My BEFORE Pictures

[Paul December]

I just began Propecia (generic on the way) so thought it would be a good time to take some baseline pictures. I needed to use the flash so things probably look a bit worse than real-life, but on the other hand it gives a better indication of the hair-loss.
Would someone please help classify the loss (Norwood)
I'm 38yrs and will be using Nizoral 2-3x week as well
I hope to eventually post some good AFTER pictures...wish me LUCK!
This 1st pic (starting at the bottom) goes from front-to-back:

This 2nd pic are of the front pulled back:

 

[StoptheMadness]

It looks to me your are diffuse, and therefore do not have a classis norwood scale, only because your hairline has a good thick hair in the front. It's not perfect but its very serviceable, so that's working for you. You have a little temple recession, but for 38 yrs old, it's very good.

The big problem for you is the crown/vertex. It's clearly thinned out, but luckily you still have hair there. I think you would be a great candidate to start with the minoxidil foam. I strongly urge to use the minoxidil foam EVERYDAY FOR A YEAR, then make a conclusion. Do not make a conclusion unitl you use that minoxidil for a year. Best advice I can give you.

Oh, and keep on that finasteride.

 

[Paul December]

Do you suggest minoxidil Foam 2 x a day?
Also, if I do re-grow hair with the foam, will the finasteride maintain it...or do I keep using the minoxidil?

 

[person_123]

you need to keep using minoxidil forever if you start it. which is why i stopped it. applying something to my scalp twice a day is not something i want to keep doing, i prefer popping a pill once a day. it's up to you what you want to stick with though.

 

[Hawaii male]

poping a pill a day is alot easier than using minoxidil 2x a day.

 

[StoptheMadness]

If you were to regrow or even maintain what you have with the minoxidil, finasteride will certainly aid in keeping that hair, along with maintaining the existing hair as well as thickening the existing hair.

At best finasteride will regrow hair for 2 years after which your hair will continue to progress thru male pattern baldness, but that process will become MUCH MUCH slower. But it works well when you are younger and still have hair on your head. This guy is 38 but he still has hair, so I would be inclined that finasteride can certainly maintain the hair into golden years.

Now having said that I would also add minoxidil foam. Yes you would have to use minoxidil foam for the rest of your life, until the day you decide to let your baldness shine thru. But the minoxidil foam can work as what I call a "force multiplier" to the finasteride. You would have two medications working on different physiological mechanisms to keeep your hair; in your 38 yr old case though, even regrow hair at the crown/vertex, of which finasteride is reducing some dht.

Even in the worst of times during that 1st year, one must maintain the discipline to apply the minoxidil foam 2x per day everyday.

 

[person_123]

really? finasteride only grows hair for two years? where did you hear this? i was under the impression finasteride will stop male pattern baldness.

 

[barnabas]

really? finasteride only grows hair for two years? where did you hear this? i was under the impression finasteride will stop male pattern baldness.

Ignore people that say that, while it's sort of true on average, it's highly misleading. ON AVERAGE, people that got on propecia in the official trials would grow a bit of hair back at first, and then just maintain roughly the amount they had afterwards. After several years it ON AVERAGE came back down to how it was in the first place, but there are plenty of people who have been maintaining for more than 10 years on the stuff and counting. Just take it, the odds are you will basically just see it as having halted your hair loss for many years to come.

 

[bubka]

i think he was saying that the majority, if not all of the regrowth, happens within the first 2 years... typically

 

[Paul December]

I believe the Merck website says nearly all regrowth (if there is any) is in the 1st two years...then it serves as maintenance. Check out the video with graph.

 

[NedFlanders]

Man I would sell my soul to have as much hair as you have.

 

[Boru]

Did the devil appear in a puff of smoke with a contract for your new hair?

 

[Paul December]

Man I would sell my soul to have as much hair as you have.

Thanks! :lol: