19 Years Old.. What should I do?

[DepressedPerson]

My hairline seems to be slowly getting worse and worse and I don't know what to do.. I'm already on the edge due to my skin condition (don't worry, I know the skin condition and medication I use for it does not affect my hair), I really don't know what I'll do if my hairline gets worse...

Things to know:
- I noticed my hairline starting to recede at age 16
- My hair is still really thick on top
- My dad is a between a norwood 5V and 6
- My grandfather had a good amount of hair even before he died in his 80s
- My mom's side of the family seem to have hair but their hairlines suck.
- I haven't really had testing for it but my dermatologist said I have it after I told her about my dad's hair and prescribed me Propecia.. which I stopped a week after starting because I was having trouble keeping an erection which has NEVER happened before (f*** that). Other than Propecia though, I haven't really had anything..

I am prepared to do what I need to and can follow a solid regimen as long as there is little to no chance of erectile dysfunction. What should I ask/ask for when I go to revisit the derm?

 

[nickypoos]

Very unlikely to save your hair without finasteride.

Ride it out for a few months, most people get used to the drug and side-effects dissappear.

 

[Brains Expel Hair]

What skin condition and what medication?

 

[DepressedPerson]

Very unlikely to save your hair without finasteride.

Ride it out for a few months, most people get used to the drug and side-effects dissappear.

Are you sure about that?.. I've read some things on the internet, even on this forum, that suggest otherwise. I'm looking for a thorough answer from someone who is educated and has had enough experience with hairloss treatments. So if all you're going to suggest is "keep using it, the side effect will go away" please be more informative.

 

[DepressedPerson]

What skin condition and what medication?

Rosacea. I was on accutane for 6 months but there was no difference in my hair within that time period. I'm currently only using a topical treatment.

 

[Hoppi]

I totally disagree with nicky. I think you're way too young to be taking risks with finasteride. I still haven't 100% recovered from it. It's your choice of course though.

finasteride aside, the best solutions I have seen are Josh's, where he combined topical growth stimulants (minoxidil, folligen and mega-tek) to get great regrowth, and El Duterino's, who uses RU58841 (a powerful topical antiandrogen) and also things like Eucapil sometimes. All these kinds of products are powerful topicals which all stand a chance of giving results you want

Other things worth a mention I think are Spectral RS, spironolactone, Nizoral... erm... oh, piroctone olamine.

Also, if you think any health issues may underpin your male pattern baldness then I fall into the group who says it's worth taking a peek.

Erm, yeah! That's all I can say for now really!


EDIT -- How interesting that the Wikipedia article on Rosacea (I didn't know what it was xD) mentions inflammation...

Do you know what triggers yours? It seems coincidental you have both male pattern baldness and this... does your dad have rosacea too?

 

[DepressedPerson]

Thanks Hoppi! I will do some research on those things tomorrow and ask my dermatologist about them. (I always bring a huge list of things I want to ask her)

 

[sgtpep]

i'm one year older than you, and i've been on procepia for 5-6 months now....
Havent failed getting a boner once.
i don't even know what irregular ejaculation looks like.....
the only thing that makes it hard to get an erection is booze...

 

[Brains Expel Hair]

I know the skin condition and medication I use for it does not affect my hair

Rosacea

:kaputt:

 

[Nene]

What skin condition and what medication?

Rosacea. I was on accutane for 6 months but there was no difference in my hair within that time period. I'm currently only using a topical treatment.

At 19 maybe it would be smart to stay away from finasteride for another year or two, For now try rogaine and nizoral, maybe try some folligenl. In a year or two If the hair loss is worse, I would def throw in the finasteride. Funny that you took accutane, a lot of us on here started losing our hair once we got off the drug, including myself. I started losing hair at 15 after I finished my accutane treatment.

 

[DepressedPerson]

I know the skin condition and medication I use for it does not affect my hair

Rosacea

:kaputt:

It's only in the center on my face, not my scalp.. chill out.

 

[Brains Expel Hair]

No, those particular symptoms are only present on those parts of your face. Rosacea is not caused only by a localized reaction on your face. It's a condition which is strongly linked to various conditions throughout the body. The strongest correlation has to do with completely unbalanced gut microbes found in the majority of patients. That cosmetic blemish that your dermatologist is treating you for should be the least of your worries, find one who does more than just treat the most obvious symptom.

 

[TA45]

Its funny that you guys mention accutane started the male pattern baldness process. My bro had a ridiculous mane of hair, went on Accutane....now a NW5. I went on Accutane myself and that is when my hairloss started.

 

[TA45]

Forgot to mention our our brother never went on Accutane....he has great hair, no male pattern baldness whatsoever!

 

[acvfan]

Buddy, I'm the one who has had such great results with the apple cider vinegar. You might want to give it a try. The new research I've read suggests that balding isn't due to hormones, but rather salt build-up around the hair follicle. I run wearing ball caps, and I noticed that on the bill (where I sweat) are some serious white salt stains from my sweat. The apple cider vinegar removes it from your body, thus allowing more nutrients to get to your hair. I may be crazy, but I would stay as far away from any type of prescription situation as you could. People really need to think about what they are putting in themselves. Be sure to follow any posts that further explain the relationship between balding and a gluten-free diet.

 

[Hoppi]

Interesting about accutane. As far as I know the only thing it affects is sebum, which DHT can apparently accumulate in. There does seem to be a connection between oil/sebum and male pattern baldness, at least in some individuals. Perhaps something like Coenzyme A would be useful, or some way to naturally reduce it.

male pattern baldness does seem to have multiple possible underlying "triggers" that make the follicle more susceptible or vulnerable to androgens or increase the amount it is exposed to (low SHBG, upregulated receptors, increased sebum, dietary additions like green tea that increase androgens, etc etc)

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

Interesting about accutane. As far as I know the only thing it affects is sebum, which DHT can apparently accumulate in. There does seem to be a connection between oil/sebum and male pattern baldness, at least in some individuals. Perhaps something like Coenzyme A would be useful, or some way to naturally reduce it.

male pattern baldness does seem to have multiple possible underlying "triggers" that make the follicle more susceptible or vulnerable to androgens or increase the amount it is exposed to (low SHBG, upregulated receptors, increased sebum, dietary additions like green tea that increase androgens, etc etc)

The "connection" is that some people produce excessive sebum/skin oil if they have high testosterone or DHT. That isn't the cause of the male pattern baldness though, it's the DHT.

 

[Maelstrom]

Interesting about accutane. As far as I know the only thing it affects is sebum, which DHT can apparently accumulate in. There does seem to be a connection between oil/sebum and male pattern baldness, at least in some individuals. Perhaps something like Coenzyme A would be useful, or some way to naturally reduce it.

male pattern baldness does seem to have multiple possible underlying "triggers" that make the follicle more susceptible or vulnerable to androgens or increase the amount it is exposed to (low SHBG, upregulated receptors, increased sebum, dietary additions like green tea that increase androgens, etc etc)

I think accutane affects far more than just sebum.

BTW - what makes you think green tea increases androgens?