What's my next step?

[shawn12345]

Hi everyone, just wanted to ask what my next course of action is. Here is what I currently do:

1. Finpecia 1x daily (from United Pharmacies) - about 4-5 months in
2. Rogaine Foam 2x daily - Have been using for ~1.5 years (inconsistently in the beginning, using it once or even less per day... started being religious with it when I started Finpecia)
3. Nizoral 1% every 2-3 days
4. Maxi-hair vitamins and choline/inositol supplements (is this necessary??) 1x daily

I just turned 24 years old and I am a diffuse thinner on top only, with the worst being in the crown area (where it is very thin). I have been shedding a little bit every day, but I don't see the problem getting any better. Even though I have used Rogaine for a while, I never saw any results (but I do admit that I was using it inconsistently) and I am losing hair steadily. Maybe I am just freaking out, but it seems that none of these treatments are working and it is getting to the point where more and more people are noticing it.

So I had a few questions:
1. Should I stop any of my current treatments? If they are not working, why take them? Everyone says that I should give Finasteride a 6 month chance before stopping, but unless there is a massive increase in the next month or two, it doesn't seem to be working.

2. Should I switch to Nizoral 2% instead? I still have an itchy scalp a lot of the time, maybe this is the reason why I am not seeing results yet?

3. Are there additional things I should try (like from minoxidil.com - Retin-A, Xandrox, spironolactone, etc...) at this point to be more aggressive? Would I have to continue this more 'aggressive' treatment after I see results, or can I move back to regular Rogaine Foam later on without detrimental effects?

4. Do a lot of people use concealers while they are waiting for their treatments to produce results (do they really look natural)? What is the easiest-to-apply concealer that I should look into?

5. Should I consider a hair transplant?

Sorry for all the questions, it is just getting worse and I am getting really concerned with it. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Shawn

 

[shawn12345]

Sorry, had one more question.

Are there any good shampoos and conditioners that are good for thickening/voluminizing hair? Nioxin?

 

[Tyler_Durden]

Sorry to crash the thread a little bit, but is United Pharmacies down or just not working for me? (you mentioned it and it made me think, sorry)

I'd give it a good crack, using everything consistently before throwing in the towel. You have been a bit irregular with your meds, so give it 6 months of being diligent and see where you are after that.

Has anyone actually seen success with generic meds, finpecia or fincar? I'd love to hear someone say that can undoubtedly say/prove they did.
I was reading a success thread of a guy who used Finpecia for 3 months, then real propecia for a month because he reckoned the generic was definitely not as potent and his hair would always trail off after the time on Finpecia.
I just reckon I see a lot more people having success with the real stuff?

Just food for thought...

 

[shawn12345]

The United Pharmacies website is working for me right now: http://www.unitedpharmacies.com/

But you do have a point. Maybe I should switch to the real stuff and I will see better results? It's just so damn expensive. I could try splitting Proscar. Do people usually have trouble getting a prescription for Proscar instead of Propecia?

 

[decro435]

Shawn,

The main ingredients to a successful hair regimen is Finasteride, Ketoconazole and Minoxidil. Everything else is experimental, a scam, ineffective or only mildly/temporarily effective. More isn't always better. Actually in most cases it's just more money down the drain. The key is to be consistent with your regimen.

Finasteride will have to help with you, if you have male pattern baldness/Androgenetic Alopecia. Since it tackles the direct cause of it. Some people take a year to see results, so I advise you not to get off Finasteride unless you suffer side effects.

Unfortunately if the "Big 3" doesn't cut it for you, then you have very little chance of getting anywhere. Just stick with what you have right now and use your money for something useful/productive rather than this burden.

The only other honorable mentions would be:

- spironolactone 5% cream.
- Any other Topical anti-androgen.

I have yet to see anyone with results from a topical anti-androgen, this is probably due to the fact that it should only maintain and not regrow, also there isn't that many people using them.

Good luck.

 

[Tyler_Durden]

The United Pharmacies website is working for me right now: http://www.unitedpharmacies.com/

But you do have a point. Maybe I should switch to the real stuff and I will see better results? It's just so damn expensive. I could try splitting Proscar. Do people usually have trouble getting a prescription for Proscar instead of Propecia?

You can get Merck Proscar off UP without a prescription and it is a pretty decent price.

I've been on Fincar for about 6 months, I'm gonna go onto the Merck stuff next dose though and just see if there is any significant difference. If not, I'll just switch back, then at least I know I've got the real stuff and that it I haven't been wasting my cash... Where as I reckon if you spent 5 yrs on generics, and it continually got worse might always be doubting and thinking what would have happened if you were on the real stuff.

Anyways I am not trying to discourage you off the generic meds, just something I've noticed lately, although Brentx has a great story in the success section and he was on Fincar.