Not sure where to start? male pattern baldness

[WhatDoIDo]

Hey guys,

Recently a relative pointed out that my hairline seemed to be receding, it took some denial but after looking at pictures from years ago it seems apparent. But perhaps just a maturing hairline? The right side of my head (left in the pictures) has always been higher, but recently I've noticed the other side has receded to almost match the other side?

I'm 27, turning 28 in a few months. My father went bald in his 30s/40s and none of my mom's brothers or father are bald.

I went to see a doctor and he said it was male pattern baldness, and that I would probably start on minoxidil, but that he suggested I go for a testosterone test first? He then mentioned Minoxidil might be a good start, but I was under the impression that it's not good for a receding hairline? At the moment I color my hair every few weeks as I went really gray in my early 20's, will this interrupt the efficiency of the minoxidil or otherwise?

Any suggestions of where to go? My friend has been taking finasteride for the past 3 years at 1.25mg a day, and he says it's been great, but he said my hairline seems fine. I'm nervous to start on finasteride or minoxidil just yet if it's not essential? But I also want to be proactive in my approach because everyone seems to mention that they wish they had been...

May-2014: I went back to my Doctor, my Testosterone was normal, and closer to the high side he said. He said my hairline didn't seem like balding at all, but he gave me a prescrip for propecia (1 mg a pill), and said to take it if I wanted, so I guess I'll hold onto it and see what it's like further down the road?

UPDATE: October-2015 - 1.5 years later and I updated some pictures below. Is the recession bad enough to start finasteride? Looks like miniaturization in the corners? It seems like only noticeable receding on the left hand side, which is receding to match the widows peak on the right side which I've had since I was a kid.

UPDATE: Feb-2015 - Here's a couple more after getting a haircut last week. http://imgur.com/a/hZQug

For reference, this is my hairline about 3 years ago:

 

[Diffuser44]

Hey guys,

Recently a relative pointed out that my hairline seemed to be receding, it took some denial but after looking at pictures from years ago it seems apparent. But perhaps just a maturing hairline? The right side of my head (left in the pictures) has always been higher, but recently I've noticed the other side has receded to almost match the other side?

I'm 27, turning 28 in a few months. My father went bald in his 30s/40s and none of my mom's brothers or father are bald.

I went to see a doctor and he said it was male pattern baldness, and that I would probably start on minoxidil, but that he suggested I go for a testosterone test first? He then mentioned Minoxidil might be a good start, but I was under the impression that it's not good for a receding hairline? At the moment I color my hair every few weeks as I went really gray in my early 20's, will this interrupt the efficiency of the minoxidil or otherwise?

Any suggestions of where to go? My friend has been taking finasteride for the past 3 years at 1.25mg a day, and he says it's been great, but he said my hairline seems fine. I'm nervous to start on finasteride or minoxidil just yet if it's not essential? But I also want to be proactive in my approach because everyone seems to mention that they wish they had been...

I wish my friends were open about using finasteride. Most of the people I know that are obviously balding tried minoxidil and eventually quit. One didn't know finasteride existed. The other heard about the prostate cancer risks and didn't want to mess with altering their hormones, which is pretty intelligent if you ask me.

I can't see your photos. Don't know why, just can't see them. If your finasteride friend says your hairline looks fine it very well might be. However you Doctor is saying it is male pattern baldness....

From my experience minoxidil isn't the best first line of defense. It works for maybe 40% of us. minoxidil and keto shampoo has some synergy that will increase your chances of one or both of them working. The very safest thing you can do is to take keto shampoo once every three days. Finasteride should be your first line of defense, especially if you are thinking of saving your hair long-term. If you think you can live with going bald, and don't care and will adjust to it fine I would just go ahead and do that. If you really want to save your hair take finasteride. Something better might come along but I doubt it.

Be aware of the sides, but know that most of what you will experience is in your head.

 

[WhatDoIDo]

Thanks for your input

 

[Notcoolanymore]

If you have been diagnosed with male pattern baldness, then you really have only two choices: finasteride or go bald. I know it is not what you or most want to hear, but unfortunately minoxidil alone is more of a band aid fix. It might work short term, but without using something to counter DHT, you are fighting an uphill battle. I would say educate yourself on the potential finasteride sides and make the decision that is best for you.

 

[WhatDoIDo]

If you have been diagnosed with male pattern baldness, then you really have only two choices: finasteride or go bald. I know it is not what you or most want to hear, but unfortunately minoxidil alone is more of a band aid fix. It might work short term, but without using something to counter DHT, you are fighting an uphill battle. I would say educate yourself on the potential finasteride sides and make the decision that is best for you.

Thanks. The physician seemed like he took a very rushed approach and asked if my dad was bald and suggested that next time "I pick better parents" (I thought mother's side had more impact?). Then sent me for testosterone testing, and suggested maybe I try minoxidil (I thought minoxidil didn't help with recession, and like you mentioned is a temporary fix?).

So I'm not entirely sure I trust his opinion on my male pattern baldness assessment. I'm going back in the next few days once they get results from my testosterone testing, so I guess I'll see what he suggests?

In my opinion my hairline seems evident of recession, especially on the other side that has now caught up with my original peaked side, but maybe it's just a maturing hairline?

