20 Year Old Male Needing Some Advice

[CrystalFire]

Hi everyone.

I am a 20 year old male who LOVES their hair but is unfortunately seeing the first signs of a receding hairline (the temple areas are the worst). I shed quite a lot of hair a day - maybe I am just hyper-aware of it? I have low self esteem as it is and this is really starting to make things even worse

I noticed the texture/density of my hair changing in February 2017 and immediately freaked out. I began using Kirkland 5% minoxidil once or twice a day for about 5 months, then stopped for a few months and have now been putting it on once a day for the best part of a year. I would use it twice a day but I hate the way it makes my hair look.

I also use Nioxin because I think it genuinely makes a difference to the volume/bounce in my hair.

I have noticed some 'baby hairs' sprouting at my hairline but I think my hair loss is beginning to catch up with the minoxidil. The question is: what do I do now?
- Finasteride - afraid of the side effects, should I try it for a couple months and see if these side effects show?
- Ketoconazole shampoo - I have a bottle of 2% Nizoral in my room and not sure whether it may make things worse?
- Lipogaine? Heard pretty good things about this.

For reference, my Dad went bald in his mid 20s and my brother is 2 and a half years older than me has pretty bad hair loss. The men on my Mum's side have pretty thick hair, with my grandfather going bald at like 50/60.
So the genetics aren't really on my side here.

So what do you guys suggest?
Thanks!

 

[iCurly]

Hi everyone.

I am a 20 year old male who LOVES their hair but is unfortunately seeing the first signs of a receding hairline (the temple areas are the worst). I shed quite a lot of hair a day - maybe I am just hyper-aware of it? I have low self esteem as it is and this is really starting to make things even worse

I noticed the texture/density of my hair changing in February 2017 and immediately freaked out. I began using Kirkland 5% minoxidil once or twice a day for about 5 months, then stopped for a few months and have now been putting it on once a day for the best part of a year. I would use it twice a day but I hate the way it makes my hair look.

I also use Nioxin because I think it genuinely makes a difference to the volume/bounce in my hair.

I have noticed some 'baby hairs' sprouting at my hairline but I think my hair loss is beginning to catch up with the minoxidil. The question is: what do I do now?
- Finasteride - afraid of the side effects, should I try it for a couple months and see if these side effects show?
- Ketoconazole shampoo - I have a bottle of 2% Nizoral in my room and not sure whether it may make things worse?
- Lipogaine? Heard pretty good things about this.

For reference, my Dad went bald in his mid 20s and my brother is 2 and a half years older than me has pretty bad hair loss. The men on my Mum's side have pretty thick hair, with my grandfather going bald at like 50/60.
So the genetics aren't really on my side here.

So what do you guys suggest?
Thanks!

It would be better if you posted some pictures, would make it easier to judge from that.

 

[melsayles]

Minoxidil has a half life of 22 hours so you only need to use it once a day. Nizoral is effective at halting inflammation, it won’t make things worse. It has a small effect of stopping the enzyme the converts testosterone to DHT. Nioxin is a waste of money in my opinion. Don’t stop using minoxidil. I’ve heard It’s less effective each time you stop.

 

[abcdefg]

its pretty hard to avoid any type of finasteride, and have any real remote chance at actually slowly or stopping male pattern baldness long term. On the other hand given the risks/sides its not hard to see why many people are hesitant or choose to avoid it. There is no easy answer just a personal choice neither is wrong.