What to do, Does it ever get better?

[RapidRetreat]

Today I looked in the mirror and cried like a little baby while examining my hairline, I hadn't looked at it properly for a couple of months and when I did look I was so upset I could not help myself. I have a mirror in the shower and when I washed my hair with nizoral today and was assessing my hair I realised that I have probably lost half of its thickness since I have tried to stop this disease from getting worse. I can see my scalp all over when it is wet it is diffuse thinning and rapidly and I have got no clue what to do, I am already on a bucket load of potions and lotions to try and combat this. I was just wondering what other people have been doing to combat this type of hair loss and to see if it gets any better? I am really diffuse all over the top, itchy all the time I have receded slightly but it is thinning all over and if it keeps going I will no doubt be named horseshoe. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I am currently on dutasteride every other day (for 4 months) and 0.5mg finasteride every day (have been on finasteride for nearly 18months), I use nizoral 3-4 times a week and a laser cap 3-4 times a week also, take 4 g of msm a day as well as 2 g of vit c and have recently added zinc, vit D and vit B. I haven't committed to minoxidil because I used it religiously for 6 months and it seemed to make it worse plus with my lifestyle I cannot commit to it. HELP PLEASE

 

[RapidRetreat]

Bump? no one?

 

[psyhotria]

# Don't waste your money and drop either finasteride or dutasteride. (The action of) finasteride can be regarded as a subset of dutasteride. To support the action of either of those two you can use the amino acid l-lysine (i.e. 1g a day perhaps before bed). # I would start Voltaren gel (active diclofenac - a prostagladin formation inhibitor), or cyclooxigenase inhibitors in general; it has done some good in some people (i.e. halt of hair loss and strengthening of hair/healthy feel to it - in a matter of days). If you are one of the lucky ones that respond to prostagladin inhibition, you will be sorted. However this means applying the gel 3 or so times a day (try at least once). - If you cannot do that, well for most there is no easy way unfortunately, it's your choice. Just not stay inert.

 

[Jamesallenliwei]

why finasteride doesn't work for you.

 

[Quantum Cat]

if finasteride wasn't working for you, you should really have increased to 1mg per day, especially if you weren't experiencing side effects. That's the recommended dose

 

[RapidRetreat]

I was on 1mg a day for over 12 months and saw nothing but increased scalp itch and more oil secretion and logs more sheddding. I have seen a doctor and gotten a complete legit prescription for propecia and will give that a go with 1-2 dutasteride 0.5mg tabs a week dropping the dutasteride back to once or twice a week seems to have helped with shedding I was only on 0.75 mg finasteride because I decided to go on dutasteride but did not want to give up finasteride all together (paranoid). Have since gone back to 1mg a day but sometimes I have been skipping a day here and there as it seems to have settled out my scalp, I still get the weird scalp itch and spiders crawling over my head sensation every now and then but not nearly as bad as when I was on dutasteride all the time I just think that maybe dutasteride isnt my thing but then again propecia didnt seem to be working for me that well either but I have legit propecia now and who knows if the other stuff was completely real? Although it was from a pretty reputable place. Heres to hoping I can keep what remains! Have also ordered topical spironolactone aswell and will see how that goes when it arrives. Thanks for your input psyhotria but havent really heard about any of that stuff as far as treatments go and definatly am far too busy go commit to a three times a day regimen.

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CORRECTION- was using 0.5mg of finasteride a day not 0.75mg when I was using dutasteride

 

[RapidRetreat]

Have just been doing a LOT of extensive study and so far have found out that I am shedding way too much because I am reacting in reverse to the propecia/dutasteride and it is giving me a form of Telogen Effluvium I believe it is called, It may have also been related to an increase in androgens but I still have an OK head of hair I have receded more in the last few months than the last year and I have miniaturised hairs all over the top of my head and I can pull on them and 9 times out of ten I get a couple of hairs without pulling hard at all, I am shedding bucket loads from the sides and back as well as my eyebrows and every bit of info I can find on this is that I am reacting badly to the drugs I mean I can pluck sh**loads of hairs from my eyebrows and back and sides for Christ sake this cannot be a good thing! I am going to start wheening myself off i.e one propecia everyother day and no dutasteride then slowly get off propecia and see if the itchiness and persistent shedding stops, what began as a start to try and save a NW1 has given me diffuse all over and at least a nw2, 2.5

 

[RapidRetreat]

anyone have any ideas/suggestions?

