45-year-old: 20 Years On minoxidil And 18 Yrs On finasteride. Update And Next Steps

[FrankieNYC]

Hello everyone,

I noticed losing my hair at age 22 and started with 2% minoxidil at age 23. I switched to 5% a few years later and added 1 mg finasteride around 2000/2001. I upped finasteride to 1/3 a 5 mg pill around 2013 since there was more loss than usual. Fast forward to 2018 and I am now 45 and have been quite happy that I still have a decent (albeit slowly thinning hair). I really thought I'd be bald by 31-33 (this is how old my dad was when he bec completely bald). throughout this time I added dutasteride on and off but really did not see much of a result so I stopped it.

Others:
1. I tried Nizoral but it makes my scalp itch too much
2. My I give my scalp a good scratch with a brush every 3-4 days (the itch is likely from the minoxidil)
3. I switched from liquid to foam minoxidil at around 2008. I do wonder if the liquid is much better--though the foam does make my scalp itch less.

Next steps: I had my first PRP 3 days ago.

Looking for insights and other tips to keep my gains.

 

[curiousone]

Wow someone with a longer history than me. Im 37. 16 years on finasteride and almost 5m on minoxidil. Can you post some pics?

 

[Red October]

Hello everyone,

I noticed losing my hair at age 22 and started with 2% minoxidil at age 23. I switched to 5% a few years later and added 1 mg finasteride around 2000/2001. I upped finasteride to 1/3 a 5 mg pill around 2013 since there was more loss than usual. Fast forward to 2018 and I am now 45 and have been quite happy that I still have a decent (albeit slowly thinning hair). I really thought I'd be bald by 31-33 (this is how old my dad was when he bec completely bald). throughout this time I added dutasteride on and off but really did not see much of a result so I stopped it.

Others:
1. I tried Nizoral but it makes my scalp itch too much
2. My I give my scalp a good scratch with a brush every 3-4 days (the itch is likely from the minoxidil)
3. I switched from liquid to foam minoxidil at around 2008. I do wonder if the liquid is much better--though the foam does make my scalp itch less.

Next steps: I had my first PRP 3 days ago.

Looking for insights and other tips to keep my gains.

From reading on here and elsewhere, I wonder if the itch is what's causing you to still lose hair (albeit you've kept it for 20 years!)? Other posters have talked about eliminating the itch as being key. Maybe an alternative to Nizoral? I'm using Foligain advanced once a week (they advise to use more but it's expensive) and also Avalon Organics thickening shampoo a couple of times per week (it's cheaper). Previously I used Nizoral once a week and alternated with an ordinary shampoo. I still had some itch and a corner of my scalp which would have some chunks of dry skin. Since switching to the above this has gone and there's no itch to speak of. Have you tried many shampoo combinations over the years?

 

[Sameerahmed7]

Hello everyone,

I noticed losing my hair at age 22 and started with 2% minoxidil at age 23. I switched to 5% a few years later and added 1 mg finasteride around 2000/2001. I upped finasteride to 1/3 a 5 mg pill around 2013 since there was more loss than usual. Fast forward to 2018 and I am now 45 and have been quite happy that I still have a decent (albeit slowly thinning hair). I really thought I'd be bald by 31-33 (this is how old my dad was when he bec completely bald). throughout this time I added dutasteride on and off but really did not see much of a result so I stopped it.

Others:
1. I tried Nizoral but it makes my scalp itch too much
2. My I give my scalp a good scratch with a brush every 3-4 days (the itch is likely from the minoxidil)
3. I switched from liquid to foam minoxidil at around 2008. I do wonder if the liquid is much better--though the foam does make my scalp itch less.

Next steps: I had my first PRP 3 days ago.

Looking for insights and other tips to keep my gains.

Did you have any sides from finasteride??

 

[otis mcdonald]

Wow someone with a longer history than me. Im 37. 16 years on finasteride and almost 5m on minoxidil. Can you post some pics?

Have you kept most of your hair ?

 

[FrankieNYC]

Hey all, to address the questions above:

1. No sides from finasteride, other than trouble conceiving a second child due to low sperm count. Thought that’s not necessarily from finasteride. And if it was, and in hindsight, I’m glad lol

2. Yes. I kept most of my hair. By the time I started on minoxidil and eventually finasteride my temples were slightly receded and my crown was thinning. With a proper blow dry it stays well covered. To the point where there is no need to even contemplate concealers such as topixx

3. With regard to the itch. I felt that I had thicker hair when I was using minoxidil liquid—though that could be a function of age. When I used minoxidil liquid my head really itched. I brushed my scalp 2-3 times a week. I was quite satisfying though to not only get rid of the itch but watch the corn flaked size skin/dandruff come off.

