Adding finasteride to my regimen a good idea?

[razzmatazz91]

Hello everyone. This is my first thread, and I am shuttling between panic and depression.
I'm sure all of you know where I am coming from.

I have been losing my hair (diffuse and hairline recession) for 2 years and 6 months.
Around one year ago, it became very very noticeable. I used 5% minoxidil twice a day for ONE YEAR.
My hair is where it was, with a small amount of visible regrowth in front (on my hairline). But this frontal hair is quite thin...not peach fuzz, but it's somewhat miniaturized.
It is so fine that when I keep my head buzzed with NO GUARD, it looks like an okay-ish hairline. But if I let it grow for more than four days, it looks bad. Lighting from above can make me look terrible. I want something to thicken the hair that I gained with minoxidil in the front, and I hope for regrowth too.

My question is: should I add finasteride to my regimen?
Can I expect to gain anything at all on my hairline? This thing really has me depressed. I'm thinking I won't use it if I can't enhance my hairline.... by thickening or regrowth.

Also, I am sure my hairline would have gone further if I had not used minoxidil for a year. Does that mean that there is even lesser hair for finasteride to act on? I mean the hair that regrew.....is finasteride going to have any effect on them.

BTW, I am a 24.5 year old male

Mods: I apologize if I sound somewhat distraught and have written too much.

 

[JustinCanada]

Yes, adding finasteride to your regimen is a good idea.

 

[razzmatazz91]

Yes, adding finasteride to your regimen is a good idea.

Thanks Justin. A couple of words more? I'm wondering if a year on this drug can give my hairline improvement?

 

[razzmatazz91]

Please somebody give me info on the original post of mine..... Also, Will finasteride aid in making the regrowth I've got from minoxidil?

 

[Dench57]

Mods: I apologize if I sound somewhat distraught and have written too much.

You must be new here.

Yes, finasteride is practically an essential addition to your regimen if you want to keep your hair. Not many people get significant hairline growth with it so don't expect it. Maybe if you're lucky though.

 

[razzmatazz91]

So you're saying that I can't expect to have the hair regrown from minoxidil to be strengthened/ thickened using finasteride?

 

[TinTon]

If you have male pattern baldness then finasteride is basically the swiss army knife... AKA 'go to'

 

[PappinAce]

You absolutely need to add finasteride. It's the backbone of every fight against male pattern baldness!

So you're saying that I can't expect to have the hair regrown from minoxidil to be strengthened/ thickened using finasteride?

In theory, yes. If there are still follicles capable of growing hair, then inhibiting DHT with finasteride should put them in a position to grow into terminal hairs. Eventually. Give it at least a year.

 

[abcdefg]

There is no real treatment for male pattern baldness long term if you removed finasteride. male pattern baldness is only treatable at all because of the discovery of finasteride. I think without deciding to try finasteride your better off just accepting male pattern baldness and learning to live with it long term. None of the other stuff minoxidil, random shampoos, and so on are enough to make any real dent in the course nature will run.

 

[debyne]

minoxidil + finasteride is like 1+1=3.

Use both as directed as your best defense against male pattern baldness.

 

[testingit]

I second all these other replies, yes. minoxidil can help maintain or regrow/thicken but alone from all the research I've seen it's just not anywhere near effective as anti-andorgens like propecia and avodart. It doesn't really help the 'root' cause to alleviate hair loss alone. If you are okay taking finasteride, if I were you I would definitely add it.


[ I am not a hair loss expert or doctor. Anything I say on these forums is just my opinion ]

 

[razzmatazz91]

Thank you all so very much!
You have given me some hope.... my hairline is still okay..... but if I let my hair grow more than a stubble it looks terrible, since the hair on my temples and up are soooo thin.
I'll get on finasteride in a couple of days... will need a prescription.

Also I'm thinking of bumping up from 5% to 10% minoxidil.
Thoughts?

 

[debyne]

I'm thinking of bumping up from 5% to 10% minoxidil. Thoughts?

I wouldn't. Based on what others have said, going beyond 5% may have negative effects. Personally, I would get on finasteride 1mg/day and minoxidil 5% 2/day (as best you can) and see where you're at after 1 full year. This regimen did wonders for me. If you don't respond after all that, then I would "consider" going beyond 5% minoxidil but it likely won't do much if you don't respond to the aforementioned regimen.

 

[razzmatazz91]

Still haven't anaged to get a prescription..... damn this is taking too long. I wen to a doctor who told me he won't advise finasteride "yet" but told me to get 10% min.
I have to get a second opinion tomorrow.

I am okay right now with taking finasteride.... I'll ask the doctor to go through my reports of course. Guys, I want to ask you all something again. I went through this thread....... just to confirm... are you saying that finasteride will not help on the hair (or very very thin hair) that minoxidil has grown for me? And the hair that are mostly minoxidil dependant?

- - - Updated - - -

You absolutely need to add finasteride. It's the backbone of every fight against male pattern baldness!




In theory, yes. If there are still follicles capable of growing hair, then inhibiting DHT with finasteride should put them in a position to grow into terminal hairs. Eventually. Give it at least a year.

Did you mean yes t can....or yes it can't?
I had framed the question as a negative, hence asking again

I'm adding some pics I just took. This hairline is held in place I think only by minoxidil 5%. I'm wondering if finasteride can help me thicken this thing....Please help