Another concern of mine is that I'm Canadian, but leaving to work overseas (In Saudi Arabia) for a year or so, and I'm concerned that if I notice a rapidization in hairloss and I don't have access to finasteride that I might not be able to get it there?

Thanks gents

 

[WhatDoIDo]

Any other opinions?

 

[I.D WALKER]

+1

If you have been diagnosed with male pattern baldness, then you really have only two choices: finasteride or go bald. I know it is not what you or most want to hear, but unfortunately minoxidil alone is more of a band aid fix. It might work short term, but without using something to counter DHT, you are fighting an uphill battle. I would say educate yourself on the potential finasteride sides and make the decision that is best for you.

 

[WhatDoIDo]

+1

Thanks, but I'm not sure if maybe my doctor jumped the gun on the male pattern baldness diagnosis? He barely looked at my hairline, just asked if my father was bald then took a glance at my hairline from afar.

Trying to decide at what point I should start finasteride I guess..

 

[Diffuser44]

Thanks, but I'm not sure if maybe my doctor jumped the gun on the male pattern baldness diagnosis? He barely looked at my hairline, just asked if my father was bald then took a glance at my hairline from afar.

Trying to decide at what point I should start finasteride I guess..

Your father being bald definitely increases your odds but it
Isn't a guarantee that you do are balding. The problem with waiting is you will lose hair that won't grow back. The problem with starting early is that you put yourself at risk for unwanted side effects that were all for nothing. I don't see any visible signs of balding. I also don't know what your hair has looked like over the past 3 years either.

I would use a keto shampoo until you lose about 10 more hairs lol

- - - Updated - - -

I'm very envious of your thick hair. That's all that i will say. I will never have a very thick head of hair again like that. Not even when I started and took finasteride.

 

[GoldenMane]

If you have been diagnosed with male pattern baldness, then you really have only two choices: finasteride or go bald. I know it is not what you or most want to hear, but unfortunately minoxidil alone is more of a band aid fix. It might work short term, but without using something to counter DHT, you are fighting an uphill battle. I would say educate yourself on the potential finasteride sides and make the decision that is best for you.

+2

Your hair looks good to me, and your doctor doesn't seem to know much about the subject, I'd advise a consultation with a specialist or dermatologist before jumping on finasteride. If it is male pattern baldness then finasteride is the only preventative medication. Long term, minoxidil won't save your hair, the only way to o that is DHT inhibition, minoxidil won't stop follicle miniaturisation, it will jsut give a boost to follicles that continue to miniaturise. finasteride will stop miniaturisation, it is the first line of defense.

 

[BeardedOne]

+2

Your hair looks good to me, and your doctor doesn't seem to know much about the subject, I'd advise a consultation with a specialist or dermatologist before jumping on finasteride. If it is male pattern baldness then finasteride is the only preventative medication. Long term, minoxidil won't save your hair, the only way to o that is DHT inhibition, minoxidil won't stop follicle miniaturisation, it will jsut give a boost to follicles that continue to miniaturise. finasteride will stop miniaturisation, it is the first line of defense.

I agree with this. Your hair looks really good at the moment but only you can really say if it's receded at all. Take some photos and monitor your hairline, perhaps you can visit a GP in Canada and get a script for finasteride in case you're worried, it doesn't cost much and you don't have to take them. Taking finasteride is a very personal choice, you should really educate yourself on it first, the pros and the cons, before you make that decision.

 

[WhatDoIDo]

Thanks for the replies gents. I wanted to visit a dermatologist, but a reference is required and I was quoted at several months to see a Derm in my area.

I do believe my hairline has receded slightly over the past few years (at least on one side), but now it matches the other side of my hairline which had always been arched like that...perhaps my hairline has just matured?

I've read quite thoroughly into finasteride, and haven taken pictures/vids to monitor my hairline, my only concern is that finasteride might not be readily available when I'm working overseas.

 

[WhatDoIDo]

Update on first page!

 

[WhatDoIDo]

Bump?

 

[WhatDoIDo]

??? :wave:

 

[WhatDoIDo]

UPDATE: October-2015 - 1.5 years later and I updated some pictures below. Is the recession bad enough to start finasteride?

Pics on first page

 

[Pequod]

If i was you I would get old photos of your father and see how his hair was at your age, then see what it is at in later years and you will know what to do. Finasteride does have potential side effects as I'm sure you have heard. I am on finasteride and I was lucky in that they are not a problem.

 

[WhatDoIDo]

If i was you I would get old photos of your father and see how his hair was at your age, then see what it is at in later years and you will know what to do. Finasteride does have potential side effects as I'm sure you have heard. I am on finasteride and I was lucky in that they are not a problem.

I've looked at some when he was my age. His whole hairline looks much higher, a couple inches higher.

He receded uniformly (whole hairline) into his 40s and it wasn't really a horseshoe recession.

How do the pics look a year and a half apart?

 

[Pequod]

it looks a little higher now, if your dad's hair receded evenly then yours probably will too. The only thing that will stop it is finasteride and it may bring back some hair as well. You still have a wonderful head of hair regardless.

 

[mpbsux20]

You are 28 and have a normal hairline. No point in panicking. If you really want to be on your guard try finasteride and if you aren't one of the unlucky ones you should be able to forget about hair problems for the next decade given the current condition of your hair.