Nw2 or 3. What should i do next?(23 yo)

[vasidarv]

Your hair looks better now. As long as you on legit finasteride generic or name brand, you should be fine. How much does the name brand of Propecia cost now?

I'm not sure about the density, probably it's better, but there's sure recession. In my country it's 40 euro for 28 pills

 

[20YearsOnFin]

I would follow what @DoctorHouse has said but will add this,

generally with 5-ARI's slow and steady wins the race, which means keeping everything really nice and stable , you mention you have swapped brands 5 times in 3 years and also tried reducing your dose as well during this period which is pretty much the exact opposite of this, as if your hormones are sensitive to change each time you do these things you maybe inducing an unnecessary shedding phase time and time again.

What I would do from now on is just pick whichever brand you felt was working best or can afford and just stick with it rigidly for the next 1-2 years at least then revaluate your situation.

( FYI the finasteride in Proscar and Propecia used to be made by the exact same api supplier so is theoretically the same thing at a lower cost, I cant vouch for that 100% anymore though as I haven't used it for sometime)

 

[vasidarv]

I would follow what @DoctorHouse has said but will add this,

generally with 5-AIR's slow and steady wins the race, which means keeping everything really nice and stable , you mention you have swapped brands 5 times in 3 years and also tried reducing your dose as well during this period which is pretty much the exact opposite of this, as if your hormones are sensitive to change each time you do these things you maybe inducing an unnecessary shedding phase time and time again.

What I would do from now on is just pick whichever brand you felt was working best or can afford and just stick with it rigidly for the next 1-2 years at least then revaluate your situation.
By the way, I think adding some topical spironolactone in the regime, isn't going to hurt me right? It can only benefit me i guess

( FYI the finasteride in Proscar and Propecia used to be made by the exact same api supplier so is theoretically the same thing at a lower cost, I cant vouch for that 100% anymore though as I haven't used it for sometime)

So what do you think is better right now? Give some time the capsules to work(it's not generic, probably they've been made by some pharmacy in my city and they provide them to my dermatologist, that's why I'm a bit alarmed), or switch immediately to propecia and stay there.
By the way i think that adding topical spironolactone in my regime isn't going to hurt me, right? I guess it can only help

 

[20YearsOnFin]

(it's not generic, probably they've been made by some pharmacy in my city and they provide them to my dermatologist, that's why I'm a bit alarmed),

Unless its derived from Propecia or Proscar it's generic by definition, if could be sourced from Proscar but Its more likely the api will be sourced form an generic supplier due to cost.

or switch immediately to propecia and stay there.

That's difficult for me to answer, and would depend on how well you think what you are on is working and how likely you think you will stick to Propecia's higher cost, (Proscar was always meant to be the safest middle ground option in regards to cost.) You could try a 1 year stint on Propecia, but I wouldn't just swap to it for a couple of months.

By the way i think that adding topical spironolactone in my regime isn't going to hurt me, right?

I wouldn't personally add anything else at this point, otherwise how would you know if your hair is improving again from the finasteride or shedding because you have added something else.

 

[vasidarv]

Unless its derived from Propecia or Proscar it's generic by definition, if could be sourced from Proscar but Its more likely the api will be sourced form an generic supplier due to cost.


That's difficult for me to answer, and would depend on how well you think what you are on is working and how likely you think you will stick to Propecia's higher cost, (Proscar was always meant to be the safest middle ground option in regards to cost.) You could try a 1 year stint on Propecia, but I wouldn't just swap to it for a couple of months.


I wouldn't personally add anything else at this point, otherwise how would you know if your hair is improving again from the finasteride or shedding because you have added something else.

Thank you really. One last question, how does my hair look compared to September? Im just trying to understand if I'm losing or not. Hairline has receded 100%, im sure about it, i believe density too, given the huge shedding, but i need some other opinions too

 

[20YearsOnFin]

Thank you really. One last question, how does my hair look compared to September? Im just trying to understand if I'm losing or not. Hairline has receded 100%, im sure about it, i believe density too, given the huge shedding, but i need some other opinions

Your hairline still looks ok to me, If you are shedding excessively continuously you are likely to be losing density, but its difficult to tell if you are shedding from actual hair loss or because you keep switching products. (usually its from the treatments) In a ideal scenario would try to stick with the same brand that you think is working for the next 6-12 months and hope the shedding decrease's to a normal level, if that happened your hair density will naturally start to increase.

