Taking this very hard

[notta]

Hey guys, I just signed up to the boards. I'm 35 and for the past 5 years or so my friends have been telling me that I'm losing my hair. I always responded and thought that the reason that they were saying that was because of how short I get my hair cut. Just recently, as in this week, I really noticed how thin it is in the back. I still have hair, but it's really thin and my scalp stands out majorly.

This really sucks and I'm taking this very hard. I have 8 brothers and sisters and all 3 of my brothers are in their 40's and 50's and have full heads of hair. It figures I'm the only one in the family that it happens to. My one brother use to say that if he ever started to go bald he would sell his house to get his hair back. We said "yea you would be on the side of the road in a box with people riding by looking at you and saying Wow, look at that homeless guy, but he sure does have great hair." My brother said "yep." I know I sound like a p**s, but I'm having a tough time with this right now.

I have a few questions I was hoping you guys wouldn't mind answering for me? Can I get my family doctor to prescribe Finn for me? I don't have a dermatologist and my family Doctor is a really nice guy that I know would do it without a problem. What do you guys recommend for me to start with? Another question, I have hair on my back and for the past year I have been getting laser removal which has done a very good job of getting most of it. Will finasteride make hair on your entire body grow or does it target the scalp alone? I'm losing my hair from the middle of my head back. I attached a pic for you to see. I want to call the Doctor tomorrow and get working on this. I'd appreciate your help. Thanks guys.


Here's a pic I just took.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/notta2006 ... .dir=/41da

 

[Baldie]

The below answers are based on what i've read on these forums and not set in stone:

Can I get my family doctor to prescribe Finn for me?

Buy it online, a lot cheaper.

What do you guys recommend for me to start with?

I have excactly the same balding pattern as you but mine got quite a bit worse than yours. I started on minoxidil in december and have seen major regrowth. My hair now looks like what you've got and I'm very pleased with it (I'm happy with results that are equal to what your not pleased with, strange but true )

I have hair on my back and for the past year I have been getting laser removal which has done a very good job of getting most of it. Will finasteride make hair on your entire body grow or does it target the scalp alone?

I don't think it should affect it since finasteride and minoxidil (if you choose to do minoxidil as well) revive dormant hair follicles, in particular the ones on your scalp. I think laser treatment actually kills the hair follicles preventing them from ever producing hair again.

Don't excpect overnight miracles though. This is a loooong process and initially you will loose a lot of hair since your scalp is readjusting to the medicaments. Don't be alarmed, we've all been through it. Stick with it for at least a year and take monthly pictures of your scalp. Then reassess the situation to see if it has helped you.

Good Luck!

 

[Trent]

I have a few questions I was hoping you guys wouldn't mind answering for me? Can I get my family doctor to prescribe Finn for me? I don't have a dermatologist and my family Doctor is a really nice guy that I know would do it without a problem.

yes, a family Doctor can give you a prescription for propecia; this is actually how i got mine.

What do you guys recommend for me to start with?

i recommend that you get on propecia right away. if you think you can, you may want to just try using propecia and nizoral shampoo alone for a year, and try and hold off on the minoxidil till you are sure you really need it. Nizoral and propecia is a very simple (one pill a day, and nizoral because you have to wash your hair anyway), and very effective "maintain + a little regrowth" combination. If you feel you need a lot of regrowth, then go ahead and add rogaine to the mix, you have to apply it twice a day though and can't shower around four hours after application (unless you get Dr. Lee's quick drying stuff).

Propecia is a great maintainer, and works by inhibiting the alpha reductase that converts testosterone to DHT. (DHT = bad for hair), and it may give you a little regrowth. This drug gets at the real root of hairloss.

Rogaine is pretty much just a "regrowth" addition, although it can give you good results, you really need the propecia in there to get to the root of the problem which is DHT. You can get this at any drug store as well.

Nizoral is an anti-dandruff shampoo you can get at any drug store that has some "anti-hairloss" characteristics.

these are what we call here "The Big Three"

Another question, I have hair on my back and for the past year I have been getting laser removal which has done a very good job of getting most of it. Will finasteride make hair on your entire body grow or does it target the scalp alone?

no, finasteride will not make hair grow on your entire body. it is specific for the scalp.

 

[PartTimeNinja]

I slightly disagree with Trent: Since you know the doctor very well you should get a script for proscar instead - and then cut them into fourths.
Not only a little cheaper - but a whole lot cheaper! Everything else I agree with.

