Success at 2 years with quartered Proscar

[mkienbau]

First time poster on here, and I've been actively reading over the past few years for information regarding my hair loss.

I initially started to notice a receding hairline at 19, and got to the point where I took action at 23 by speaking with my dermatologist. She prescribed the 1/4th of a proscar pill daily, and recommended rogaine foam as well. I additionally have been using nizoral as I've read to be a good addition to the routine.

Up until now (I'm 2 years in treatment) I've had awesome results, with a near 100% return on my hair, most of which coming within the first year. I've just started noticing this week that I'm getting more hair in my hands as I apply the rogaine and as I shower in the morning.

I've read that the hair cycles become synchronized, particularly if you see quick gains initially as I did. Does this sound like a synchronized telogen phase given the time frame? It seems like there are a lot of cases where shedding occurs, but I haven't found many threads that have a conclusion as if it was just the telogen phase being synchronized, or a return of the hair loss pattern.

I just had my 2 year check up last month and everything appeared fine then, but am starting to become concerned with the increased rate of hair loss.

Thanks!

 

[Lincoln]

Have you seen any side effects bcz of Proscar?
Did it really work?
Do you have any before - after pics?

 

[mkienbau]

Have you seen any side effects bcz of Proscar?
Did it really work?
Do you have any before - after pics?

I've had no noticeable side effects.

And yes, it really worked. I noticed a significant change in 3 months, and nearly 100% regrowth by the end of the first year.

This is the first setback I've had so far, and I'm hoping it is just a cyclical synchronization as it has been just over two years since I started treatment (seems to be the average length of the anagen phase). The hair shedding appears to only be occurring on my right temporal area. Approximately 15-20 hairs in the morning and another 15 or so in the evening. It doesn't sound like a lot, but I'm noticing a difference cosmetically. The left side appears to be about normal.

I do have a few pictures I could post later on today.

- - - Updated - - -



Not the highest quality image, but obvious temporal recession. This was October 2010



July 2012



This past weekend, growing it out a bit more while I have it.

 

[talmoode]

wow! thats some very good growth there!...yes it could be that some of your hairs are at the telogen phase. but how lucky you are! this is like your first shedding since your treatment!!!!!!!!??????? I am constantly shedding and that really sucks!

 

[mkienbau]

wow! thats some very good growth there!...yes it could be that some of your hairs are at the telogen phase. but how lucky you are! this is like your first shedding since your treatment!!!!!!!!??????? I am constantly shedding and that really sucks!

Trust me, I don't take it for granted! I'm hoping that is the case as one side did come in better than the other initially (can't remember which of course) and now one side is shedding heavily and the other appears fine. I've been super consistent with my regimen with the exception of the rogaine which I discontinued for a few months, but back on the wagon now.

I guess when I thought about it today I have become a bit more irritable/disinterested with the proscar, but I think its a matter of balancing that with the confidence I've gained.

- - - Updated - - -


Another thought after typing this out and actually just applying the rogaine. I've been religiously using again for the past month and half or so (morning and night) - chances of shedding as a result of this as well?

 

[mkienbau]

Just a quick update on this - hair continues to shed but am starting to see what appears to be new growth coming in on my right temporal side. Sporadic dark hair and a decent amount of clear/blonde small hairs and "peach fuzz". Will keep this updated with progress or if hair stops growing back in.

 

[andrew lincoln]

I've had no noticeable side effects.

And yes, it really worked. I noticed a significant change in 3 months, and nearly 100% regrowth by the end of the first year.

This is the first setback I've had so far, and I'm hoping it is just a cyclical synchronization as it has been just over two years since I started treatment (seems to be the average length of the anagen phase). The hair shedding appears to only be occurring on my right temporal area. Approximately 15-20 hairs in the morning and another 15 or so in the evening. It doesn't sound like a lot, but I'm noticing a difference cosmetically. The left side appears to be about normal.

I do have a few pictures I could post later on today.

- - - Updated - - -

View attachment 19662

Not the highest quality image, but obvious temporal recession. This was October 2010

View attachment 19663

July 2012

View attachment 19664

This past weekend, growing it out a bit more while I have it.

It looks like you were definitely able to maintain which is success!

 

[Mr White]

Excellent results, congratulations!

 

[Pixman]

Congratulations from me, too.

I have no shedding at all, or at least I don't see it because I have 6mm short hair. I think I have reached now month 3 (I'm not quite sure) and I have to say, now I think they are shedding because it looks thinner to me.
Hope they grow back
When I 'pet' my hair from back to front, I don't see me losing any hair. No hairs flying, no hair on my pillow.

The natural loss of hair I have is so ****ing small. Even with longer hair (4-5cm) I didn't see me losing much hair. My hair brush wasn't filled or had many hairs in it... nearly nothing at all.
But my hair on the front scalp and my back scalp has become thinner in the last 5 years. I think it started with 18. Always had a little thinner hair on the front. But I seem to lose my hair in a very slow velocity.

And I'm glad it's that way :innocent: Hope it won't change... :hmmm:

 

[Mr White]

Proscar 1/4 is the smart choice, in my opinion.

It's just as effective as Propecia and you get to save a small fortune.

 

[mkienbau]

It seems a lot of these type threads have been left open ended in my research so I'd like to provide an update for others in a similar situation. My hair loss or "shedding" continued through most of April, but by early May it seemed to have leveled off.

I never changed my routine, Nizoral a couple times a week, Rogaine morning and night, 1/4 proscar every night. I'm happy to report that noticeable hair growth has started again in these areas over the past few weeks to the point where it looks as it did in the pictures posted.

 

[Spanishlad]

thanks for keeping us posted, consistency really is the key.

 

[capitan]

This is awesome

But why did you start on Rogaine, after experiencing so much regrowth and maintenance on Proscar?