Balding for 32 years. My story

[littlegus63]

I'm a 51 year old male from the UK. I started losing my hair quite dramatically when I was 19 years old and thought I would be bald within weeks! I saw my GP who said I had male pattern baldness. I went to see a trichologist who studied my hair and said I was not going bald! At the time I noticed my hair getting thinner all over my head, although my temples and crown were obviously becoming bare. I knew even then that the hair all over my head was thinning. Eventually the two met after about four years and now I have only a few visible strands of hair on the top of my head. The hair on my neck/back of head and the sides are very thin and although I buzz my head, you can see that these areas are balding too and that the process is still evolving. I have miniaturised hairs visible all over my scalp, top, back and sides.

I don't know why I am still going bald in the manner I am. I've never seen any experts about the matter since. My brother is older and has all his hair. My father died with a full head of hair 10 years ago. My mother has 5 brothers, all in their 70's now. Two have all their hair, one is completely bald on top and the others have minor thinning over the past decade or so. It does bother me although I have had many years to get used to it. It seems silly after all this time but I wish I could reverse things or could do something. Perhaps it's that I'm having a weird mid-life crisis! I think seeing a specialist would be a waste of time and money and that nothing can be done as it's male pattern baldness and it's all too late for me.

 

[I.D WALKER]

Hello Littlegus, I see you are consistently taking finasteride.+min. since February. Clearly YOU are already "doing something" about your male pattern baldness affliction. Kudos for that.

Most of us can appreciate or relate to the discouragement over this interminable, heart wrenching matter. Regretfully your story also further supports the belief that the general adverse impact of hair loss
indeed crosses the age barrier. I'm no expert on diagnosing your unique state, but my gut tells me these changes may well be due to your treatment response. Intermittent shedding cycles are not uncommon with aforesaid regimen and even indicative of a positive response. Here before/aft. photos might give us a better clue, but not necessarily at this stage of your treatment. In the meantime stick with treatment for it can exceed 1 yr. of consistent use for user to notice positive benefits. I know you hope to profit with regrowth,

Yet there is much to be said about the value of maintaining existing hair. All my best.

 

[littlegus63]

Thank you for you comment I.D.
I have regularly been taking photos since I started my regime. I will post before and after photos if there is any evidence of regrowth at any point. I intend to keep on the regimen until at least 18 months and then re-evaluate. All I've noticed at the moment is that my scalp is less greasy and that what hair I have feels a bit courser to touch but that could be just the drying affect of minoxidil and Nizoral.

 

[I.D WALKER]

Good for you. You are very welcome. Best of luck.

 

[Wolf Pack]

Hey. I think we may have talked over PM at that time when you joined? I vaguely remember you messaging me maybe. I look forward to seeing your updates and hair getting better. Sometimes we develop awareness over issues at different times in our lives, for various reasons. A change in a relationship, a comment by someone, a realisation e.t.c. So it's not necessary a mid life crisis

 

[littlegus63]

Hi Wolf Pack
Yes we have talked before by pm and you have helped me find my way. Thank you.
Obviously starting to lose my hair at a young age was a real shock. It's always been an issue for me and I believe I've coped very well. I've always felt that balding somehow strips you in some way making you feel vulnerable, like being naked in public for everyone to poke fun or make some churlish comment whenever they wish just because they can. Despite being modestly successful in my own little world I want to try and stop this degrading process while I can. Maybe it's too late, maybe a mid-life crisis but I'll have a go and do what I can and then see what happens. If nothing works, then for me it doesn't matter but if it does work, then it really matters a whole lot more.

 

[Wolf Pack]

If nothing works, then for me it doesn't matter but if it does work, then it really matters a whole lot more.

That's a great attitude to have. Glad to have helped you. I know what you describe there, that vulnerable feeling baldness can leave you with. I am not bald but that worries me. So how long have you been on medication then and any new hairs? I got on a couple of months before you but only finasteride, I have seen some progress which I have posted. You will hopefully share some when the time is right, it can take a while.

I know you're older but there have been great success stories so you never know.

 

[littlegus63]

Wolf Pack, I have been on Minoxidil and Finasteride for 27 and 26 weeks respectively. I haven't noticed any new hairs. Other than a big reduction in sebum on my scalp and a different texture to my existing hair, which I mentioned before, nothing seems to have changed. Because I keep my hair very short, like just a few mm, I can't even say that I have noticed a reduction in lost hair. If there is any change in either hair thickening or regrowth it will be very easy for me to notice.

And you are right as you just never know who it will work for so we will see.

 

[hippydood]

Best of luck.

I've been on finasteride for just over 4 months and "I think" the hair loss has slowed or stopped (diffuse loss). I just a few drops of mimoxidil around my hairline (which is still pretty full) just to see if it does any good there - so far nothing - but I'm not really expecting it too - as I understand it doesn;t do much for the hairline but is better at the crown.

 

[littlegus63]

Thanks Hippydood, all the best to you in your quest.