I’ll try to post some pics in a bit

 

[FrankieNYC]

Pics of my hair combed back to show hairline and a shot of the top.

My hairline has thinned more during the past 6 years, however, my crown has been holding steady all this time.

 

[avocado67]

Good strategy and it's working for you. I did the same but at later age...

I'm 51 and have been on finasteride for 18 years. It halted hair loss and kept me at Norwood 3 for at least 15 years, but I have noticed that hair loss is now slowly creeping in and I'm at Norwood 4. I should state that I was also on minoxidil for 12 years, but stopped since it was too much of a hassle.

I had major side effects (brain fog, sexual performance, and decreasing sperm count) from finasteride and I believe the sperm count is getting worse over the last few years.

I'm about to completely halt finasteride as I'm not as vain as I used to be - i'm 100% sure I'll be at Norwood 5 or 6 within 12 months upon stopping finasteride. That said, I do plan to get hair transplant once I get to Norwood 7.

 

[FrankieNYC]

From reading on here and elsewhere, I wonder if the itch is what's causing you to still lose hair (albeit you've kept it for 20 years!)? Other posters have talked about eliminating the itch as being key. Maybe an alternative to Nizoral? I'm using Foligain advanced once a week (they advise to use more but it's expensive) and also Avalon Organics thickening shampoo a couple of times per week (it's cheaper). Previously I used Nizoral once a week and alternated with an ordinary shampoo. I still had some itch and a corner of my scalp which would have some chunks of dry skin. Since switching to the above this has gone and there's no itch to speak of. Have you tried many shampoo combinations over the years?

Yes, I've tried many shampoos in the past. From head and shoulders with conditioner, regular head and shoulders, all sorts of thickening shampoo, etc. The one that I use consistently are revivogen and nioxin. I shampoo my hair every other day now (started 2-3 years ago. before it was everyday).

 

[FrankieNYC]

Good strategy and it's working for you. I did the same but at later age...

I'm 51 and have been on finasteride for 18 years. It halted hair loss and kept me at Norwood 3 for at least 15 years, but I have noticed that hair loss is now slowly creeping in and I'm at Norwood 4. I should state that I was also on minoxidil for 12 years, but stopped since it was too much of a hassle.

I had major side effects (brain fog, sexual performance, and decreasing sperm count) from finasteride and I believe the sperm count is getting worse over the last few years.

I'm about to completely halt finasteride as I'm not as vain as I used to be - i'm 100% sure I'll be at Norwood 5 or 6 within 12 months upon stopping finasteride. That said, I do plan to get hair transplant once I get to Norwood 7.

When my hair is wet you can clearly see a norwood 6 type thinning. Like you, I care less about hair loss now than I did when I was younger. But, I still care enough to do something about it. lol
I'm hoping to hang on for just a few more years and hopefully something better comes along--like hair cloning. Looking back, I am surprised that I still have a decent amount of hair. I remember praying in my mid-20s that I'd keep my hair until I was at least 33-35.

Also looking back, I'm thankful I didn't fall for any of hard sell at the hair transplant clinics. The first doctor I saw in 1994 said I should get a hair transplant. In 1995 Men's Hair Now in Queens took a deposit from me for what they said was strands of hair they would add to my existing hair. I went in for my appointment and it was a full on hair piece they wanted to glue on to my head! Even the technician was looking at the sales person asking why? I was quite naive and vulnerable then.

 

[avocado67]

When my hair is wet you can clearly see a norwood 6 type thinning. Like you, I care less about hair loss now than I did when I was younger. But, I still care enough to do something about it. lol
I'm hoping to hang on for just a few more years and hopefully something better comes along--like hair cloning. Looking back, I am surprised that I still have a decent amount of hair. I remember praying in my mid-20s that I'd keep my hair until I was at least 33-35.

