Are we only 10% of all guys with hair loss?

[garyhary]

I recently stumbled upon the outline of this study here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16307704

It is from 2005 and what astonished me the most is that "Less than 10% of men were currently pursuing treatment for hair loss".

Can this really be true? All others do not care about at least trying to do something against their hair loss? Is this really only because the current treatments are not so impressive? I really can not believe that

all these guys do not do anything!

​

 

[jd_uk]

I recently stumbled upon the outline of this study here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16307704

It is from 2005 and what astonished me the most is that "Less than 10% of men were currently pursuing treatment for hair loss".

Can this really be true? All others do not care about at least trying to do something against their hair loss? Is this really only because the current treatments are not so impressive? I really can not believe that

all these guys do not do anything!

​

Not everybody sees it as some sort of death sentence. Even though i am on this forum i don't take 'treatments' as i don't believe the risk/reward is good enough. A lot of guys brush hair loss off as nothing more than a natural process and it has little effect on them or their lives.

 

[Swoop]

This aligns with earlier studies that very few people search for treatments while most are bothered by hair loss. Studies haven't looked at specifically why so, but some hypotheses that were made

- Fear of being perceived as vain
- Lack of willingness to admit being bothered by hair loss
- Negative perceptions about currently available treatments
- Unaware treatments are available

Anyway it's true some people don't give a sh*t about balding. I do think that's a very small group. Some are extremely upset and some just modestly or lightly upset (as shown in study). Everyone copes differently.

 

[Eren]

I still think, at least where I live, it's due to the fact that doctors aren't willing to prescribe finasteride. Even if they prescribe it, they won't give it to you for the rest of your life so eventually you'll lose it. In their eyes (i.e.doctors) it means you'll lose it anyway so no reason to fight, it's just hair and it's a cosmetic issue. It is seen as a part of life and something you need to accept.

Now, I don't agree with this retarded way of thinking, but the vast majority of doctors definitely do agree (especially those that haven't dealt with male pattern baldness).

If finasteride would be available without prescription, that 10% would increase dramatically. Why the hell do you need a prescription and thus permission of a doctor if you want to keep your hair?!

 

[jd_uk]

I still think, at least where I live, it's due to the fact that doctors aren't willing to prescribe finasteride. Even if they prescribe it, they won't give it to you for the rest of your life so eventually you'll lose it. In their eyes (i.e.doctors) it means you'll lose it anyway so no reason to fight, it's just hair and it's a cosmetic issue. It is seen as a part of life and something you need to accept.

Now, I don't agree with this retarded way of thinking, but the vast majority of doctors definitely do agree (especially those that haven't dealt with male pattern baldness).

If finasteride would be available without prescription, that 10% would increase dramatically. Why the hell do you need a prescription and thus permission of a doctor if you want to keep your hair?!

It doesn't make sense to take a hormone altering drunk for the rest of your life unless hair loss really, really bothers you. The average guy is probably slightly bothered by hair loss at times but nowhere near enough to do something about it.

 

[g.i joey]

IMO alot of people see alot of balding men and think "damn theres nothing i could do". This is why they dont get on treatment.

 

[Eren]

It doesn't make sense to take a hormone altering drunk for the rest of your life unless hair loss really, really bothers you. The average guy is probably slightly bothered by hair loss at times but nowhere near enough to do something about it.

Ok, this is just my case but if I say to my physician "I want to do something against my hair loss, I want to fight it," he shouldn't talk crap out his *** like: "Hair loss is a process of years, you won't be bald tomorrow." Fast-forward two years, lost 80% of density, hair wiry, deformed and ugly and that's me at 21.

Thing is, it really really bothers me, I wouldn't be there in his office after I specifically made an appointment for hair loss. I wonder how many guys wouldn't be really really bothered at losing hair at 19 at an extremely fast pace.

It should be available without prescription, see how many guys aren't that bothered by hair loss! Let's see, if everyone does have a free choice, without having to ask for permission from anyone, how much of them are at least going to try it? I'd say, at least 80%, this 10% is sh*t.

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IMO alot of people see alot of balding men and think "damn theres nothing i could do". This is why they dont get on treatment.

Google exists, so that cannot be the reason. Anyone who types 'hair loss' or 'going bald' ends up finding out about finasteride and minoxidil in an instant.

 

[jd_uk]

Ok, this is just my case but if I say to my physician "I want to do something against my hair loss, I want to fight it," he shouldn't talk crap out his *** like: "Hair loss is a process of years, you won't be bald tomorrow." Fast-forward two years, lost 80% of density, hair wiry, deformed and ugly and that's me at 21.

Thing is, it really really bothers me, I wouldn't be there in his office after I specifically made an appointment for hair loss. I wonder how many guys wouldn't be really really bothered at losing hair at 19 at an extremely fast pace.