 

[socks]

Knowing everything I know now (been on these hairloss boards for over 6months) I would go:

1. 2.5mg Finasteride every 3rd day (half a Proscar tab)

2. Nizoral 2% shampoo every 3rd day (first use a regular shampoo to get the oil and styling products out of your hair and off your scalp. Rinse and then apply the Nizoral 2% for 5 - 10 mins. Rinse. This will not only give maximum benefits but will save money as one bottle of nizoral will last like 6+ months).

3. Minoxidil 5% (or look into the Oz brew which is a hybrid minoxidil mixture that is homemade).

You would be almost certain to get positive results IMO.


Good luck with whatever route you take!

 

[juststarting]

Socks: I wouldn't advise that dosage regime. I took 1.25mg a couple weeks ago, on theory of skipping a day. First time I EVER felt a loss in sex drive from my normal regime (as shown in sig). You are still initially putting a LOT of finesteride in your system at 2.5mg

 

[socks]

Socks: I wouldn't advise that dosage regime. I took 1.25mg a couple weeks ago, on theory of skipping a day. First time I EVER felt a loss in sex drive from my normal regime (as shown in sig). You are still initially putting a LOT of finesteride in your system at 2.5mg

Despite what it may appear from reading these Internet hairloss forums, sexual side-effects at the 1mg - 1.25mg level is rare. The official FDA study on Propecia puts the sexual side-effect occurrence at 2% with most of such symptoms subsiding after continued use.

I took up to 5mg of finasteride every four days before switching to 2.5mg every three days and the only side-effect I had was a break out of acne on my back that subsided after a week.

Anyhow, my dosage routine has worked very well for me so far and saved me plenty of cash (2.5mg, every 3rd day, of namebrand Proscar costs me $136 USD a year VS $720 for Propecia).

 

[Guest]

Hi Notta,

Yup, you need to get in Proscar right away. I think in seven months time you will have recovered most of that and then I think you would be very happy.

 

[rapidfrontal]

You would be almost certain to get positive results IMO.[/quote]

Did I miss something? What is IMO?

 

[Guest]

You would be almost certain to get positive results IMO.

Did I miss something? What is IMO?[/quote]

...In My Opinion...

 

[rapidfrontal]

You would be almost certain to get positive results IMO.

Did I miss something? What is IMO?

...In My Opinion...[/quote]

Oh, I'm a bit slow, you have to work with me.

 

[notta]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Let me ask you guys something and I don't mean to put a damper on all the help you've given, but I've read a lot of posts on this board the past couple of days and it seems that the majority of the people on here seem to be riding on hope and haven't had the greatest of results. I've read posts in the other sections where people say this medicine stuff doesn't work and it's all a scam. It seems like hair transplant's is the only way you're really ever going to look half way normal. I confessed to a friend last night that I haven't seen in a while about my problem. He said that he goes to a gym with a guy that has spent 12k on 2 HP's and his hair still looks like sh*t. You know you look back on other things that have bothered you in life(like my back for example) and you realize how trivial they are compared to something like this. Anyway, I had a very bad day at work today thinking everyone was looking at my head and saying "damn, he's going big time bald." The past 2 days I've noticed guys I've talked to rubbing their hands through their hair like their checking to make sure that their hair is not as bad as mine You know like when someone has a boog in their nose and the other person starts rubbing their nose when their talking to you.

Well I'm starting to ramble here, but I guess my big concern is that I'm 35 and still single. I've never had a problem meeting women, but now my confidence is completely shot and I still have hair I go to the Doctor tomorrow, but I have to be honest and say that I'm worried about taking this medicine that will make my hair fall out when I could possibly get another year or 2 out of it. Anyone know what I mean? I guess I'm just really upset right now. I cannot picture myself being one of those guys you see with the horseshoe. Oh man this sucks.

Once again, sorry for the ramble

notta

 

[rapidfrontal]

I've read posts in the other sections where people say this medicine stuff doesn't work and it's all a scam. It seems like hair transplant's is the only way you're really ever going to look half way normal. I confessed to a friend last night that I haven't seen in a while about my problem. He said that he goes to a gym with a guy that has spent 12k on 2 HP's and his hair still looks like sh*t. You know you look back on other things that have bothered you in life(like my back for example) and you realize how trivial they are compared to something like this. Anyway, I had a very bad day at work today thinking everyone was looking at my head and saying "damn, he's going big time bald." The past 2 days I've noticed guys I've talked to rubbing their hands through their hair like their checking to make sure that their hair is not as bad as mine You know like when someone has a boog in their nose and the other person starts rubbing their nose when their talking to you.