 

[The_Mentalist]

Sorry to hear your situation. I would suggest you try to make posting clear and easy to read with paragraphs so all of us have less struggle to understand what you are saying.

What I am getting is that you are already on finasteride for 18 months, added dutasteride just last 4 months, and what is not clear is if you used minoxidil or have been using minoxidil for 6 months. Such details are important because starting or adding new treatments such as dutasteride and minoxidil are known to cause shedding.

Moreover, you have not explained what your result was with finasteride and why you felt the need to add dutasteride or anything. In any case, it looks like the exacerbation might be due to a) recent addition of dutasteride, b) addition of minoxidil or cessation of minoxidil, c) addition of Nizoral, d) or perhaps periodic shed by finasteride that some have reported intermittently during finasteride use.

I would not quit finasteride if it has benefitted you in any way for 18 months that you have used it. The loss of side hair or eyebrows etc. is not normally caused by dutasteride or by hairloss treatments.

 

[RapidRetreat]

Hi Mentalist thanks for the reply, this is my second post my first post is in the about yourself section, basically tried finasteride and minoxidil for 6 months together and got shedding every day all day - dropped minoxidil and stuck with the finasteride for a whole year and then some and still no results only shedding and oily skin/acne. I made the decision to add dutasteride because I had heard it cleared your skin and was better if you hadn't responded to finasteride, I lost a lot of ground whilst on finasteride and dutasteride only seemed to exacerbate the situation even further, I did only recently add nizarol about 2-3 months ago around the same time as dutasteride although the kind of shed I am experiencing I would not have thought nizoral would affect me this badly I simply assumed finasteride/dutasteride had the opposite effect on me and raised my T level through the roof and never really settled it down? I got my blood test today and will wait for my results but until them I have no idea whether to stop cold turkey or give it a whole week and assess. This was not a periodic shed it was shedding constantly for nearly 18 months from the back, sides and top of the head as well as eyebrow hair and chest hair. My gp thinks it may be a form of Telogen Effluvium caused by the drugs and I am inclined to believe him there just isn't enough info on this sort of thing and it is driving me crazy to think that the only two fda approved fighting agents do not work for me. this is the first time I have been off of this drug for more than a day in 18 months and it seems like my shedding is slowing down although my scalp is still itchy and inflamed I am really at a loss and very desperate. P.S sorry about it being one whole paragraph for some reason I can't put spaces in............

 

[All_The_Above]

It very well could be the Nizoral. I lost major ground while on Nizoral. You might want to cut down to once a week or drop it altogether.

 

[kirk]

Options

1) Big 3

2) hair transplant

3) Shave it

Sorry, but until we get somn better, this is it.

btw... I think balding might have some evolutionary advantage. Smart girls will appreciate this.

 

[Quantum Cat]

Options

1) Big 3

2) hair transplant

3) Shave it

Sorry, but until we get somn better, this is it.

btw... I think balding might have some evolutionary advantage. Smart girls will appreciate this.

it well might. in past eras like your avatar baldness was associated with social dominance, maturity and aggressiveness - all ways to survive and attract mates. the increased skin exposure to light meant more Vit D synthesis necessary for health.

in today's society it's the opposite sadly: ridicule, social suicide and increased chance of Norwood-induced skin cancer

 

[Anon587]

Sometimes youjust have to accept it man. I'm 18 and my hairline is gradually deteriorating. It is at the stage where people will begin to notice instantly that I have a receding hairline.

 

[The_Mentalist]

P.S sorry about it being one whole paragraph for some reason I can't put spaces in............

You probably have i.e. 10, the newest version. i.e 9 works fine with spaces on this forum. You may wanna use Chrome-that works fine.