It should be available without prescription, see how many guys aren't that bothered by hair loss! Let's see, if everyone does have a free choice, without having to ask for permission from anyone, how much of them are at least going to try it? I'd say, at least 80%, this 10% is sh*t.

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Google exists, so that cannot be the reason. Anyone who types 'hair loss' or 'going bald' ends up finding out about finasteride and minoxidil in an instant.

Doctors should be more understanding, I agree. Although to be honest, if i were a doctor then i would probably also caution people about using finasteride too because one day it's not going to work as well and once you're on it you ain't going to want to come off for fear of what may happen.

 

[nate30]

Most people don't have advanced hair loss in their early 20s. By the time it starts to become noticeable a lot of men are already in the "f#$k it" phase when it comes to their appearance. I don't think making Finasteride available without a prescription would do much to increase the usage base, as the cat's already out of the bag concerning sexual sides. And it most definitely shouldn't be available without a prescription as it alters your hormonal profile (to that of a Dominican Republic pseudo-hermaphrodite). Some men's bodies are well equipped to compensate for that change, others are not. And no, the "others" category is not 2%.

 

[Eren]

Doctors should be more understanding, I agree. Although to be honest, if i were a doctor then i would probably also caution people about using finasteride too because one day it's not going to work as well and once you're on it you ain't going to want to come off for fear of what may happen.

This is not true man, the study of Rossi et al tells us that. I do agree, however, coming off of finasteride is something which is extremely hard to do. In my case I would be a NW7 in a year. Literally, all the hair on the place of the horse shoe pattern are already affected in my case (they're weaker than the unaffected hairs).

Most people don't have advanced hair loss in their early 20s. By the time it starts to become noticeable a lot of men are already in the "f#$k it" phase when it comes to their appearance. I don't think making Finasteride available without a prescription would do much to increase the usage base, as the cat's already out of the bag concerning sexual sides. And it most definitely shouldn't be available without a prescription as it alters your hormonal profile (to that of a Dominican Republic pseudo-hermaphrodite). Some men's bodies are well equipped to compensate for that change, others are not. And no, the "others" category is not 2%.

Yeah and that's why I felt like sh*t when it happened to me at 19 lol. What is the source to the statement in bold?

 

[nate30]

Indeed, it's harder to deal with the younger you are.

No source, just my own experience of taking it and information gleaned from several years of perusing hairloss forums. However you might find these articles interesting:

http://www.medicaldaily.com/finaste...-poorly-reported-male-baldness-studies-327754
"Out of 34 clinical trials reviewed on the popular hair loss drug finasteride, zero were found to properly relay safety information on the drug’s controversial side effect of sexual dysfunction."

Regarding sexual dysfunction induced by antidepressants, which not so very long ago was thought to be in the 2% range:

http://medind.nic.in/daa/t10/i1/daat10i1p89.pdf
"Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction is common but underreported. For instance, only 14.2% of depressed patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression spontaneously report sexual complaints; however, if queried directly, nearly 60% of patients report sexual complaints"

 

[jd_uk]

This is not true man, the study of Rossi et al tells us that. I do agree, however, coming off of finasteride is something which is extremely hard to do. In my case I would be a NW7 in a year. Literally, all the hair on the place of the horse shoe pattern are already affected in my case (they're weaker than the unaffected hairs).



Yeah and that's why I felt like sh*t when it happened to me at 19 lol. What is the source to the statement in bold?

Not sure of that study but most hair transplant surgeons agree that there will be a point where genetics win out over finasteride. I see lots of guys here saying that their hair is getting worse despite it. Regardless, i hope it keeps working well for you if you don't have side effects.

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Indeed, it's harder to deal with the younger you are.

No source, just my own experience of taking it and information gleaned from several years of perusing hairloss forums. However you might find these articles interesting:

http://www.medicaldaily.com/finaste...-poorly-reported-male-baldness-studies-327754
"Out of 34 clinical trials reviewed on the popular hair loss drug finasteride, zero were found to properly relay safety information on the drug’s controversial side effect of sexual dysfunction."

Regarding sexual dysfunction induced by antidepressants, which not so very long ago was thought to be in the 2% range:

http://medind.nic.in/daa/t10/i1/daat10i1p89.pdf
"Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction is common but underreported. For instance, only 14.2% of depressed patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression spontaneously report sexual complaints; however, if queried directly, nearly 60% of patients report sexual complaints"

I had a period of depression years ago after a tough break up. I was prescribed an SSRI which i took for a total of 2 days. I literally couldn't even feel any sensation in my penis... nothing. It took me two weeks to get back to normal. I'll never take any drug like that again. I'll also never take finasterife as keeping my hormones healthy is important to me.

 

[Eren]

Not sure of that study but most hair transplant surgeons agree that there will be a point where genetics win out over finasteride. I see lots of guys here saying that their hair is getting worse despite it. Regardless, i hope it keeps working well for you if you don't have side effects.

Yeah no sides, but already lost too much. Remaining hair is lusterless and feels like dead wires. It's working though that finasteride, keeping what I have.

