Hi All, Newbie Former Lurker Here, Interested In Advice

[countjulian]

Longtime lurker, first time poster! I'm 28 going on 29, white with Greek and mixed western European ancestry, and a family history of male pattern baldness (basically all the males on my father's mixed western European side, including my brother who's 3 years young than me and a norwood 4 who just shaved it all off, have very bad male pattern baldness starting in their 20's).

I've been aware of my balding since I was 23, using minoxidil since I was 24, and using Nizoral since I was 26. I also take Viviscal and Biotin supplements. I'm between a Norwood 2-3 and have diffuse thinning, especially on my righ back side. Should I just shave it off?

I'm really afraid of finasteride, since I took an antiobiotic 3 years ago called Levaquin that really fucked me up (look up fluoroquinolone side effects, and prepare to feel better about whatever troubles you're having). I am really seriously considering finasteride with where I am at now, although I will also say that I suffer quite a bit from depression and obsessive p**rn/masturbating, which has caused me erectile problems.

Anywho, here are my pics, front hair combed to the right, the rest just combed straight forward, and taken just now. Let me know what you think. Should I just shave it all off? And what about dermarollers and some of the more exotic methods I've been reading about here on the forum? Thanks to all who respond.

 

[AnxiousAndy]

Hey Julian, welcome to the forum I hate to say but if you wanna keep your hair finasteride is one of the few things that actually work. Looking at your pics you are very hairy on the arms which is directly caused by DHT, so im willing to bet if you get on finasteride you will have good results Side effects are temporary andrare. Just because you got sides on a completely different medication does not mean you are going to get sides on finasteride. Try it out at 0.5mg a day if you are scared. To be honest though in this game you cant afford to be afraid of side effects if you want to keep your hair. You'll never hear about the guy not on trestments keeping his hair, so do what you got to do and get on finasteride. You will wish you didnt do it sooner!

 

[countjulian]

I'm going to talk to a derma next week, I might just do it. I tried saw palmetto for a little while and freaked out about that, even though now I think it was mostly in my head. What do you think about shaving, am I to the point where it would look better? I don't trust myself to know. I use concealers so few people realize how thin my hair is, I just worry about the sudden shock of everyone I know when I go from seemingly full head of hair to bald overnight.

 

[OldnBald]

Oh my dear lord! And you have the fast food bags rumpled up in the corners, and the computer mess desk....awh for Christ's sakes, I feel for you my son.

Do yourself a favor, n take that rumpled bag, unrumple it, n put it over your head. Your only chance. Maybe you can get a fatty with the smell of french fries n double stacks.

Sorry man, I'm only kidding. Finasteride is your friend, n minoxidil, 5%. 1mg on the finasteride. Hopefully you can regrow well inside of a year, then you can stop the comb forward n be able to do something stylish with your hair.

 

[countjulian]

LOL I work at home, that's all tech crap. I don't eat fast food I am a healthy eating freak haha.

 

[OldnBald]

LOL I work at home, that's all tech crap. I don't eat fast food I am a healthy eating freak haha.

You know you can try what I am right now. Minoxidil 2x a day for 4-5 months, see what it does. Then go for finasteride if you don't like result. At least you know if the min is working, because it's a real commitment, greasy mess, but is low to no sides n can, for some, yield big results.

So far I've gotten a bit of results in 2+ months, but only halfway to the finish.

 

[countjulian]

I've been on minoxidil 2x a day for 4 years, it works well, including around my hairline, but my balding seems to be getting worse in the back and front. I make sure to concentrate the minoxidil on those areas, but it seems to grow back only little baby hairs, which are better than nothing but not sufficient.

 

[OldnBald]

I've been on minoxidil 2x a day for 4 years, it works well, including around my hairline, but my balding seems to be getting worse in the back and front. I make sure to concentrate the minoxidil on those areas, but it seems to grow back only little baby hairs, which are better than nothing but not sufficient.

Well then you know what you have to do. and more than likely a look into transplants in the future

 

[countjulian]

Or shave it. I keep telling myself to just shave it off like my brother, but even outside of the interest of woman I can't bear the thought of myself without hair.

 

[OldnBald]

Or shave it. I keep telling myself to just shave it off like my brother, but even outside of the interest of woman I can't bear the thought of myself without hair.

I got to say, it looks rough. Maybe try a shaven down first, like a #4. Looks like you're an nw3, heavily diffused.

But yeah finasteride might help. Even those baby hairs you've saved with the min might be helped by the finasteride. Could give a fine result.

 

[countjulian]

Do you think I'd look better bald? Or at least more dignified. I use concealers when I got out and no one notices, but I am tired of feeling like I am living a lie.

 

[OldnBald]

Do you think I'd look better bald? Or at least more dignified. I use concealers when I got out and no one notices, but I am tired of feeling like I am living a lie.

People notice, they just don't say or think about it. Or at least not like we do.

Bald.....yeah, maybe. because you're so damn thin. I still think finasteride is worth the shot.

 

[countjulian]

I don't think so, most people whom I tell I'm going bald say they don't believe me. When I use a conditioner and hairspray along with microfibers it's pretty convincing. Even when I make little jokes about tearing my hair out, etc. I hear "oh you don't want to go bald like me." Let me get some pics with it in.

 

[DKC]

You can block websites on your computers which should encourage you to masturbate less. Excessive is very unhealthy.

At this stage your hairloss is what, NW6, your thinning will get worse if you don't start lifestyle changes and start medication.

 

[countjulian]

Take a look

 

[countjulian]

The ones in the blue chapo shirt are actually after I just got out of the shower and used viviscal conditioner, no concealer, I love that stuff.

 

[OldnBald]

To the untrained eye, at least in the pics, a decent cover up, if receded.

 

[countjulian]

I know. But it takes so much effort and I feel like I'm living a lie.

 

[countjulian]

Norwood 6? How? It's diffuse but I don't understand how it's a 6, it's way too far up on my head for that.

 

[OldnBald]

Nw3, in its latter stages.