If you are still around, please post your recent situation and physical results to see if any of us can comment.

 

[RapidRetreat]

hey guys I really do appreciate the banter it makes me feel less alone! well I have been off finasteride and dutasteride for a week today and my head is no long itchy or burning or feeling 'weird' I seem to be shedding much much less, where as before I could pull at the hairs on the back of my head and eyebrows lightly and they would come out, I do not think it is the nizoral as I have been shedding for the entire time I have been trying finasteride (18 months) and it didn't pick up or slow down on the shampoo.... my mind seems a little clearer although I am now petrified that if I stay off finasteride for much longer I will lose the rest of my hair in a month as I have no dht inhibitor? Kirk in the back of my mind I know your right but cannot give up hoping/searching while I still have an OK head of hair, it is blonde so not so obvious that I have thinned (it is to me) and if I could keep it that would be perfect but nothing has worked thus far I still have an OK hair line and have just been using organic tea tree shampoo and conditioner to clean my scalp and dropped to nizoral 1% every 3 days. I should also point out that I am using a lazer cap, I apply emu oil to my scalp and wear that for 20 minutes 3 times a week although I think it has just made my hair even blonder! I really do feel for you anon being 18 that must be rough, I went out to dinner last night with my parents and my father literally still has a lions mane at 56! and my mother asked what was going on with my hair, man it hurts....

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the only thing I can think of is to get back on finasteride and try some topical spironolactone? I am still waiting for my batch to come from this site.

 

[RapidRetreat]

Have been off finasteride and dutasteride for nearly a week and a half now, my oily skin and weird calp sensations died down in pretty much two days but now my hair and skin is even oilier than before it seems, weird scalp feeling is back and my hair is see through when dry from most angles now I guess my levels are just fluctuating too wildly and my hair is suffering because of its increased sensitivity? I will try dutasteride twice a week at a 0.5mg dose when my topical spironolactone turns up and will use that every night and see how it goes, have had blood taken last week and am awaiting those results. When I get my results I will post them on here for everyones perusal and comment. I really hope this shedding stops soon!

 

[kirk]

^^ I feel you about the family thing man. I was in denial about hair loss for years because I thought my family had some kind of invincible hair gene. Sadly it turns out I don't. My dad has a ridiculous head of hair that is thick as straw. To make matters worse I'm also a ginger lol...Not a good combo I have had good experience with nizoral. For me, it worked very well to thicken up hair follicles. I wish it functioned more like a growth stimulant cause I do not tolerate minoxidil very well.

 

[RapidRetreat]

I know what you mean Kirk, although my whole family has thick black hair and I have blonde. I thought the same because of my father so when people commented I would say pffft have you seen my dad? no way will I go bald! BAM shedding, shedding, shedding where the hell is my hair?! I buzzed it down to a 4 the other day and it is pretty much see through all over now I am diffuse all over my entire head back sides but worse on top and have receded a little but not much its weird I am hoping its curable Telogen Effluvium and it will all come back in six months time the hairline and cowlick feel like month old dry straw so I think its only a matter of time until that goes I THINK..... although you never know it could be that is reacting to treatment and is so strong now I will never lose it? HERE'S TO HOPING

 

[RapidRetreat]

Ok well I have now been off any drug for two weeks, taking just msm, vit c, saw palmetto and magnesium as well as fish oil. my hair seems to be a little better if anything I have stopped shedding a considerable amount, I still get about 2-10 hairs in the shower (I still wash with nizoral) but no where near how much I was getting before.. I can still pluck hairs easily out from the back and sides as well as my eyebrow and chest hair although I am getting less and less at a time. I am really confused and worried now it seems to have gotten better I have started using spironolactone cream all over my head as I am diffuse all over and am assuming propecia and dutasteride raised my T level astronomically which then raise my androgen levels? so I am using spironolactone to help counteract this I am just worried stopping will increase my shedding? although it was severe and constant the whole time I was on propecia and dutasteride (nearly 18months) any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. I am still awaiting my blood test results also.