 

[WaccWaccWacc]

Great amount of hair. Just take your pill daily and try to put the thoughts on the back burner. Odds are you’ll have the same hair 5-years down the road and all that brain clogging is for nothing.

 

[infamousrodi]

For people who do not have very aggressive hair loss, riding out the sheds on finasteride is generally what needs to be done. Instead of dropping finasteride, you should re-evaluate your accessory treatments. I really believe most low Norwood’s will do great on finasteride + oral minoxidil. This will stabilize hair for most people’s lives so long as your hair loss isn’t super aggressive. Can also add something like RU if you have a scalp itch. Dutasteride is one of the last things to try IMO. Try adjusting your accessory treatment before changing inhibitors.

Don’t be like me I was riding out the sheds for 3 months and then my hair started to look really good. Then I dropped it cold turkey because fear of b**ch tits.

 

[Here For the Lulz]

Don’t be like me I was riding out the sheds for 3 months and then my hair started to look really good. Then I dropped it cold turkey because fear of b**ch tits.

So turned on right now

 

[vasidarv]

A quick update after 1 month and a bit more. No photos, as it's really early yet. So I switched one month ago from my doctor's finasteride to brand name. I think it's one week or so that the hairloss has reduced significantly. No shedding (or minimal) from mid scalp and crown(especially in crown i used to lose plenty last months), so that's good. I say overall shedding is at 30% compared to what is used to be. Problem is I still continue to shed a lot at hairline at temples. I think that's a crucial place though, cause I really don't want to see myself a NW3 soon.
I'm trying to look into my options. Should I wait for 1(or more?) months for the drug to work on hairline too and then check again or should I act fast and add something topical (topical spironolactone, i don't want yet to get dependent on Ru), so that I prevent any damage that will be irreversible?
Thanks everyone

 

[vasidarv]

Ok, so here are some pics from my hairline and temples mainly. It's so painful to watch my hairline like that, I'm just 23. You can clearly see the difference from last photos. Hairline is going. Please I need some advice. I'm even willing to add that RU, despite being student and broke. I hadn't realized how bad it became, till I took these photos. I can't stand that sh*t anymore, it's taking my youth.

 

[vasidarv]

Anyone? I just need a recommendation on what should be next. Microneedling, RU, Duta, spironolactone?

 

[20YearsOnFin]

Should I wait for 1(or more?) months for the drug to work on hairline too and then check again

Give it 3 months at least. see if it starts to stabilize.

 

[vasidarv]

I shaved my head before 1 week to estimate the damage that has been done, and holy sh*t, I have the NW6 pattern pretty obvious and I definitely look like balding d. How is it possible to get like that on finasteride, I'm clearly losing ground there's no denying anymore. Please give me some advice, I'm ready to do whatever it takes to stop this massacre (except estradiol, progesterone etc).
It's crazy to think that in some months I will have worse hair than my father and all my unlces, who are they on their 50's.

 

[vasidarv]

At least can someone tell me honestly how bad does it look and how big is the damage?

 

[Mr. Slap Head]

Are you only on finasteride? I would get on oral minoxidil immediately and even consider dutasteride tbh.

 

[vasidarv]

Are you only on finasteride? I would get on oral minoxidil immediately and even consider dutasteride tbh.

Im using topical minoxidil, i'm not sure about oral because I already get sides from it(dark circles, puffy face). I was thinking either RU or dutateride. Is my hair that bad?

 

[Mr. Slap Head]

Im using topical minoxidil, i'm not sure about oral because I already get sides from it(dark circles, puffy face). I was thinking either RU or dutateride. Is my hair that bad?

The large diffuse pattern is not a good sign. If water retention is an issue get on a diuretic.

 

[Catagen]

The large diffuse pattern is not a good sign. If water retention is an issue get on a diuretic.

norwoody alt?

 

[Mr. Slap Head]

norwoody alt?

Hey haven’t seen you in a while, hope all is well