Also looking back, I'm thankful I didn't fall for any of hard sell at the hair transplant clinics. The first doctor I saw in 1994 said I should get a hair transplant. In 1995 Men's Hair Now in Queens took a deposit from me for what they said was strands of hair they would add to my existing hair. I went in for my appointment and it was a full on hair piece they wanted to glue on to my head! Even the technician was looking at the sales person asking why? I was quite naive and vulnerable then.

So true! Hair transplants have gotten a lot better and I now feel comfortable getting a transplant. I've been reading hair forums for decades and if I had a nickle for every time I heard hair cloning is only 5 years away, I'd be able to fund my own hair cloning research.

 

[recedingornot87]

Hey all, to address the questions above:

1. No sides from finasteride, other than trouble conceiving a second child due to low sperm count. Thought that’s not necessarily from finasteride. And if it was, and in hindsight, I’m glad lol

2. Yes. I kept most of my hair. By the time I started on minoxidil and eventually finasteride my temples were slightly receded and my crown was thinning. With a proper blow dry it stays well covered. To the point where there is no need to even contemplate concealers such as topixx

3. With regard to the itch. I felt that I had thicker hair when I was using minoxidil liquid—though that could be a function of age. When I used minoxidil liquid my head really itched. I brushed my scalp 2-3 times a week. I was quite satisfying though to not only get rid of the itch but watch the corn flaked size skin/dandruff come off.

I’ll try to post some pics in a bit

That is great hair for your age but #1 is very concerning.......

 

[d0minat0ra]

Hello everyone,

I noticed losing my hair at age 22 and started with 2% minoxidil at age 23. I switched to 5% a few years later and added 1 mg finasteride around 2000/2001. I upped finasteride to 1/3 a 5 mg pill around 2013 since there was more loss than usual. Fast forward to 2018 and I am now 45 and have been quite happy that I still have a decent (albeit slowly thinning hair). I really thought I'd be bald by 31-33 (this is how old my dad was when he bec completely bald). throughout this time I added dutasteride on and off but really did not see much of a result so I stopped it.

Others:
1. I tried Nizoral but it makes my scalp itch too much
2. My I give my scalp a good scratch with a brush every 3-4 days (the itch is likely from the minoxidil)
3. I switched from liquid to foam minoxidil at around 2008. I do wonder if the liquid is much better--though the foam does make my scalp itch less.

Next steps: I had my first PRP 3 days ago.

Looking for insights and other tips to keep my gains.

After using so long finasteride do you have kids?

 

[FrankieNYC]

With regard to the questions above re kids: yes, I was able to have a child while on finasteride. On the attempt to have another child my sperm count was low but the doctor, aware that I was taking finasteride, could not say whether that was the reason or not. I was 38 at the time and I had just ran a marathon a few months before and was training for another one. I was also doing a lot of biking and so it could have been from that.
At any rate, wife and I decided not to pursue it. Had we been dead set on it I would have stopped and seen a specialist.

 

[FrankieNYC]

Here are photos of my hair wet. The top is combed forward. You can’t see it from the pics but the thinning is a Norwood 6 pattern.
Another pic is of temples, wet and combed to the side.
After I apply minoxidil foam (once dried) and i blow dry my hair with cool air (no heat) it becomes significantly thicker and I’m quite happy with the coverage.
Since I only shampoo every other day, day 2 is even better. I guess the oils really help in giving an appearance of fullness.

 

[d0minat0ra]

@FrankieNYC did you see any effect on the body hair?

 

[FrankieNYC]

@FrankieNYC did you see any effect on the body hair?

None that I know of. I think I have the same amount from when I first started.

Also, no gynecomastia until I gained weight. When I lose the weight I also lose the chest fat deposits.
No adverse sexual effects. In fact, I had a surge in my sex drive 3 years after starting finasteride
No brain fog

I did notice some changes when I was on dutasteride: I had a decrease in ejaculate volume. That plus I didn't notice any changes after 18 months (twice a week, along with finasteride and minoxidil) so I stopped it.

 

[Unlucky93]

How's your skin after using minoxidil for so long? I know you're in your 40s, but do you have any excessive wrinkles, eye bags etc?

 

[FrankieNYC]

How's your skin after using minoxidil for so long? I know you're in your 40s, but do you have any excessive wrinkles, eye bags etc?

None, really. People actually comment on occasion that I look young for my age.

 

[Unlucky93]

None, really. People actually comment on occasion that I look young for my age.

Fair play. Your hair looks really good from what you've posted. Most people here would kill to have your hair when aged 45.