arya's story

[arya]

Hi, I am 30 years old. About 6/7 months ago, I noticed my hair is thinning all over the scalp, without any particular pattern (may be thinning started much earlier). I started looking for solution and eventually decided to give Gogaine 2% a try. I am using it for nearly a month . However, I am losing much more hair now, almost 10 times more than what I used to loss. I am very much afraid to wash my hair now, as it’s very scary to see that hundreds of hairs gone in a moment. On top of that, for last few days, I am experiencing redness and itching in my scalp, some part of forehead and even on some part of my arms. I am not sure what’s going on. I am scared, sad and frustrated. I decided to stop using it unless I see a doctor. If anybody has any suggestion please let me know

 

[Baldie]

I suggest you read the about shedding (click the word) and also read the sticky shedding thread in the "Men's General Hair Loss Discussions" forum. Shedding is perfectly normal with minoxidil and a lot of people experience redness and itching. The best cure, which most of us baldies use, is Nizoral 2%. Use that 2 - 3 times a week and the redness will go away. As for your hair. You must (and I strees the word MUST) try it for AT LEAST 6 months to see any results. Althought some people will see results quicker most will after 6-12 monts.

Hang in there and welcome to Hairlosstalk!

 

[2young]

If your thinning hair is all over you head, not just on the top, then you might not have male pattern baldness. Have you seen a doctor about it? Generalized diffuse hair loss throughout your scalp is a symptom of quite a few medical problems, like thyroid problems, nutritional deficiencies, etc. It might be worth it to have some tests done, just to be sure.

 

[arya]

Thank you guys, for taking your time to replay me. Actually, I am very sad & frustrated, and all I need some hope right now. Baldie, thanks for the nice and informative article about “sheddingâ€￾, that gave me some hope. 2young, no I haven’t seen a doctor yet, I already made an appointment though, and I will also get a blood test done as soon as possible. But after getting that kind of reaction from minioxidil/Rogaine, I wish it is thyroid problem. I am keep wondering though, if I am allergenic to minoxidil, then why I didn’t get any reaction in three weeks?? Why now??? Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it, and I will keep u updated about my situation.

 

[MiddleAgedManiac]

The same thing happens to me when I use minoxidil. Especially the 5%. I'm considering using a different brand than the Generic formulas.

 

[arya]

Ok I guys, I just went to see a pharmacist to find out some temporary solution to the reaction I had from minoxidil, as I have to wait, about one more week to see my dermatologist. She told me, I might be allergic to minoxidil, so I better stop using it (which I already did) and gave me some anti-allergic medication. Looks like my adventure with minoxidil ends here. Though, I am not making any final decision until I see my doctor. I think I am one of the very few unlucky guys who won’t be able to use minoxidil. And I am also afraid to use Finasteride because of its impact on sexual health. Looks like I am screwed. Now I am asking God. Why Me???????????????????????????????????????????????

 

[nooc]

I was very concerned about finesteride myself. But I've decided to give it a go. My prescription is for 1/4 Proscar every two days, but my Doctor said I could take it three times a week instead. That averages to just over 0.5mg a day, which studies say is just as potent as 1mg a day. Even if I followed the written prescription of 1/4 every two days, the pharmacist said that I shouldn't experience any sides.

I've been on it for almost a month, and so far, no sides - no lost libido, no ED, no man-boobies. No sexual sides (in fact, got me some action this morning - whoo-hoo). A friend of mine who is on 1.25 a day says that it takes him longer to climax, but his wife loves it.

Again, I've been on it for just about a month so I can't promise that I won't get sides in the future (my friend for about a year and he's fine). I can't even guarentee that it's going to help my male pattern baldness - it's too early to tell. And since everyone is different, it may affect you differently.

But just to repeat, no sexual problems here so far (fingers crossed).

