a lot of fear around using it, which puts a lot of people off, so it'll have to be a decision you make yourself when you've reviewed what's out there or spoken to a professional.

On the plus side that thing you said about about your body pinching hair off your head, well ..... it's one of natures cruel jokes, the same hormone responsible for balding is also responsible for growing body hair. So if anything propecia would reduce your body hair.

You might still be able to get some fantastic results.

 

[dannyboyuk]

On the plus side that thing you said about about your body pinching hair off your head, well ..... it's one of natures cruel jokes, the same hormone responsible for balding is also responsible for growing body hair. So if anything propecia would reduce your body hair.

wow. that is a very interesting fact to know.
Ive wondered before it was some kind of hormone inbalance that is making my body very hairy and my head very bald.

I might look into it then. would this be something a doctor would need to perscribe?

Also... I wouldn't like to start taking them at the moment..... simply because they mess around with your hormones.... which is the same thing antidepressants do.... so there could be some conflict there?

so I think I should wait till I'm off them first. or at least talk to the doctor about it first!

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

I am sure minoxidil will help you but you have to get on an anti-androgen like finasteride or dutasteride if you want to see any major regrowth.

Consult with your doctor ASAP about finasteride (Propecia is the namebrand) or look into buying generic online like a lot of us do.

 

[dannyboyuk]

I am sure minoxidil will help you but you have to get on an anti-androgen like finasteride or dutasteride if you want to see any major regrowth.

Consult with your doctor ASAP about finasteride (Propecia is the namebrand) or look into buying generic online like a lot of us do.

but there are SO many possible side effects (after doing a bit of research)
including reports from doctors that many people have become permanently inpotent after taking this drug for even a short while.

I don't think I am willing to risk that, just to be able to grow my hair again!

I have already experienced difficulty maintaining erections and ejaculating, as these are known side affects of most antidepressants. at least with that I know its not permanent. But it scared me enough initially!

 

[slurms mackenzie]

You could maybe check out nizoral, you can get it in most supermarkets.

This should help

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_of_baldness

edit ah see you're already having sides from the anti depressants, I'd definitely not add propecia to the mix right now.

 

[dannyboyuk]

You could maybe check out nizoral, you can get it in most supermarkets.

This should help

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_of_baldness

edit ah see you're already having sides from the anti depressants, I'd definitely not add propecia to the mix right now.

yeah maybe I should just see how the minoxidil goes to start with. and the jury seems to be out when it comes to using minoxidil together with alpecin.... so im not sure there.

thanks for everyones advice anyway!

 

[budwardo]

Man I hate to be a dick but I consider your loss to be very severe. I am also loosing hair and it is very very horrible. I am also loosing my eyebrows. They are almost all gone now. that sucks even more btw. anyway if I had ur stage of hair loss I would just buzz it down. I know everyone does not look good with a buzzed head but I think it looks even worse when u trie to hide it. If anything buzz it down and apply minoxidil and propecia. Worse case senario is that u will have to get used to the buzzed look. I would have already buzzed my head exept I have a 9inch scar that runs strait down the middle of my head. I hate seeing hair fall out and would love just to buzz it off. I am 36 5-10 about 225pounds. I think a more muscular build looks better with a buzzed head. SO I was you I would go to the docs get ur scripts and buy some clippers. owe then hit the gym.

 

[dannyboyuk]

Man I hate to be a dick but I consider your loss to be very severe. I am also loosing hair and it is very very horrible. I am also loosing my eyebrows. They are almost all gone now. that sucks even more btw. anyway if I had ur stage of hair loss I would just buzz it down. I know everyone does not look good with a buzzed head but I think it looks even worse when u trie to hide it. If anything buzz it down and apply minoxidil and propecia. Worse case senario is that u will have to get used to the buzzed look. I would have already buzzed my head exept I have a 9inch scar that runs strait down the middle of my head. I hate seeing hair fall out and would love just to buzz it off. I am 36 5-10 about 225pounds. I think a more muscular build looks better with a buzzed head. SO I was you I would go to the docs get ur scripts and buy some clippers. owe then hit the gym.

ok thanks for your honesty!

 

[dannyboyuk]

I understand it is probably time just to shave it all off....
.....that just takes a lot of guts. and once its done... if you don't like it... you're kinda stuck with it.

 

[slurms mackenzie]

It depends what you mean by shave it off.

Going down to a buzz cut imo can serve a few purposes

i) It can look better cosmetically
ii) It can make it easier to apply topicals
iii) Going down to a number 1 or no clippers at all, instantly takes you to where you would be in about 10 years time, it can be a psychological comfort to just get it out the way, and with it you can realise life ain't too bad,

If you really don't want to look into other treatments ( I personally can't understand why someone would shy away from using nizoral), then it might be best to just go for shorter hair over time, ie. buzz a 6 then a 4 and so on, it doesn't have to be a jolt.

 

[dannyboyuk]

It depends what you mean by shave it off.

Going down to a buzz cut imo can serve a few purposes

i) It can look better cosmetically
ii) It can make it easier to apply topicals
iii) Going down to a number 1 or no clippers at all, instantly takes you to where you would be in about 10 years time, it can be a psychological comfort to just get it out the way, and with it you can realise life ain't too bad,

If you really don't want to look into other treatments ( I personally can't understand why someone would shy away from using nizoral), then it might be best to just go for shorter hair over time, ie. buzz a 6 then a 4 and so on, it doesn't have to be a jolt.

ok thanks for your advice.

as the person before mentioned... the whole shaved head thing looks better on someone with a more muscly build.... and Im rather on the skinny side of life... so Im obviously a bit worried about what thats going to look like!

 

[budwardo]

man I feel ya, Im scared shitless to buzz my head. I have lost already about 100 hairs today, yes I count. Its driving me fcking nuts. I also lost at least 10 more eyebrows. I feel that if I shaved my head I would at least quit looking at my hands every 10minutes.

 

[dannyboyuk]

i suppose that would probably be the logical thing to do... shave it off and then keep applying the rogaine (would be easier to apply to scalp)

and then maybe consider the medication? the doctor would probably perscribe it to me - because my hairloss is one of the causes of my depression.
but I'd worry about the reaction it might have with the medication I'm already on.

then at least wouldn't have the thing about worrying over shedding, if my head was shaved anyway.

but how would I actually know the hairloss remedies were having any effect????

ps. there is a lot of talk about the big 3. what is the other one?

 

[slurms mackenzie]

Nizoral, which i know this is going to sound rude, but i've mentioned it in my last two posts, and you seem to have ignored it.

It seems like you've pushed in the buttons for destination hair loss when that really doesn't have to be the case.

Seriously dude you can't fight this without taking any internals it's just going to take more effort.