To start or not to start.....?

[gtd84]

I am a 24 year old male and I believe I am pretty sure I am in the early stages of male pattern baldness. My story is as follows:

I've had medium length hair for a few years (down to my chin roughly if I pulled on the longest strands) and about 6 months ago I decided it was time to cut it off and go with a shorter style to change things up a bit. It was only after cutting my hair short when I realised just how much my temples had receded since the last time I had "short" hair which would have been about 6 years ago at 18/19ish just getting out of high school.

As I mentioned, I didn't think anything of my slightly receded temples at the time due to the fact that I was quite happy with my new hairstyle, nice and clean, easy to manage with a quick slap of hair gel. The now-highly-visible temple recessions (due to no more long hair) was no biggie, a more mature look is something I can deal with just fine!

Sometime in the last 3-4 weeks I too notice of the first bald spot, which changed my perspective completely! I'm not exactly sure how I ended up noticing it, I think it was getting out of the shower, but sure enough on the crown of my head, right at the vertex, roughly the size of a dime, bald spot! Upon closer inspection I realised my hair was indeed thinner throughout the "crown" of my head than it has ever been before. "Well holy ******, I'm losing my hair!", I thought. It took a few days for me to actually believe it....

As far as family history I do not know my biological father, he separated from my mother when I was a baby and I have never seen him, nor has my mother since that time - the father I grew up with, now 51, still has a nice head of hair though lol, not that it matters, grrr =P. I do however know my grandfather very well...he is 81, still kickin and not the least bit senile lol (I guess that's a good sign...), and he still has a pretty full head of hair (gray but full)!

Well, anyway, I've been researching baldness for these last 3-4 weeks, which is how I found this forum. The early onset of what appears to be M.P.B. is pretty much freaking me out, not to mention the ridiculous hassle of it all.

I bought some Rogaine 5% and a bottle Nizoral shampoo tonight. I am terrified out of my mind to use the Rogaine. I can afford to pay for a Rogaine regimen indefinately if need be but throughout my research I have read some horror stories about people shedding more hair after starting Rogaine and not getting it back and things like that. I don't know if I should start or not.

As far as propecia goes the side effects freak me out even more than losing more hair due to Rogaine. I've never been on any medications as I am healthy and fit! Also, I haven't been to a doctor in years (probably should check in now and then, just been busy with college, work, g/f, etc) and I understand Propecia is prescription only.....hassle!!!!

Well that was my intro. rant I'll try to get some photograph's up later if I can. In the meantime I can say with good confidence that my hair loss is 99% similar to the hair loss depicted by this individual's photo's if you all want to know where I am at in this process...

http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f26/muhuwahaha/

So I'll finish with a summary of my main questions:

1) I bought some Rogaine 5% + Nizoral shampoo. I am particularly frightened by the Rogaine because I have read stories of people losing MORE hair after starting it. I don't know if I should go through with it and begin the regimen. I understand some initial shed my occur due to the way minoxidil works but is prolonged and increased shedding in comparison to the original hairloss common w/Rogaine?? I cant find any clear answers about this.

2) I've considered Propecia but it is prescription only and going through the process of going to a Doctor. and possibly dealing with the side effects seems like it might be more trouble than it's worth (this is the main reason I thought the Rogaine might be a better choice). I've read some long-term users have had some pretty bad experiences. Am I too young for Propecia? Propecia VS Rogaine for someone in my shoes I guess is a part of this internal dialogue I am having.....

3) Saw Palmetto as a substitute for finasteride? I'm down with the herbal/natural treatments.......anyone experimented with saw palmetto before for hair loss I've been reading it works similar to finasteride w/o the side effects?

Any input or advise is appreciated. In the meantime I growing my hair back out as I can at least cover it up for now.....oh dear this is going to be quite the journey I can tell......

Thanks for reading. I'll check back in soon.

