What should I do!!?

[dimitar_berbagod]

Into my 9th month of propecia and minoxidil (12.5% & azelaic acid which apparently inhibits DHT)

Can't say I've been impressed with the results

June & July last year I maintained and the hairline felt stronger, so I thought great, this is working!
August and September the hair felt a bit thinner but hairline was still intact.
October saw a shed which I didn't like but was half expecting. However around early November my hair seemed to feel stronger so I was quite pleased.

However, over the last month I have shed like a b**ch! I seem to have lost terminal hairs behind my hairline - hairs that didn't seem ready to fall out. Now I'm really not sure whether to cut my losses and try something less aggressive (serenoa + less potent minoxidil) or carry on and hope my hair bounces back. I'm certainly running low on patience.

Is the shedding being caused bu prorecia and/or minoxidil?
Should I decrease my propecia dosage to maybe 0.25mg per day (from 1mg)?

Another thing of note is that I use the hairmax laser comb and when first using (May/June 2007) this I felt my hair strengthen up. On past experiences I have benefited more from other products than propecia.

Any advice on my dilemma please...

 

[metalheaddude]

8 or 9th month was EXACTLY when i started to shed like crazy on minoxidil, my hair was going backwards fast, the crown was looking incredibly thin and the hairline was shot to pieces. You can check my post history at around november last year and I quite openly vent my frustrations about Rogaine Foam (minoxidil). But just 2-3 months later I made a MASSIVE comeback.

My advice to you is this, don't stop your treatments or change your regime! Stick to your guns and I swear it will get better. minoxidil takes about a year to work (imo).

So stop freaking out dude, it will improve and welcome to the roller coaster that is minoxidil and propecia

 

[dimitar_berbagod]

Cheers mate,

I think you said similar comments to me on another thread. I will keep the regimen going cos I don't see the point in stopping now. What worries me though is although there have been some periods when my hair appears fuller & thicker, I haven't really noticed any regrowth.

Also the current shed seems to have lasted 4 weeks. The definition of my hairline has completely disappeared and given that I have hardly regrown, I'm doubtful that the hair will bounce back to its former levels. Essentially I'm experiencing the sheds without the regrowth.

Can I just ask:

how long did your sheds last?

did you shed hair behind the hairline? (I appear to have lost terminal hair...

when the hair grew back, did it grow back as thick as before the shed, and did your hairline move downward again?


I feel I got better results on less agggressive treatments like serenoa, which I was able to complement with the use of a laser.

Thanks!

 

[metalheaddude]

Cheers mate,

I think you said similar comments to me on another thread. I will keep the regimen going cos I don't see the point in stopping now. What worries me though is although there have been some periods when my hair appears fuller & thicker, I haven't really noticed any regrowth.

Also the current shed seems to have lasted 4 weeks. The definition of my hairline has completely disappeared and given that I have hardly regrown, I'm doubtful that the hair will bounce back to its former levels. Essentially I'm experiencing the sheds without the regrowth.

Can I just ask:

how long did your sheds last?

did you shed hair behind the hairline? (I appear to have lost terminal hair...

when the hair grew back, did it grow back as thick as before the shed, and did your hairline move downward again?


I feel I got better results on less agggressive treatments like serenoa, which I was able to complement with the use of a laser.

Thanks!

My biggest shed was for about two months last year, it just kept coming out like crazy. This was about 9 months into the minoxidil treatment. Yeah hair shed behind the hairline and little on the hairline itself and the crown was quite prominant especially when my hair was dirty. I believe it grew back better to then ive EVER had it since i started my entire treatment 3 years ago. So there is some encouragment for you. Im not just saying that either. Its very hard to quantify about where the hair growth occurs. So i know what u mean. All i can say is its just the overall appearance of the hair, if its thicker or the hairline has improved its so hard to say, all i know is when i look in the mirror it looks better and feels thicker when i run my hands through it. Dont analyize your hairline so much, ive discovered its really difficult to tell if things are improving, getting worse or staying the same. Your mind seriously starts to play tricks on you! Just kick back and let the meds do the work and stress to much about looking everyday

 

[dimitar_berbagod]

Cheers dude!

Thats the best advice I've had on here

Fair play to you for sticking through the treatments through the shedding. Obviously its a concer to me as whenever I comb my hai forward, the hair covering the hairline and temples is now from way behind the hairline - as the hairline hairs (& a couple of cm's behind) have thinned out a lot.

I'll keep the meds going but I MAY decrease the dosage soon as it seems very aggressive. I think 12mths will be long enough to determine whether its working, so if I don't have any luck with Propecia/minoxidil at normal or reduced dosages I'll try something less aggressive.

 

[metalheaddude]

No worries


Yeah to stop treatments anything less than 12 months just isnt doing justice. Wait for 12months then reaccess.


Good luck!

 

[ghg]

metalheaddude, that's really encouraging to hear that the foam took a long time to work for you. I'm getting close to the 9 month mark (started May last year) and I hope that I won't experience the shed you mentioned. I'd gladly welcome the new growth at around 12 month mark though :gay: .

 

[metalheaddude]

Yeah I was quite shocked by the sudden turn around. Some people just seem to take longer to respond to minoxidil. Having said that if you dont get any results at the 12 month stage I would seriously consider ditching the foam (that was my plan anyway). But I recieved enough encouragment at the 12 month mark to continue with the treatments of Foam. Of course there is also a fear that going off the minoxidil could make things even worse because of how certain hairs get addicted. I know I fear that day if I decide to get off the minoxidil

 

[ghg]

Yeah I was quite shocked by the sudden turn around. Some people just seem to take longer to respond to minoxidil. Having said that if you dont get any results at the 12 month stage I would seriously consider ditching the foam (that was my plan anyway). But I recieved enough encouragment at the 12 month mark to continue with the treatments of Foam. Of course there is also a fear that going off the minoxidil could make things even worse because of how certain hairs get addicted. I know I fear that day if I decide to get off the minoxidil

Yeah I know but it's a mixed bag... you can lose your hair "naturally" by doing nothing or you can try to hold on to it a little bit longer. I've chosen the latter but I'm not going into ridiculous regimens. finasteride didn't work for me so I guess minoxidil will have to do it.

 

[metalheaddude]

Yeah I was quite shocked by the sudden turn around. Some people just seem to take longer to respond to minoxidil. Having said that if you dont get any results at the 12 month stage I would seriously consider ditching the foam (that was my plan anyway). But I recieved enough encouragment at the 12 month mark to continue with the treatments of Foam. Of course there is also a fear that going off the minoxidil could make things even worse because of how certain hairs get addicted. I know I fear that day if I decide to get off the minoxidil

Yeah I know but it's a mixed bag... you can lose your hair "naturally" by doing nothing or you can try to hold on to it a little bit longer. I've chosen the latter but I'm not going into ridiculous regimens. finasteride didn't work for me so I guess minoxidil will have to do it.

Hey ghg, check out this thread

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=44224&st=0&sk=t&sd=a


It has some interesting reasons why you (and many others) have not responded to Finasteride.