I think it is a proven fact that for most Propecia and minoxidil do work to maintain and grow respectively. But not indefinitely. Here's the mentality: everyday you keep your hair you are one day closer to a cure and when the cure comes along those who still have hair will have a better chance at being able to benefit from it.

I know a lot of people on gourmetstylewellness.com have hair transplant's and I don't so they know more than I, but my brother got a hair transplant and it was ok for a while, but then he started telling me that he felt like a science project. Now he shaves his dome to prevent people from seeing the hair transplant hairs, but he wants to shave it all but he can't because he has a substantial scar on the back of his head. He now tells me that the hair transplant was the worst decision he's ever made. Just one guy's experience, but keep it in mind when making your own decision. I for one will not be getting a hair transplant, and it appears I will be bald soon.

A year ago when I had no hairloss, I never ran my hands through my hair when talking to a balding guy. I think most of that is imagination on the part of the balding guy.

 

[socks]

Let me ask you guys something and I don't mean to put a damper on all the help you've given, but I've read a lot of posts on this board the past couple of days and it seems that the majority of the people on here seem to be riding on hope and haven't had the greatest of results.

Define "greatest of results".

Some guys come here thinking they can take their NW3+ self back to a NW1; They will be disappointed.

Some guys think they can regain the density they enjoyed during their high school year; They will be disappointed

Some guys think these results will happen miraculously within a few weeks... Some of the more patient ones will give it 3 - 6 months for their "miracle"; They will be disappointed.


Some guys however are realistic about what they expect. They concede they wont be sporting that 16 year old high school NW1 doo. They understand that results can take 1 - 2 yrs to reach its climax and they are happy with simply maintaining what they have. They learn to accept the aging process and they dont focus on their hair 24/7.

Most of these men wont be disappointed.

I've read posts in the other sections where people say this medicine stuff doesn't work and it's all a scam. It seems like hair transplant's is the only way you're really ever going to look half way normal.

These men smoke crack :lol:

The donor area you have for a hair transplant is a relatively small area on the back of your scalp. If you dont do anything to preserve your hair then your hair will continue to thin and recede. By the time you reach a NW5 you wont be able to get full coverage. You will have to concede a thin or bald crown. By NW6 not only do you have a bald crown but coverage up front will be sparse. By NW7 you will have a patchy scalp with scars visible that will look like sh*t.


hair transplant is not a freaking cure for male pattern baldness. You only have so much donor area and it will only cover so much. Medication is a must for any man who truly wants to maintain a decent head of hair without fear they will run out of donor hair forcing them to concede more and more coverage and density until, in the end, it is a patchy mess.

I confessed to a friend last night that I haven't seen in a while about my problem. He said that he goes to a gym with a guy that has spent 12k on 2 HP's and his hair still looks like sh*t.

Not all hair transplant are equal. It is imperative you do your homework and find a ethical and cutting edge surgeon who will give you a top notch hair transplant. There are plenty of horror stories with men going to an inept doctor only to get screwed outa a lot of money and left with a hideous result!

You know you look back on other things that have bothered you in life(like my back for example) and you realize how trivial they are compared to something like this.

In the grand scheme of things hairloss shouldnt bother some of us the way it does... However, we live in an ever increasing superficial and vain society where the popular media makes us feel if we dont look as good as the top 5% of the population there is something wrong with us.

These can lead to serious problems for some men. If you hang around these forums long enough you will get to know some of em :wink:

I go to the Doctor tomorrow, but I have to be honest and say that I'm worried about taking this medicine that will make my hair fall out when I could possibly get another year or 2 out of it. Anyone know what I mean? I guess I'm just really upset right now. I cannot picture myself being one of those guys you see with the horseshoe. Oh man this sucks.

Finasteride wont cause you to go bald faster! Such an idea is absurd considering Finasteride decreases the DHT that is responsible for your hairloss in the first place!

Some men dont respond and continue to go bald anyhow. These men will then blame finasteride for making them go bald faster when in reality they just didnt respond to the medication.

There are also plenty of mentally unstable men who "see things" and have crazy expectations. Sometimes these men will make humorous posts about finasteride causing them to go bald faster.


Minoxidil can cause a nasty shed that can make your hair look like sh*t for several months. This will pass but you have to have patients.


All in all, if you're a NW1 - NW3 and have decent density dont use minoxidil. Stick with finasteride and Nizoral.



Good luck!

 

[notta]

Well I went to the Doctor today and sadly he seemed to not know very much about meds to help with hair loss. He knew what they were, but only prescribed Propecia once. He broke out the medical book and read the side effects to me before he prescibed Propecia to me. Couple things here:

He brought up the sexual side effects that 2% of the people might have. 2% is worth taking the chance for me, but has anyone here actually been part of that 2%?

