I'm in my early twenties and have been losing hair very gradually for the last 2-3 years. It hasn't been until the last six months that I looked in the mirror and thought 'right, i better do something about this, because it is starting to become more noticable'.
So like most people here, i started to surf around the net to get an idea of what my options were and if there was anything i could do. Read a load of good and bad information regarding minoxidil and finasteride, so i thought i'd best go see my local gp. Their response was 'to be honest the last thing i thought you would be worried about is male pattern baldness' and they didn't seem to understand that although my hair is thick, it was still thinning (if that made sense). Anyway, they pretty much told me to come back when i was bald and then they would consider treatment. I was feeling down, but the doctor was convinced the problem wasn't my hair, maybe she was right.
Besides being told not to worry about it, i did manage to get a series of blood tests for thyroid, diabetes and iron all which came back ok. I have been vegetarian pretty much my whole life, so i was hoping lack of iron was the culprit - wishful thinking i guess.
Time went by and i noticed my temples were slowly getting worse. Stage 2, go and see a registered trichologist (http://www.trichologists.org.uk/consulting.htm). I spoke to the trichologist and they were a lot more clued up than the gp. He checked my scalp and said that the majority of my folecules are still open and prescribed me a solution consisting of minoxidil 5% and an azaleic compound to inhibit the dht. I've been using the solution for about a month now. Noticed a small shed, but i was told to expect it, so i am just holding on and hoping to see some results in the new year.
Now i know at this stage most people would be yelling 'get on the finasteride, get on the finasteride!', but i was advised against taking finasteride by my trichologist. The reason being that the stronger version used to treat prostate cancer has very nasty side effects and the 1mg used for treating male pattern baldness is still exactly the same, but with a lower dose. Plus i was told azaleic acid has around 95% success at blocking dht, which if true isn't bad odds. I was also told to make sure i get plenty of zinc and vitamen b6, so i just get supplements for those from my local supermarket.
I have heard plenty of people b**ch and moan about using topical solutions, but to be honest after the first week it just became routine. Takes like 30 seconds to apply the stuff and then a couple of mins to dry. It dries matt and isn't greasy at all. I use nizoral shampoo twice a week and i can usually go 2-3 days without washing may hair, although if i do i use johnsons baby shampoo.
Anyway, that is about it. I kind of avoided writing about all the mental anguish i've experienced along the way, since i want to avoid that place in my head as much as possible.
Here is a photo i took today, as you can see i'm pretty much NW2 at the moment. If i can stay NW2 i'll be happy
If i regrow then i'll be even happier - can't ask much fairer than that.
Just for reference this is how my hair looked 2 years ago when i used to have dreads ... one day.
Well if you got this far thanks for reading. I've got my fingers crossed for all of us
-- emo
So like most people here, i started to surf around the net to get an idea of what my options were and if there was anything i could do. Read a load of good and bad information regarding minoxidil and finasteride, so i thought i'd best go see my local gp. Their response was 'to be honest the last thing i thought you would be worried about is male pattern baldness' and they didn't seem to understand that although my hair is thick, it was still thinning (if that made sense). Anyway, they pretty much told me to come back when i was bald and then they would consider treatment. I was feeling down, but the doctor was convinced the problem wasn't my hair, maybe she was right.
Besides being told not to worry about it, i did manage to get a series of blood tests for thyroid, diabetes and iron all which came back ok. I have been vegetarian pretty much my whole life, so i was hoping lack of iron was the culprit - wishful thinking i guess.
Time went by and i noticed my temples were slowly getting worse. Stage 2, go and see a registered trichologist (http://www.trichologists.org.uk/consulting.htm). I spoke to the trichologist and they were a lot more clued up than the gp. He checked my scalp and said that the majority of my folecules are still open and prescribed me a solution consisting of minoxidil 5% and an azaleic compound to inhibit the dht. I've been using the solution for about a month now. Noticed a small shed, but i was told to expect it, so i am just holding on and hoping to see some results in the new year.
Now i know at this stage most people would be yelling 'get on the finasteride, get on the finasteride!', but i was advised against taking finasteride by my trichologist. The reason being that the stronger version used to treat prostate cancer has very nasty side effects and the 1mg used for treating male pattern baldness is still exactly the same, but with a lower dose. Plus i was told azaleic acid has around 95% success at blocking dht, which if true isn't bad odds. I was also told to make sure i get plenty of zinc and vitamen b6, so i just get supplements for those from my local supermarket.
I have heard plenty of people b**ch and moan about using topical solutions, but to be honest after the first week it just became routine. Takes like 30 seconds to apply the stuff and then a couple of mins to dry. It dries matt and isn't greasy at all. I use nizoral shampoo twice a week and i can usually go 2-3 days without washing may hair, although if i do i use johnsons baby shampoo.
Anyway, that is about it. I kind of avoided writing about all the mental anguish i've experienced along the way, since i want to avoid that place in my head as much as possible.
Here is a photo i took today, as you can see i'm pretty much NW2 at the moment. If i can stay NW2 i'll be happy
If i regrow then i'll be even happier - can't ask much fairer than that.
Just for reference this is how my hair looked 2 years ago when i used to have dreads ... one day.
Well if you got this far thanks for reading. I've got my fingers crossed for all of us
-- emo
