First Time Poster: Time For Minoxidil?

[jetblackslickback]

Hi All,

I've been reading this forum for several years now, at least 3 years or so but this is the first time I've posted because I'm at a bit of a crossroads. I made the very first step to seeking medical treatment for my hair loss and was advised to get on Minoxidil.

A bit of back story [apologies for boring anyone]. I've been convinced that I've been thinning since the age of 18. I'm now 30 and I still have a decent amount of hair on my head, but the thinning is now getting obvious. When I turned 21 for my graduation photos I noticed that my hair line and the top of head was clearly thinner than it had been before. Around 24 my uncle commented that it's good my hair loss is well distributed because it means the transition won't be that shocking. He suggested I had another 2 years left, by which logic I have no idea. Fast forward to 26 my forehead was about a cm bigger than I had remembered, but my hair line was still a decent one. I should mention that until this point I had always kept my hair rather short. In all this time my biggest problem area was a very weak crown. I hadn't been able to grow dense hair in this area for as long as I could remember.

Now then, while I was convinced I was losing hair, it wasn't until the age of 28 when I got a very short [almost buzz] cut that I noticed that my hairline was a bit of a mess. The left temple had receded probably by an inch and I could see a further cm worth of weak hairs. My right temple there was a weak patch about a cm in radius. This is when I decided I will start using black seed oil on my scalp to try and nourish it, and I started to grow my hair out to try and conceal. Now, at the age of 30 [almost exactly 2 years after the short cut shock], the 1 cm length of weak hair on my temple has all but gone, while the right side is ever so slowly getting weaker. About 6 weeks ago I started doing this nail rubbing yoga technique called Balayam because, why not? Desperate measures at this point to try and stay natural and it's free and easy. I also started doing scalp massage daily for the last 2 months using a wooden bristle brush.

Sincere apologies for the length of this post, but now I'll get to the point. I sent an online consultation request to Belgravia Centre last week and they hit me back with a quote which made me lose even more hair! i'm joking, obviously, but they suggested a 12-month course of their very special minoxidil.
-Minoxidil 12.5%+ Azelaic Acid
-Minoxidil 5% + Medroxyprogesterone
-HairMax LaserComb [I wouldn't use this anyway]
-Shampoo and conditioner + scalp product [I don't use shampoo or any products]

The price? £1240.00 for 12 months! That's absurd surely? If I'm going to invest THIS MUCH, surely invest a few grand more and get a transplant?

However, since in the last 6 weeks, every time I've done the scalp massage I've noticed close 70/80 hairs [about 25 strong, 30 small cm long weak, 30 practically stubble] fall out, which is coincidently around the time I started doing Balayam, I figured I should start on Minoxidil OTC to at least slow my hair loss. I feel like the thinning has increased in the last 6 weeks and even if it's for another 5 years, I'd like to keep what I still have!

So my questions are, for anyone still bothering [so kindly] to read all of this:
-Based on my pictures, what are my forecasts is I started using Minoxidil?
-What is the best brand to go with, or is there a difference between brands?
-Could the shedding be so bad that it becomes clearly noticeable to others?
-Is there any way anyone could advise on how quickly I'm losing my hair?

Thank you SOOOOO MUCH to anyone that reads, and even more so to anyone that responds.

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[jetblackslickback]

No takers? I was really hoping for some advice before taking a plunge.

 

[9982]

Try needle rolling with 5% minoxidil. See if it helps. Your hair doesn't look bad.

 

[jetblackslickback]

Try needle rolling with 5% minoxidil. See if it helps. Your hair doesn't look bad.

Thanks buddy. I've had a derma-roller for a while now and have used it semi-regularly. I guess I've been doing it wrong because I did it to the point of bleeding so I stopped. Really appreciate the reply.

 

[Scootz]

If I were you (and I have a very similar hairloss pattern) I’d start with a standard 5% minoxidil solution coupled with microneedling at 1.5mm weekly. Drawing blood doesn’t mean you’re needling wrong, the idea is to wound the scalp and take advantage of the subsequent healing process (or to break up the fibrotic tissue l, eveyone’s got their own theory). This is a both a cheap and proven starting point, as far as efficacy goes. The thing with minoxidil is you have to stay disciplined and consistent with it. Just figure out a good time to work it into your daily routine and stick to it.

I’m a big believer in starting small and working your way up if you feel it’s necessary (i.e. making the jump to 15% minoxidil which I know nothing about). You can always hop on Finasteride as well, but everyone reacts differently so I’d do plenty of research before you take that plunge. I personally responded very well to Finasteride because I don’t have really aggressive male pattern baldness, similar to your situation. So, I’d definitely consider it.

 

[jetblackslickback]

If I were you (and I have a very similar hairloss pattern) I’d start with a standard 5% minoxidil solution coupled with microneedling at 1.5mm weekly. Drawing blood doesn’t mean you’re needling wrong, the idea is to wound the scalp and take advantage of the subsequent healing process (or to break up the fibrotic tissue l, eveyone’s got their own theory). This is a both a cheap and proven starting point, as far as efficacy goes. The thing with minoxidil is you have to stay disciplined and consistent with it. Just figure out a good time to work it into your daily routine and stick to it.

I’m a big believer in starting small and working your way up if you feel it’s necessary (i.e. making the jump to 15% minoxidil which I know nothing about). You can always hop on Finasteride as well, but everyone reacts differently so I’d do plenty of research before you take that plunge. I personally responded very well to Finasteride because I don’t have really aggressive male pattern baldness, similar to your situation. So, I’d definitely consider it.

Thanks for the reply man. I'll do all these things, except finasteride for now. I really wanna stay away from it for as long as I can.

 

[ScaredOfBalding]

Thanks for the reply man. I'll do all these things, except finasteride for now. I really wanna stay away from it for as long as I can.

That's a mistake. If ur in the group that has side effects u can always stop. It's far better to try now because if u have no or reasonable side effects u will probably keep ur hair for a far longer time. But do what u want.