Attempting to hault my Diffusion- Jumping on finasteride

[unplugged88]

Hello all.
I just turned 27 years old, and have been attempting to battle Diffusion for over a year now(when I first noticed signs). I decided to take the natural route at the beginning as my shedding was initially minimal.

Original Routine:
500mcg Biotin, ED
160mg Saw Palmetto, ED

After months of trying with no visible results I decided to double the daily dose of each. After starting this I quickly experienced some sexual dysfunctions (ie. watery semen, left testicle aches, and trouble getting erections). This all subsided after a week or so, but yielded no results for my hair. During this time is when my hair loss seemed to increase dramatically, diffusing/miniaturizing uniformly across my head, exposing scalp.

I also started RegenepureDR 2 months ago to help reduce this loss, and to try and improve my scalp itch & dandruff. No positive results as of yet.

After just being prescribed Proscar by a hair specialist, I've decided to take the finasteride plunge as a last resort. My hair has continued to heavily shed in a diffusion pattern, and I'm not too sure if this medication will work for me and my type of hair loss. Time will tell.

Current Routine:
1.25mg Proscar, ED
1000mcg Biotin, ED
RegenepureDR, 3-4 times/week


Current pictures on the way. I will try and update this thread monthly, with or without any results.
Opinions and suggestions are always welcome!

- - - Updated - - -

As promised, here's a few pictures I took today. My hair is relatively long so it somewhat hides the patchiness of it all.

 

[templerecess]

I would lower your dose of biotin, since now your liver must process Finasteride and excess biotin tablets. Nothing you must do, but I've heard people on here say that you don't want to make your liver overwork considering you'll be on finasteride for a long time. It seems like minoxidil on your scalp may do a world of good in addition to the finasteride. Make no mistake, the finasteride will do the heavy lifting, so to speak. That will keep your hair looking good (it doesn't look bad now). But the minoxidil could have a pretty significant cosmetic effect and make the entire head of hair thicker.

 

[unplugged88]

Thanks for the reply! I'll reduce my dose of Biotin, and may consider dropping it completely.

I also tried Rogaine Foam for a few weeks in December. When I started minoxidil I noticed a huge shed increase (which still hasn't ceased). I found it was a huge pain applying the foam twice daily and getting the foam beyond my hairs into the scalp. It also gave me headaches and seemed to have negatively affected the skin on my face. I realize it takes much longer to yield results, but it wasn't for me.

Aside for potential finasteride side effects my biggest worry is the initial shedding. I already have a considerable amount of thin hairs/minaturization and worry that finasteride will rapidly nuke these hairs into nothingness- leaving me with both potential side effects and a bald head.

 

[templerecess]

Thanks for the reply! I'll reduce my dose of Biotin, and may consider dropping it completely.

I also tried Rogaine Foam for a few weeks in December. When I started minoxidil I noticed a huge shed increase (which still hasn't ceased). I found it was a huge pain applying the foam twice daily and getting the foam beyond my hairs into the scalp. It also gave me headaches and seemed to have negatively affected the skin on my face. I realize it takes much longer to yield results, but it wasn't for me.

Aside for potential finasteride side effects my biggest worry is the initial shedding. I already have a considerable amount of thin hairs/minaturization and worry that finasteride will rapidly nuke these hairs into nothingness- leaving me with both potential side effects and a bald head.

I understand your concern. You must realize that shedding does not equal hair loss. A hair doesn't go from full healthy to nothing whatsoever. It gradually miniaturizes until it's this tiny little vellus hair...AND THEN it's gone forever. Shedding is necessary for the Finasteride to turn the miniaturized hairs back into thick "terminal" hairs as they're called.

Watch this guy, Dr Samuel Lam. He's a legit hair loss expert. This video is a necessary watch. He also mentions he tells his patients that even though he recommends twice a day rogaine, something IS better than nothing. So if you only wanna do it when it's convenient (5x a week) then THAT'S FINE. It's not ideal, but IT WILL HELP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDzYYzuVPtg

 

[Notcoolanymore]

Hello all.
I decided to take the natural route at the beginning as my shedding was initially minimal.

Original Routine:
500mcg Biotin, ED
160mg Saw Palmetto, ED

After months of trying with no visible results I decided to double the daily dose of each. After starting this I quickly experienced some sexual dysfunctions (ie. watery semen, left testicle aches, and trouble getting erections). This all subsided after a week or so, but yielded no results for my hair. During this time is when my hair loss seemed to increase dramatically, diffusing/miniaturizing uniformly across my head, exposing scalp.

After just being prescribed Proscar by a hair specialist, I've decided to take the finasteride plunge as a last resort. My hair has continued to heavily shed in a diffusion pattern, and I'm not too sure if this medication will work for me and my type of hair loss. Time will tell.

Current Routine:
1.25mg Proscar, ED
1000mcg Biotin, ED
RegenepureDR, 3-4 times/week

Highlighted the important parts of this post for all the guys thinking about going the "natural route" or using some other method to try to stop their hair loss.

