Wimp's story (includes pics)

[wimp]

I noticed my hairline receding slightly when I was 18-19, but it wasn't bad at all. Right around my 21st birthday when I started graduate school it started receding very fast. Within a year it was quite noticable from the front. I never noticed any thinning on the back until I was 22, I'm sure it had been thin for a while I just never noticed. About 6 months ago (~8-15-2004) I started taking Proscar (1/4th pill per day) and using Nizoral every other day .

I initially shed quite a bit and noticed increased acne, no other side effects.

I don't really think it has helped, and it might have accelerated the process. I will post pictures as soon as I figure out how.

These are some pictures, they're of shitty quality since they were taken with a camera phone. Any comments/tips would be greatly appreciated, I really dont know where I stand or what I should do. Does it look like any progress has been made, or has it just gotten worse? I'll stick out my regimine for a year, who cares if it just gets worse, I was going to lose it anyway...I can only hope it gets better. I just wish this sh*t waited 10 years to start, I'm in my prime, baby!

This is from about 10/30/04.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-2/952530/10-30.JPG


This is from about 12/15.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-2/952530/12-15.JPG

This is from 12/16, I freaked when I saw the 12/15 pics and shaved my head!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-2/952530/12-16.JPG

Bad quality shot from 1/10/05.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-2/952530/1-10.JPG

Several shots from 1/20/05.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-2/952530/1-20.JPG

Overhead from 2/13/05.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-2/952530/2-13.JPG

 

[wimp]

Also, I think the ideal length for me right now occurs about 4 or 5 days after I clip my hair with no guard...what guard do you think that is? .5? 1?

Do they sell .5 guards?

 

[wimp]

Looking at these pics has made me realize my hair has gotten much worse in the 6 months I've been on propecia. Look in the first picture, at my crown I was thinning...but in the one I took yesterday (and when I look in the mirror) I can clearly see a circle on my crown. WTF!? I thought propecia would at least help me maintain...in stead I'm losing faster than ever.

 

[KevinW]

The lighting seems different, which can make all the difference. When its that short you can really tell where the miniaturized hairs are because they contrast with the non-miniaturized. To make a true assessment you would have to let the hair get to the length of the oldest pics, and replicate the lighting.

(This is all in regards to your thought that the hair has gotten worse)

 

[KevinW]

Oh, nizoral every other day might be too much. I'd cut down to 2-3X a week. [/i]

 

[curbed my enthusiasm]

have you been shedding consistently since beginning finasteride? has the acne, oilyness continued? has your libido increased. if so it might be hyper androgenicity.

if you haven't had any of these symptoms then definitely give finasteride a year. Mabey consider minoxidil.

 

[wimp]

Hmm, those sound familiar (correllate) but I can't say one way or the other they were caused by the finasteride. I started lifting weights recently, that sweat/oily skin might be from that as well as increased libido.

I don't know about shedding since I cut my hair short, but I have been losing my hair faster than ever before.

What exactly is hyper androgenicity?

 

[HairFarmer]

I have a similar pattern developing on the rear with a strip of thinning stretching from the crown to the front. When you shave your head (esp with dark hair) it will reveal all the trouble zones. It looks terrifying but It's a great way to see exactly how your hair looks and how bad the "problem" really is. After reading your post you might want to look into minoxidil...it's only a suggestion but might help out your regrowth.

The good thing for now is I have no "bald" zones except for the recession that's occurred over the last few years.

 

[wimp]

so how do you cut your hair? I don't know what the most aesthetically pleasing way of cutting it is. I just buzzed it because thats what everybody says to do.