Hi, I hope I'm welcome here, it seems like the best forum of those I've browsed through.
Anyway, I'm a 19 year old male who's had male pattern baldness from about 16 to the point where I'd consider myself a slightly thin NW2 (I would upload photos but my digicam is at college and I'm at home for a few weeks). The best analagous pattern thats easy to picture is Hugh Laurie in the earlier seasons of House, so it's not unstylable by any standards, but its at a critical point in that if it doesn't stop soon it will become noticeable, and judging by the diffuse throughout, will probably pick up speed in moving backwards. Loss is mostly concentrated to the front, but as I said, its a little thin throughout, though thats not noticeable unless its wetted.
I've been using 5% Minoxidil for about a year, and I haven't really seen any noticeable regrowth. But I think with the density I've retained at vertex, regrowth would have to be pretty significant for me to notice it. I started using 1mg Finasteride (Propecia) in early January, I'm about halfway through my 3rd month right now. I think I've just come out of a shed, the inch or so back from the hairline has thinned at a greater rate than usual, so I'm hoping that'll lead to a regrowth of thicker hairs. I'm quite lucky in that, aside from my hairline, I have a lot of semi-miniaturised follicles rather than completely lost hair, so I'm quite hopeful of regrowth. Now that I'm using Propecia I'm applying minoxidil solely to the frontal region, as I'm quite happy to just retain at Vertex. I've also started using Nizoral in conjunction with Propecia, started in January also.
My ultimate goal is retention, and though I'm aware it's optimistic, I would love to gain some density in my hairline, which is beginning to lose its definition. But, as I said, unless you look for it, my loss isn't noticeable when my hair is styled. That's partly due to growing it a little longer, and going to a really good hairdresser (I think thats something which is of great cosmetic value if your in relatively early stage loss), as well as the loss not being too over-aggressive.
I've also tried L'Oreal Thickening Shampoo (great value cosmetic thickener), Provillus (didn't work for me, very sceptical of it - basically overpriced saw palmetto), and Neutrasome by Revlon, which helped increase appearance, but I just moved on to Nizoral, because it just seems to be the only truely effective shampoo, from what I've read. I bought some Alpecin C1 earlier, solely because I read a few places that it was great at preventing the dry scalp that nizoral causes, to use on nizoral off-days. But I'm hoping for some luck with the big 3.
I was thinking of adding topical spironolactone in a few months (trying not to add too many variables at once so I can determine what's making the difference), I was wondering if anybody had any experience with using oral finasteride and topical spironolactone together?
And also, if anybody else has had a frontal shed when starting Propecia, could they let me know if the hair grew back on continuation? I know its what to expect, but I also know that finasteride doesn't usually work wonders at the front.
Finally, has anybody else in the UK had any problems attaining Propecia from a doctor? I've been to 2 or 3 GPs and 2 dermatologists before I got a prescription, I've had doctor's Google 'Propecia' when I've spoke to them about it, and just had all round bad service. Knowledge about male pattern baldness treatments in the UK, even by dermatologists, seems really low. I was told by a dermatologist that there was 'nothing whatsoever you can do about it, you can't change whats in your genes'. I'm a genetics student, and I went into huge detail about androgen inhibition, how finasteride works at a molecular level, DHT synthesis, etc., and just got a blank face. Wondering if anybody else has had that experience with UK medics?
Ah well, water under the bridge, I got Propecia for a few months from Lloyd's Pharmacy and then went back to my GP, said I'd been using it and got a discounted prescription.
Thanks for reading, look forward to replies.
Anyway, I'm a 19 year old male who's had male pattern baldness from about 16 to the point where I'd consider myself a slightly thin NW2 (I would upload photos but my digicam is at college and I'm at home for a few weeks). The best analagous pattern thats easy to picture is Hugh Laurie in the earlier seasons of House, so it's not unstylable by any standards, but its at a critical point in that if it doesn't stop soon it will become noticeable, and judging by the diffuse throughout, will probably pick up speed in moving backwards. Loss is mostly concentrated to the front, but as I said, its a little thin throughout, though thats not noticeable unless its wetted.
I've been using 5% Minoxidil for about a year, and I haven't really seen any noticeable regrowth. But I think with the density I've retained at vertex, regrowth would have to be pretty significant for me to notice it. I started using 1mg Finasteride (Propecia) in early January, I'm about halfway through my 3rd month right now. I think I've just come out of a shed, the inch or so back from the hairline has thinned at a greater rate than usual, so I'm hoping that'll lead to a regrowth of thicker hairs. I'm quite lucky in that, aside from my hairline, I have a lot of semi-miniaturised follicles rather than completely lost hair, so I'm quite hopeful of regrowth. Now that I'm using Propecia I'm applying minoxidil solely to the frontal region, as I'm quite happy to just retain at Vertex. I've also started using Nizoral in conjunction with Propecia, started in January also.
My ultimate goal is retention, and though I'm aware it's optimistic, I would love to gain some density in my hairline, which is beginning to lose its definition. But, as I said, unless you look for it, my loss isn't noticeable when my hair is styled. That's partly due to growing it a little longer, and going to a really good hairdresser (I think thats something which is of great cosmetic value if your in relatively early stage loss), as well as the loss not being too over-aggressive.
I've also tried L'Oreal Thickening Shampoo (great value cosmetic thickener), Provillus (didn't work for me, very sceptical of it - basically overpriced saw palmetto), and Neutrasome by Revlon, which helped increase appearance, but I just moved on to Nizoral, because it just seems to be the only truely effective shampoo, from what I've read. I bought some Alpecin C1 earlier, solely because I read a few places that it was great at preventing the dry scalp that nizoral causes, to use on nizoral off-days. But I'm hoping for some luck with the big 3.
I was thinking of adding topical spironolactone in a few months (trying not to add too many variables at once so I can determine what's making the difference), I was wondering if anybody had any experience with using oral finasteride and topical spironolactone together?
And also, if anybody else has had a frontal shed when starting Propecia, could they let me know if the hair grew back on continuation? I know its what to expect, but I also know that finasteride doesn't usually work wonders at the front.
Finally, has anybody else in the UK had any problems attaining Propecia from a doctor? I've been to 2 or 3 GPs and 2 dermatologists before I got a prescription, I've had doctor's Google 'Propecia' when I've spoke to them about it, and just had all round bad service. Knowledge about male pattern baldness treatments in the UK, even by dermatologists, seems really low. I was told by a dermatologist that there was 'nothing whatsoever you can do about it, you can't change whats in your genes'. I'm a genetics student, and I went into huge detail about androgen inhibition, how finasteride works at a molecular level, DHT synthesis, etc., and just got a blank face. Wondering if anybody else has had that experience with UK medics?
Ah well, water under the bridge, I got Propecia for a few months from Lloyd's Pharmacy and then went back to my GP, said I'd been using it and got a discounted prescription.
Thanks for reading, look forward to replies.