 

[templerecess]

Highlighted the important parts of this post for all the guys thinking about going the "natural route" or using some other method to try to stop their hair loss.

Lol bro. You always have a sardonically humorous yet effective way of making a point.

 

[unplugged88]

Highlighted the important parts of this post for all the guys thinking about going the "natural route" or using some other method to try to stop their hair loss.

I understood when I began the 'Natural Route' that it wouldn't likely have much benefit to my hair loss. My shedding was initially very tame and normal so I didn't see a reason to jump on the more potent treatments such as finasteride or minoxidil. I decided to take a more laid back approach.

Did it work? Doesn't seem so. Was it worth the shot? Of course.

 

[Notcoolanymore]

Lol bro. You always have a sardonically humorous yet effective way of making a point.

Yeah sorry to the OP, wasn't trying to give him crap. I wasted time doing the same thing. It's just that I know that timing is huge when it comes to treating hair loss. I wasted years out of ignorance and it cost me big time.

 

[unplugged88]

Brief Update:

I'm 1.5 weeks into my new Proscar routine and haven't experienced any of the crazy side effects I've read online. Although yesterday my left nipple was very sensitive and was giving off a burning sensation. I'm not sure if this was caused by Finasteride and/or my body adjusting to the medication, but the feeling has since disappeared completely.

I've also started cleansing my scalp twice a week with Apple Cider Vinegar. This ACV cleanse seems to relieve by male pattern baldness 'itch' and helps reduces scalp inflammation & dandruff, etc.

Current Routine:
1.25mg Proscar, ED
RegenepureDR, 2/3 times/week
Apple Cider Vinegar cleanse, twice/week

Here's a few more pictures (although its obviously still to early to see any results). I've noticed recently I'm thinning a lot lately in the crown area. A bald spot is becoming very noticeable, something that wasn't at all evident a month or two ago.

 

[shookwun]

strong 6-head



gl

 

[unplugged88]

strong 6-head
gl

I have no idea what this means, or if your being sarcastic or not.

 

[doublebatman]

I have no idea what this means, or if your being sarcastic or not.

He means you've got a large forehead. 6-head > 4-head

 

[unplugged88]

He means you've got a large forehead. 6-head > 4-head

I've had a large forehead my whole life. My slight hairline recession may have emphasized it further, but it's still in fact a "4 (fingered) head".

 

[unplugged88]

One Month Update:
My hair is continuing to shed aggressively, and on a daily basis I'm loosing approx 100 hairs (most of these hairs look thinned out and weak). In the time frame of 1 month my hair density has drastically declined. I'm not sure if finasteride is strong enough to halt/slow my hair loss. It's almost like trying to stop a runaway train with traffic pylons.

No sides to mention.
I will soldier on and continue my regimen. Hopefully my hair recovers, may have to shave it down soon.

Current Routine
1.25mg Proscar, ED
Regenepure DR, 2-3 times/week
Apple Cider Vinegar cleanse, 1/week

 

[TD500]

Might be finasteride actually working, stay strong I'm going through the same thing.

 

[0-100realquick]

Same thing for me, 2 months on finasteride 1mg/day. It's starting to get ugly folks.

 

[BiqqieSmalls]

Same thing for me, 2 months on finasteride 1mg/day. It's starting to get ugly folks.

What do you mean by this?

 

[unplugged88]

Small Update:
I'm continuing to experience heavy shedding. My hairline and overall hair density have taken a noticeably huge hit within the past weeks.


Today I noticed numerous hairs shedding on my sides and eyebrows. I can literally pick out dozens of hairs behind my ears, using zero force. (The hairs that shed from the sides are severely miniaturized & tapered from root to tip. The tips are at least twice the diameter of the root. I buzzed down my hair and started finasteride nearly at the same time, so this proves that the damage done to the follicle is recent, after implementing finasteride).

Originally I thought my shedding was from finasteride working overtime to 'reboot' hairs into a healthier cycle, but lately it seems I'm experiencing either heightened male pattern baldness progression or the infamously debated Reflex Hyperandrogenicity.

Outlook doesn't look good.

 

[templerecess]

I was shedding heavily pre-finasteride and only until around 2.5 months on finasteride did it completely stop. I no longer shed at all. Power through and definitely don't give up on finasteride. I predict within another month or 2 you'll notice a complete halt, followed by growth of the shed hairs.

 

[unplugged88]

I was shedding heavily pre-finasteride and only until around 2.5 months on finasteride did it completely stop. I no longer shed at all. Power through and definitely don't give up on finasteride. I predict within another month or 2 you'll notice a complete halt, followed by growth of the shed hairs.

I really hope that is the case.
But I'm loosing a lot of hairs on my eyebrows and other non-male pattern baldness affected hairs on my head. It seems unusual & unhealthy...very worrisome.