Secondly, he said that it shrinks your prostate. I know it's bad to have a large prostate, but is it bad to have a small prostate? I know your prostate is used for ejaculation, but what does that mean when it's smaller? What, am I going to be shooting drips at the max when it comes to ejaculation?

Lastly, like I said he didn't know much about the meds and only prescribed 1 mg tabs. That seems lower than what you guys are taking. Should I call him back(if I can ever get in touch with him) and tell him it should be higher or give the 1mg a chance?

I also forgot to ask for the Nizoral. Is that prescription? Ok, off to call Eckerds and see how much it's going to cost me for a 30 day supply. Thanks guys.

notta

 

[notta]

My bad, I read some other posts and forgot that you're supposed to cut the 1 mg into 4ths. That will save me some money as well. I called Eckerds and they said that Propecia costs $65 for 30 - 1mg tabs. That doesn't seem to bad and since you're cutting them into 4ths, 30 tabs should last quite a while. Also the question about sexual side effects was answered in another post today. It seems people have problems with the higher dosages and when they cut them back to .25 than they're all good.

 

[PartTimeNinja]

You're getting your med mixed up a bit.

Propecia: 1 mg Finasteride (the active ingredient) - Price $65 for 30- for one month supply
Proscar: 5mg Finasteride (the active ingredient) - Price $90 (in australia) for 30 - 4 months supply since you will be cutting these into forths.

If you are happy to pay $65 for a months supply for Propecia (will last you one month) hang on to the script you have now. If you are a bit short of cash or like to save some - call your doctor right back and get him to change the script to proscar instead (will last you 4 month for $90).

 

[project_hate]

It's deffinetly a let down when losing hair , but man you are 35 and just starting..I was losing hair when I was 18.. It wasn;t noticable until I was 23-24.. Now 27 .. You should thank the gods it wasn;t earlier.. 35, hell , that would be better than losing it early :evil: ....Just a thought.. Either way it sucks for every one, but at an early age it's really tough. Friends all still have hair this and that..Never helps having friends that joke about it either :roll: ....Life sucks then ya die...

 

[juststarting]

It's deffinetly a let down when losing hair , but man you are 35 and just starting..I was losing hair when I was 18.. It wasn;t noticable until I was 23-24.. Now 27 .. You should thank the gods it wasn;t earlier.. 35, hell , that would be better than losing it early :evil: ....Just a thought.. Either way it sucks for every one, but at an early age it's really tough. Friends all still have hair this and that..Never helps having friends that joke about it either :roll: ....Life sucks then ya die...

Oy, here we go again, with the "oh its not so bad at your age. Now at my age its so much worse" attitude. Hate to say this, maybe later age helps, but at 33 and just starting this is hitting me very hard too and I am bummed being a norwood 1.2ish.

Drives me nuts this attitude, you know what? Hair loss at any age is painful. Pain is pain, and when its your pain that's the worst pain "anyone" can have Just my 0.02...

 

[TourdeForce24]

It's deffinetly a let down when losing hair , but man you are 35 and just starting..I was losing hair when I was 18.. It wasn;t noticable until I was 23-24.. Now 27 .. You should thank the gods it wasn;t earlier.. 35, hell , that would be better than losing it early :evil: ....Just a thought.. Either way it sucks for every one, but at an early age it's really tough. Friends all still have hair this and that..Never helps having friends that joke about it either :roll: ....Life sucks then ya die...

Oy, here we go again, with the "oh its not so bad at your age. Now at my age its so much worse" attitude. Hate to say this, maybe later age helps, but at 33 and just starting this is hitting me very hard too and I am bummed being a norwood 1.2ish.

Drives me nuts this attitude, you know what? Hair loss at any age is painful. Pain is pain, and when its your pain that's the worst pain "anyone" can have Just my 0.02...

Dude, you had ten more more years of full hair than I will have. Ten years of carefree hair, hair blowing in your face in the wind without looking like Gollum. Women at your age are more understanding. Superficial coeds aged between 19-24 with lip gloss and dreams of their idealized "perfect" man coming over to rescue them just don't understand male pattern baldness. They think you are sick or something. Seriously. Conversations with many of my female friends have confirmed this. Case in point. A girl friend of mine looking at a picture of a guy with a Norwood 5 or so in the school newspaper said, "Ew, that is disgusting. What a loser." Girls are just so stupid sometimes.