Starting On My Finasteride Journey - Appreciate Input

[Vesemir]

So I'm a 22 year old male who has been suffering from hair since I was around 19 years old. This is my current situation:

Wet hair:

Almost dry hair:

Dry hair:

Update
I've used Minoxidil 5% for 4 months or so, then I took a break because of more body hair growth. Currently using it again after a 3 weeks break. I'm still using Regenpure DR, which contains 1% ketoconazol. (6 days a week)

Update June 3rd

Two days ago I've started using 1/4 of Proscar daily. So far no sides but it has only been two days.

 

[Vesemir]

Any thoughts....?

 

[labellavita1985]

Minoxidil, especially the 5% works, in some cases very effectively, to the point of almost complete reversal of hair loss. This has been demonstrated over and over again. It does not work for everyone, though, and it doesn't stop the fundamental balding process. It is often described as a "band aid" for Androgenetic Alopecia.

It is a very good sign that your shedding has decreased.

It is my personal opinion that an unhealthy lifestyle/stress/partying plays a negligible role in Androgenetic Alopecia.

 

[Vesemir]

Well at the moment I'm hardly losing any hair, which is very nice I'm really hoping to see some regrowth soon. Maybe I'll update this thread with pictures in the future

 

[Pavi]

Minoxidil, especially the 5% works, in some cases very effectively, to the point of almost complete reversal of hair loss. This has been demonstrated over and over again. It does not work for everyone, though, and it doesn't stop the fundamental balding process. It is often described as a "band aid" for Androgenetic Alopecia.

It is a very good sign that your shedding has decreased.

It is my personal opinion that an unhealthy lifestyle/stress/partying plays a negligible role in Androgenetic Alopecia.

How can you contradict yourself so much? How can you call minoxidil a band aid and then say it has the potential to completely reverse hair loss? Minoxidil, if it works for you, can be really effective

 

[labellavita1985]

It doesn't address the cause of hair loss. It can regrow hair and reverse hair loss but not permanently. The balding process is still occuring regardless of treatment with minoxidil. I don't know why you act like you don't know this or what I'm saying is unheard of. I also didn't call minoxidil a band aid personally, I said it is often referred to as a band aid [by others.]

Regardless, minoxidil is by far the most effective regrowth agent available, arguably the only worthwhile one.

 

[Vesemir]

Update

I've been using minoxidil for almost 4 months now and it seems like it slowed down my hair loss a bit. There's a side note though, my body hair has increased so so much, it's not funny anymore. All over my butt is black hair, and my hands are starting to look like the hands of a monkey... There's also black hair coming in on my upper arms and back. I never really was a hairy guy and I don't like a lot of body hair either. Is it normal that minoxidil causes so much body hair growth? I was aware it could increase it a little but this is just ridiculous!

On June the 1st I started finasteride which my dermatologist has prescribed me. I'm taking 1/4 of Proscar a day which is 1.25mg of finasteride. So far no side effects, but it has only been two days. I'm planning on using this thread as a hair loss diary with the pictures I posted earlier as a starting point, because using minoxidil didn't result in regrowing any hair so far.

 

[TD500]

You are probably getting minoxidil on your hands and touching other parts of your body. Wash those hands good.

 

[Vesemir]

I've washed my hands thoroughly after applying since I started using minoxidil.

 

[pegasus2]

Hi all :wave:

I'm a 22 year old male from The Netherlands who has been battling hair loss since I was ±19. This is my current situation

Wet hair:

Almost dry hair:

Dry hair:

I have been using minoxidil 5% twice a day for three months now and I noticed I'm losing less hair. I use Regenepure DR shampoo to wash my hair almost daily. It makes my scalp almost itch free.

Update June 3rd

Two days ago I've started using 1/4 of Proscar daily. So far no sides but it has only been two days.

Minoxidil actually works really well for some people. I wish I had known that when I first started balding. I delayed treatment because I just assumed that the treatments don't actually work or you wouldn't have so many bald people.

 

[pegasus2]

If you look at your first picture, there could be diffusion. As far as your hairline, I would have to see where your chin is.
Without looking at that, I really don't know if you have recession or not.

Interesting. Are you saying that your hairline should come out as far as your chin sticks out?

 

[ssg]

Could the minoxidil 5% work after a substantial break..

Hi People on this forum,
This is my first post.. so hello to all the good people here. So my question is...

I used minoxidil for 8 years and it worked well for me. I however stopped due to some personal health issues in 2013. In the 3 years since I have gone from NW1 hairline to a Norwood 3.5 but I have recently restarted... for the past month. Now I have seen some gain in thickness. but will the hairline come back to a NW1 or atleast NW2.. can minoxidil reinvigorate dormant follicules on the forehead.. which receeded post me stopping minoxidil use. I do feel the tingling beneath my forehead skin..

Is there anyone here with successful experience of using minoxidil after a substantial break?

p.s. I have switched to the 5% now. previously being on 2%.

 

[Vesemir]

Thanks for your reply k9gatton. It motivates me to continue with minoxidil despite the excessive body hair growth.

 

[Chezdon]

Hair looks like it'll respond well to treatment. Keep us posted.

 

[pegasus2]

- - - Updated - - -

Exactly. The distance between chin -> nostrils should be equal to the top of nose to hairline. Anything above that is usually recession.

This is also true with the temple area, though not as true.

My current hairline comes down to that point, although it is thin. My hairline used to be about an inch lower and I think I looked much better then.

 

[Pavi]

I have been using minoxidil for 8 months. Twice a day and I haven't missed a single dose. I have almost completely reversed my hair loss. The stuff doesn't work for everyone but if it does work for you, it will do wonders

 

[Marky]

Sometimes i think there are Rogaine sales people on these forums. If minoxidil was really effective there would be way more cured from baldness, but thats not the case. When the real deal comes out the whole world will know of it.
Its funny to read the warnings on it, like don't get any on the forehead to avoid hair growth there lol - most won't even grow vellous hair on the scalp applying it twice a day for the rest of their lives!

 

[Vesemir]

I have been using minoxidil for 8 months. Twice a day and I haven't missed a single dose. I have almost completely reversed my hair loss. The stuff doesn't work for everyone but if it does work for you, it will do wonders

That's great Pavi! I'm hoping for some good results too since I've also started taking finasteride.

If you look at your first picture, there could be diffusion. As far as your hairline, I would have to see where your chin is.
Without looking at that, I really don't know if you have recession or not.

There's just diffuse thinning all over my scalp. My hairline thinned out quite a bit too but I wouldn't say there's recession (yet).

 

[SeekingHelp]

So hard to know

If you do decide to use it, the best thing to do is take clear well lighted pictures of your head once a month. Do it like in your bathroom in the same exact spot with the same camera and lighting everytime. This way you will know for sure if it's is helping at all.

 

[Pavi]

That's great Pavi! I'm hoping for some good results too since I've also started taking finasteride.



There's just diffuse thinning all over my scalp. My hairline thinned out quite a bit too but I wouldn't say there's recession (yet).

Lol I'm not a salesperson for rogaine. But I would definitely get on it. The applications suck, especially if you apply it all over the top of your head (like me). It can take me 15-20 minutes per application. But I put it all over my top of my head for thickening and preventing future loss