Regarding the study it's: "Finasteride, 1 mg daily administration on male androgenetic alopecia in different age groups: 10-year follow-up."

Going to the discussion section tells us:

"Our results showed also that in contrast with
what usually observed with other medications, finasteride
efficacy is not going to be reduced over
time, especially in the older group since it is well
known what happens to androgens in that age in
men subjects."

 

[jd_uk]

Yeah no sides, but already lost too much. Remaining hair is lusterless and feels like dead wires. It's working though that finasteride, keeping what I have.

Regarding the study it's: "Finasteride, 1 mg daily administration on male androgenetic alopecia in different age groups: 10-year follow-up."

Going to the discussion section tells us:

"Our results showed also that in contrast with
what usually observed with other medications, finasteride
efficacy is not going to be reduced over
time, especially in the older group since it is well
known what happens to androgens in that age in
men subjects."

But what constitutes 'not losing efficacy'? Is efficacy just the slowing down of the loss, or is it keeping the hair for good? I completely respect anyone who wants to go the route of taking finasteride, it just wasn't for me. I know i will be completely bald but that is just life i feel.

 

[throwaway592845]

But what constitutes 'not losing efficacy'? Is efficacy just the slowing down of the loss, or is it keeping the hair for good? I completely respect anyone who wants to go the route of taking finasteride, it just wasn't for me. I know i will be completely bald but that is just life i feel.

The study actually says that in case you have improved after 1 year there is a very high chance that you will be way above baseline after 10 years. It also states that more than half of all participants were above their baseline after 10 years regardless of their early response.

Gonna dig up the study, hold on a moment

Edit: Here is the study

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/downloads/Rossi_Finasteride_10Yr_ 2011.pdf


86% of all participants were above their respective baseline after 10 years. And if you were to have a good initial response (regrowth in your first year of use) you have a 53% chance of even more improvement after 5 years and a 68% chance of further improvement after 10 years.

Keep the small sample size in mind though.

 

[jd_uk]

The study actually says that in case you have improved after 1 year there is a very high chance that you will be way above baseline after 10 years. It also states that more than half of all participants were above their baseline after 10 years regardless of their early response.

Gonna dig up the study, hold on a moment

Edit: Here is the study

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/downloads/Rossi_Finasteride_10Yr_ 2011.pdf


86% of all participants were above their respective baseline after 10 years. And if you were to have a good initial response (regrowth in your first year of use) you have a 53% chance of even more improvement after 5 years and a 68% chance of further improvement after 10 years.

Keep the small sample size in mind though.

Interesting. I don't really know what to believe as i see so many guys saying its not working for them and hear what these hair transplant doctors say like Dr Rassmsn. Great if it works that well but even so it just isn't for me ..i know i'd always be anxious about messing with my hormones.

 

[throwaway592845]

Interesting. I don't really know what to believe as i see so many guys saying its not working for them and hear what these hair transplant doctors say like Dr Rassmsn. Great if it works that well but even so it just isn't for me ..i know i'd always be anxious about messing with my hormones.

Well, working in that case probably doesn't mean that it regrew two levels on the norwood scale. That is reserved for hair transplants.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

Overall I think this is good news.

Attractiveness is a zero sum game.

If I'm among the 10% of men putting in an effort (on finasteride for 2 weeks lol), then that should eventually turn into leverage.

If every man puts in the effort, it becomes much harder.

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Interesting. I don't really know what to believe as i see so many guys saying its not working for them and hear what these hair transplant doctors say like Dr Rassmsn. Great if it works that well but even so it just isn't for me ..i know i'd always be anxious about messing with my hormones.

I think (I hope) that finasteride is under-effective to those on this forum because this forum is over-represented by those with aggressive male pattern baldness, i.e. people who started losing their temples at 20 and such. For those cases, one needs really hard drugs.

 

[xetudor]

Finasteride really works. It's worth its weight in gold. And I don't understand people that say then won't take it because they think they will eventually lose the fight. You don't stop brushing your teeth when you get a cavity even though you washed and flossed religiously. You want to have your teeth and hair for as long as possible. In the end we die anyway, nothing is forever.

 

[Rockinlove]

Probable. My father, for instance, never did bother about his hair loss or seek treatment. He's a Norwood 7 now and doesn't give a damn.

His hairloss started in his early 30s but it seems like it was conventional male pattern baldness and is decidedly different from what I have.

Some of my friends just shave it off than resort to the expenditure each month. Others resort to 'homeopathy' or the herbal treatments that lack credence and may as well be in the same boat.

I recently stumbled upon the outline of this study here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16307704

It is from 2005 and what astonished me the most is that "Less than 10% of men were currently pursuing treatment for hair loss".

Can this really be true? All others do not care about at least trying to do something against their hair loss? Is this really only because the current treatments are not so impressive? I really can not believe that

all these guys do not do anything!

​