A Few Questions About minoxidil (4 Years On finasteride)

[623]

Been on finasteride for more than 4 years now with great success. I think the loss has pretty much been stopped dead in its tracks, with some regrowth in the beginning as well. I'd classify myself as a NW2 with temple points and generally fine blonde hair (but also thin for sure). My hair is so absurdly soft/fine it's hard to tell if it's see-through in the direct sun due to my male pattern baldness or general hair genetics. It can look very see-through in sun and really bad wet unless combed.

I know my situation is pretty fortunate, and I have been diagnosed with BDD (working on it now). However I know I have real hair loss from going to the derm, photos etc and it really bothers me.

I am fine with the recession for the most part and am really just hoping to regain like 10-20% density, especially in the crown area.

I'm worried about the shed and also about the long-term use.

• If I have stabilized on finasteride, should I expect a shorter/lesser shed cycle than normal?
• If finasteride keeps working, will the minoxidil work long-term since DHT is being suppressed?
• Is it worth this lifestyle change to make modest gains back to where I won't feel like I have noticeable hairloss?

I've included pictures of my crown (dry) as well as hairline (wet) and one of my hair parted down the middle (where I think it's thin) and one from the side of my head with no male pattern baldness for comparison. Hairline is slightly worse on other side (moving upwards).

Thanks.

 

[623]

bump

 

[MrPortugal]

You are a NW1 with a natural thin density...for me you doesn't have male pattern baldness

But just take your finasteride....

 

[michel sapin]

you could add minoxidil for better crown density i guess.

 

[michel sapin]

good job on catching your loss so early man !

 

[Pacey123]

Where do you see hairloss? Fine hair but no miniaturization whatsoever?!

 

[DKC]

Your hair is great. I don't see where you are getting the;

"My hair is so absurdly soft/fine it's hard to tell if it's see-through in the direct sun due to my male pattern baldness or general hair genetics. It can look very see-through in sun and really bad wet unless combed."....

Some very slight thinness which isn't necessary miniturisation, and under direct light it looks fine? Dude, I can't even walk outside in the sun without the sun bouncing off my thin front.... !

 

[davesmith420]

You have the same hair texture as me, your crown isn't thinning IMO.

 

[DoctorHouse]

You are a NW1 with a natural thin density...for me you doesn't have male pattern baldness

But just take your finasteride....

How can the tell the difference between natural thin density versus diffuse thinning?

 

[Pacey123]

How can the tell the difference between natural thin density versus diffuse thinning?

If you look closely at the pictures, you see that there are groupings of 2 to 3 hairs without thinner hairs in between. This is how one can tell.

 

[MrPortugal]

How can the tell the difference between natural thin density versus diffuse thinning?

Like said Pacey123

But if you part your hair in middle and if the line looks like less dense it's the first signs of male pattern baldness

But from the pics of this guy his middle has a normal density

 

[hairblues]

Definitely early hair loss very early though

This is how a lot of women get it in beginning. The loss of density with slightly thicker part

 

[davesmith420]

Definitely early hair loss very early though

This is how a lot of women get it in beginning. The loss of density with slightly thicker part

I don't know about you but that looks like a completely normal part to me. I think he has some slight recession but that is about it.

 

[hairblues]

I don't know about you but that looks like a completely normal part to me. I think he has some slight recession but that is about it.

that is what mine looked like really early on
Hard to say but if he thinks he lost density or he sees some miniature hairs then he has early Androgenetic Alopecia

 

[623]

Appreciate all the responses. I feel very lucky to be in a position where others are debating over whether I have hair loss or not

• When I was 20, a few friends commented that I was getting a bald spot and that summer tons of hair started shedding and my hair became crazy soft (fine/thin)
• When I was 21 I went to a derm who used the tool to look for miniaturization and then prescribed Propecia
• finasteride worked incredibly well but before that I could see my scalp in regular light all over regardless of hairstyle. Shed was worse
• I've regrown a good amount and maintained since then, and yes probably don't have noticeable hairloss rly - hence the BDD diagnosis.

So in summary, I do have androgenetic alopecia, I caught it relatively early, and am luckily a very strong finasteride responder. The density is definitely significantly down from when I was in high school etc but I am just going to assume I'm at mature hairline stage (slight recession and overall less density). Hair wet and uncombed it's easy to tell - can see scalp everywhere.

So I'm going to finish BDD treatment and see how I feel.

On a side note, I read a lot of this forum and think a lot of people probably have BDD. I will report back if treatment is successful. I also like that people respect the science behind finasteride/minoxidil and help people treat their hair loss early and correctly.

 

[michel sapin]

so before your propecia good result you got a shed ?

you know man, nobody could ever tell you have hairloss man . according to me your hair is perfect . keep taking propecia and maybe minoxidil fo maitenance .

 

[623]

Appreciate it. Yes, I had a pretty aggressive shed, it got pretty thin for that summer then came back in significantly thicker than I started.

A lot of my friends are starting to thin out now and I am thinking about recommending they get on finasteride. Bit of an awkward subject but I feel like if I am a good friend I should help them keep their hair.