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Dear Reader,
Currently I am studying abroad in East Asia. 1 month after coming here, my hair felt really strange, I couldn't style it the way I used to style it and I was (am) losing more hair then I could remember. So I visited a hair salon and got a hair cut, in the process I took a selfie because it was my first time having a hair cut abroad. When I arrived home and felt much better after the haircut I looked at the pic and saw that I could see my scalp (my hair was wet when I took the pic) which was quite disturbing to me.
The following days/weeks/months I kept paying more attention to my hair. Every time I visit a hair salon (in Europe) I often ask about my hair condition, and the hair stylist always responds I have "Fine hair, but a lot". But these days I am not sure if it is getting thinner, or I am just losing more hairs than I gain? Just overall on top of my scalp I am losing hair and it seems to be less dense or you can see my scalp if it's wet.
In the mornings I see a lot of hairs on my pillow-> usually between 5-20 hairs
When I take a shower in the morning -> around 20 hairs
When I style my hair (wax) -> 30-40 hairs (depends on the length of styling)
The first 2 weeks I was so paranoid "This can't be happening to me", " I am just 22, and balding is not prevalent in my family"...
so after 1 month I decided to go to a Dermatologist..
They took some close up pics of my scalp (on top, sides, crown) and told me to come back the following week.
The following week, the dermatologist told me in broken English that I am suffering from alopecia androgenetica, but he said that it was not severe. I couldn't really understand everything he said because his English was so poorly. Furthermore, he said "we can treat it" so he gave me a recipe for Minoxidil 5%, generic Finasteride 1 mg, Shampoo and tonic.
It has now been 26 days since I took my first Finasteride pill and (obviously?) I see no improvement yet. I am still losing as much hairs as before. I am not sure if this is normal, but I can just easily pull hairs from my scalp, without any force, they just seem to let go.
I haven't used the minoxidil yet because I am afraid of the initial shed and I am studying abroad and share my room with roommates... I heard that Finasteride is the only "real" treatment for balding/thinning because it puts a control on the DHT conversion. But if I take minoxidil in 2 months, would I have less gain then if I start today? Because I heard Minoxidil is not a treatment but rather a growing stimulant.
I also wonder if living abroad (different water, food, circumstances) contributes to my hair loss?
When will the finasteride work? I also experience a minor ball ache sometimes, nothing serious I hope.
Thanks so much for reading this whole story and hopefully leave a reply!
PS. How is it possible that everyone (male) in my family has his hair, even my grandparents (both sides) weren't losing any hair until their 50's and I am?
Currently I am studying abroad in East Asia. 1 month after coming here, my hair felt really strange, I couldn't style it the way I used to style it and I was (am) losing more hair then I could remember. So I visited a hair salon and got a hair cut, in the process I took a selfie because it was my first time having a hair cut abroad. When I arrived home and felt much better after the haircut I looked at the pic and saw that I could see my scalp (my hair was wet when I took the pic) which was quite disturbing to me.
The following days/weeks/months I kept paying more attention to my hair. Every time I visit a hair salon (in Europe) I often ask about my hair condition, and the hair stylist always responds I have "Fine hair, but a lot". But these days I am not sure if it is getting thinner, or I am just losing more hairs than I gain? Just overall on top of my scalp I am losing hair and it seems to be less dense or you can see my scalp if it's wet.
In the mornings I see a lot of hairs on my pillow-> usually between 5-20 hairs
When I take a shower in the morning -> around 20 hairs
When I style my hair (wax) -> 30-40 hairs (depends on the length of styling)
The first 2 weeks I was so paranoid "This can't be happening to me", " I am just 22, and balding is not prevalent in my family"...
so after 1 month I decided to go to a Dermatologist..
They took some close up pics of my scalp (on top, sides, crown) and told me to come back the following week.
The following week, the dermatologist told me in broken English that I am suffering from alopecia androgenetica, but he said that it was not severe. I couldn't really understand everything he said because his English was so poorly. Furthermore, he said "we can treat it" so he gave me a recipe for Minoxidil 5%, generic Finasteride 1 mg, Shampoo and tonic.
It has now been 26 days since I took my first Finasteride pill and (obviously?) I see no improvement yet. I am still losing as much hairs as before. I am not sure if this is normal, but I can just easily pull hairs from my scalp, without any force, they just seem to let go.
I haven't used the minoxidil yet because I am afraid of the initial shed and I am studying abroad and share my room with roommates... I heard that Finasteride is the only "real" treatment for balding/thinning because it puts a control on the DHT conversion. But if I take minoxidil in 2 months, would I have less gain then if I start today? Because I heard Minoxidil is not a treatment but rather a growing stimulant.
I also wonder if living abroad (different water, food, circumstances) contributes to my hair loss?
When will the finasteride work? I also experience a minor ball ache sometimes, nothing serious I hope.
Thanks so much for reading this whole story and hopefully leave a reply!
PS. How is it possible that everyone (male) in my family has his hair, even my grandparents (both sides) weren't losing any hair until their 50's and I am?