 

[arya]

Ok guys I finally went to see a regular doctor as my swelling gone worse at a point that my eyes are almost closed, face is all swelled up and I am soo afraid to see myself in the mirror. I have never seen anything like that before. Well, doctor told me, I should never think about using minoxidil again in my life. So only option left for me is Finasteride. Though I am very much afraid of trying anything else again. But I love my hair too much, So, I think, I will give it a try. Within two days I gonna see my dermatologist. Lets see what he say about it. I am wondering though, is there any pre-allergic test I can take to see if I am allergic to Fainsteride. nooc thanks for your advice. I will talk about this option with my doctor.

 

[unluckystat]

Ok I guys, I just went to see a pharmacist to find out some temporary solution to the reaction I had from minoxidil, as I have to wait, about one more week to see my dermatologist. She told me, I might be allergic to minoxidil, so I better stop using it (which I already did) and gave me some anti-allergic medication. Looks like my adventure with minoxidil ends here. Though, I am not making any final decision until I see my doctor. I think I am one of the very few unlucky guys who won’t be able to use minoxidil. And I am also afraid to use Finasteride because of its impact on sexual health. Looks like I am screwed. Now I am asking God. Why Me???????????????????????????????????????????????

Don't worry about it so much man. I'm 19 and going bald, I don't even know if life is worth living like this when I'm this young. I have to take a lot of thought about the future and reassess things cause this is definently gonna make my life turn for the worst.

 

[iamnaked]

I find that a lot of people with really good hair are pretty boring/horrible people. In general, it is rare for beautiful people to not feel that the world should be handed to them on a silver platter just because they are beautiful. The one thing that I am thankful for about my male pattern baldness is reminding me that the person is more important than the shell we inhabit. The early feelings of low self-esteem were very important in forming the self that I inhabit now, where my self-esteem no longer revolves to such a strong degree around how I look, thereby giving me more control over when I am happy. I also started thinning at about 19 - it sux, but things get better. I am strongly of the opinion that your happiness is dependent on your outlook, and your outlook is obviously changeable.

 

[arya]

Ok guys here is my update. I just got a prescription for propecia today from my doctor. I will start taking it as soon as I get the result of my blood test back (test for thyroid problem). But before that, I have few questions.
1) Do u know anybody get allergic reaction from propecia?
2) What type of natural (most common) reactions I should expect, when I first start taking propecia?
3) If I have any sexual side effect, decrease in sex drive for example, should I stop using it?
I am really scared after what rogaine did to me. Thank you.

 

[arya]

My update after a week on propecia

hello guys here is my update.

After thinking lots of positive and negative things, I decided to take a chance with propecia. I am on it for a week now. There is no sexual or any other side effect yet. However, sadly, when I wake up today, I found about 40+ hair on my bed (I don’t use pillow) and another 50+ in shower. I freaked out. After doing some research on my scalp and little hair pulling test, I figured out that I am losing hair mainly (60%) from the area just below my crown (the area of scalp which touch the pillow when u lay down on the bed), Do u have any idea why this is happening???? What could possibly go wrong???? Or its just the natural shedding from propecia? I thought shedding from propecia suppose to come after 2/3 months. If this process continues, bold places will be visible on my scalp in 2 or 3 weeks. Actually just before I started propecia, my hairloss somehow stabilized (I don’t know why) but I still decided to go with propecia and now hairloss started again. I am really sad.
Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your support.

 

[colline]

minoxdil

what happened with the minoxdil i was thinking of using it but was told it gets rid of hair first then works then ou use it for life - i have used trichologists spent a fortune on not being able to get the locks i once had back - any suggestions what i can use now? where can i get minoxdil do i need to see the doctor first - had all blodd tests done i am so healthy it stinks depressed now not sure what to do if one more person talks to the scalp or top of my head this week i may not be able to move out of bed

 

[arya]

U don't need to see a doctor for minoxidil. You can buy it over the counter. I used minoxidil for 3 weeks but I had to stop as I am severly allergic to it. Yea u might see some initial hair loss both with minoxidil and finasteride. But they work well for most of the people.