One Year Propecia Update

Lossfer · Nov 25, 2003

I noticed my hairloss in the Fall of 2001. I was enduring an extended period of stress related to the end of a LTR at the time which may have been a contributing factor to its onset. My hairstylist also noticed and suggested that I begin using Nioxin, which I did. Exactly a year later, and with quite a few folicles lost, I decided to start taking Propecia after reading up on it on this site. It has now been a year. At the time I did not take any baseline photos to measure its effectivness, but I believe I can confidently say that I have continued to lose hair, although for about 6 months after starting I believe I maintained almost 100%. I am a diffuse thinner with very fine, whispy, blond hair, which really, really sucks. When cut right (basically keeping it long) I can hide the thinning somewhat although the hairline is beginning to give way. In addition to taking Propecia I bought some generic minoxidil but used it only sporadically. In the past month I have determined to apply the minoxidil to the hairline religiously once a day (5%). The two times a day recomendation is not practical for me, besides, it appears that the minoxidil is causing some serious dandruff, which I have never had before in my life. With the thinning hair, the scaling and flaking is really noticable. Consequently, I have added Nizoral to my regimen. With regard to side effects, I have experienced none of the major ones. Libido is uneffected, I don't feel weaker in the gym, and being irratable and tense by nature, cannot tell if I am more so because of the finasteride. At 8 months I did experience some intense testicular pain but if went away after I quit the finasteride for a week. After the pain was gone, I started again and have experienced pain again briefly and mildly only once. So, in conclusion, I believe that the Propecia has helped me maintain some, although this is subjective on my part. I have, however, continued to lose some, but no where near the hundreds that some report losing in a day, nor have I experienced a "Propecia shed" as others have reported. I do wonder if I am one of those for whom it takes over a year to achive any significant changes. I have seen no regrowth at all. It has certainly not been the 6 months to a year that the Merck literature claims. Perhaps my belief in maintainance is an illusion? Still, I will continue to take finasteride. As a diffuse thinner I have come to the conclusion that this is my best option for now. minoxidil is useful, perhaps, but difficult to apply. I can't tell if I have any regrowth from it yet. A hair transpant is out of the question because of cost and the kind of hair I have. I am just hoping it can help me hold on to what I have for a few more years until some the things in development come along. I am hoping for the day when we have an oral inhibitor which will not muck with hormones and also stimulate growth--a final cure.
I'd be pleased to answer any questions and would welcome advice. Best of luck everyone. Hope this was helpful to some of you.

lossfer
My Regimen:
Propecia (Merck) 1mg per day
minoxidil 5% once per day
Nizoral 1% 3 times per week
Nioxin shampoo, conditioner, therapy
Centrum Multi with Ginko 1 per day

This is what I call the poor man's regimen as eveything is essentially over the counter and relativly affordable, save for the Propecia.

VoRteX · Nov 25, 2003

thanks for the update.

I didnt think propecia was a wonder drug either. I think I had some positive benefits but I quit it simply because I didnt think the minimal pros outweighed the possible cons.

elguapo · Nov 26, 2003

Can you provide pictures now?

Hey, Lossfer, thank you for the update. We can all agree that it is nice to be paid a visit by those who have gone a year such as yourself.

I was wondering, can you provide photos of the "diffuse thinning" status that you mentioned. The reason I ask is that the whole dht thing doesn't make sense completely. (Obvious statement, otherwise we would have an absolute cure by now.=)

See, I wonder how long it takes for the hair follicle to "die", as the literature explains. Every site says that the hair goes through the growth cycle, every time popping out thinner, until it eventually doesn't grow anymore or is not visible at all, and then the follicle itself dies. And all of this caused by the big bad DHT.

So I ask for pictures to see if you compare to my case. I, too, recently noticed diffuse thinning, with what I think was a very sudden onset.

I will bring in photos too, to get my own advice. It isn't that bad, my condition, but I am glad I caught it now. My dad is bald, and I am going in the same direction, the same way that he is, thinning from the front or "widow's peak", and at the temples.

And how old are you? Me, just turned 28.

It is hard to judge when you started losing hair, how far you've come, etc., when you haven't gone too far. Me, I believed that myth that it wasj just from your mother's side, and her dad has a full head of hair at 80yrs. She has no brothers for comparison.

Thanks, and again, thanks for the update.

Lossfer · Nov 26, 2003

Elguapo--I don't have any pictures I could show. I also don't know how to put them up so you could see them--I'm not very internet savy. Besides, I don't think pictures could tell you much about my status, except possibly front on. From most angles it looks as if my hair density is normal. However, when I run my hands through it you can see much more scalp than I would like. Also, when I feel around on my scalp I can feel lots of short velus hairs, but they have been that way for a long, long time and don't seem to be growing longer. Its like they are stuck in a half-way position. I was wondering if the Propecia got them that far, but no farther. Meanwhile, a hair here and a hair there is lost, thinning things out piece by piece. I believe dht is related to hairloss. I say this because of the studies that have been done. Its pretty solid science. Still, I also agree with you that there are probably other factors involved. We (meaning human beings) still don't know that much about how and why hair grows or does not grow. Its surprising really. Its been over 30 years since we put a man on the moon, yet we still don't understand exactly why we lose our hair. We can view in exquisite detail galaxies billions of miles away but can't stop ourselves from losing our hair. One day we will. I really belive that. How long? That's the quesiton. Its vain, perhaps, but I simply want to keep my hair. There so few things we can control in life, but I want to control this fact about myself if I can. Its my hair. I want to keep it! That is all and I don't think that is asking too much. Best of luck.