 

[Nashville Hairline]

You will read varying stories about the efficacy of taking Saw Palmetto but I've taken it the last 9 months and believe it has at least controlled my hair loss. My opinion is it is probably just a weak inhibitor of DHT and if your hair loss is really aggressive you should think about Propecia - most on here will probably tell you that getting a prescription is not a problem when you can order it from the internet anyway. The percentage taking the drug and getting side-effects is actually quite small. Personally, I don't take it (yet).

I'm not a fan of Rogaine but for >approx 80% of men it will grow back some hair. Whether your lifestyle can accomodate 2 x applications a day and greasy hair all day is another story..

 

[Jake_89]

I tell you this straight if you want to keep your hair drop everything except Nizoral and add Propecia.

This is the only drug thats going to help you.

I would personally add rogaine further down the track if things get worse. But when starting a routine keep it very simply so you know whats working or not and it's easier.

 

[hhj1247]

Get on finasteride. If you're worried about sides, just take a lower dose! Many people do that here. I started taking 1 mg, thought I was experiencing some sides and got off of it. I was pursuaded to go back on it and so I started off at extremely low doses and added more on to it every month.

Honestly, I don't know how much sides will affect you or how much or it will be mental. I thought I was experiencing ed, so I quit, but I really think that is bs now when I think about it I thought I was taking poison. Ask your doctor for propecia and cut it into 1/4's for the first month. Then go up to 1/2's for your second. You probably won't see any sides or little sides at all that way. This isnt your first post like this man, I know your probably freaking out but you really still have time to catch your male pattern baldness if you go to a doctor and get on some sort of finasteride now. Don't start rogaine or nizoral right away- you might not need them, they're extra expenses, work, etc. If anything you could take nizoral. Rogaine, especially 5% is a bit drastic right now. Good luck man, now go see that f'n doctor! unk:

 

[gtd84]

Thanks for the input so far.

My opinion is it is probably just a weak inhibitor of DHT and if your hair loss is really aggressive you should think about Propecia - most on here will probably tell you that getting a prescription is not a problem when you can order it from the internet anyway.

Out of curiosity, what is a safe, reliable source to buy it from online?

Still havent made a decision as to what I want to do. Also, is there any hard data out there documenting what % of men experience side effects from it. And also is there much documentation on long-term use of the drug and it's side effects then?

Some of the websites I have come across just make it seem so horrible but others make it seem like a wonder-drug. Seems like a gamble and the information is conflicting at times which makes my decision that much tougher. :dunno:

 

[Nashville Hairline]

Out of curiosity, what is a safe, reliable source to buy it from online?

Still havent made a decision as to what I want to do. Also, is there any hard data out there documenting what % of men experience side effects from it. And also is there much documentation on long-term use of the drug and it's side effects then?

Some of the websites I have come across just make it seem so horrible but others make it seem like a wonder-drug. Seems like a gamble and the information is conflicting at times which makes my decision that much tougher. :dunno:

I don't have a source as I don't take it, maybe someone else can provide some links. Its not even approved where I live (Ireland) so thats puts me off it somewhat. There's no long term studies on as its still a relatively new drug and I believe the 2% side effects stat is from the Propecia website so take what you will from that. Its hard to tell from sites like this as most people who experience sides are willing to post about it!

 

[hhj1247]

Thanks for the input so far.

My opinion is it is probably just a weak inhibitor of DHT and if your hair loss is really aggressive you should think about Propecia - most on here will probably tell you that getting a prescription is not a problem when you can order it from the internet anyway.

Out of curiosity, what is a safe, reliable source to buy it from online?

Still havent made a decision as to what I want to do. Also, is there any hard data out there documenting what % of men experience side effects from it. And also is there much documentation on long-term use of the drug and it's side effects then?

Some of the websites I have come across just make it seem so horrible but others make it seem like a wonder-drug. Seems like a gamble and the information is conflicting at times which makes my decision that much tougher. :dunno:

Don't buy it from online. If you're concernd about price go to a doctor and ask for reasonably priced finasteride. It's worth it just to know you're taking the actual product. I heard some people who buy from online have success and some get jipped. It's up to you, but I still recommend just sucking it up and going to the doctor.