Thinking about getting on finasteride, should I do it? Help me decide (pics included)

[HairLiker]

Hi everyone,

I'll try to keep this as brief as possible while providing all relevant information.

I'm turning 30 this year. I've had a fivehead and a high hairline since childhood. Looking at old photos, I'd say my hairline receded (and hair maybe thinned out a bit, lost volume) around 4-5 years ago, but hasn't really changed since then.

I have long(ish) hair, as you can see in the pictures below, so unless I wear a tight ponytail (which I never do anyway), any thinning/balding is completely unnoticeable, as I have no noticeable thinning on the crown, only temples.

I've been researching hair loss and reading forums for like a year (only realized that I might be balding around 8-9 months ago). As of right now, my regimen consists of: nizoral and piroctone olamine shampoos, some supplements.

Obviously, I realize only DHT blockers can actually halt hair loss and know how important it is to catch it early, so I'm thinking about getting on finasteride, maybe a low dose for a start.

FWIW mom's side of family has pretty good hair genetics, dad's family a mixed bag, he is NW6 and started balding in his early thirties.

Where am I on the Norwood scale? What should I do? Should I get on finasteride, or just monitor for now? What would you do in my situation?

 

[20YearsOnFin]

Have you got a similar pic from your mid 20's, to compare?

 

[HairLiker]

Have you got a similar pic from your mid 20's, to compare?

Not really, unfortunately. Since I have long hair and never pull it back, it's not easy to find good pics (basically, have to look for ones where wind is blowing in my face lol). Here's one from 2016.

 

[HairLiker]

Anyone?

 

[infamousrodi]

If you value your hair yes. Most men start losing some hair as they age.

 

[HairLiker]

If you value your hair yes. Most men start losing some hair as they age.

I do, yeah, very much. I just have some reservations when it comes to finasteride, like everyone I suppose. I know rationally the vast majority of men respond well to it, but I do have some concerns about the sides and the initial shed. At the same time, I don't want to get on it too late, because then I'll have to commit to minoxidil or get a transplant. As I type this, I feel like I posted this thread to get talked into taking finasteride.

 

[NickyA]

Norwood 6 is a fairly advanced stage of hair loss, so you oughta think about that, although the maternal side of the family is more important. I would suggest getting a scalp biopsy if you can, that way you will definitely know if you have hair loss or not. From your pictures you seem to have some temporal loss and a relatively dense hairline. You have kept your temple peaks which is fairly important for looking decent with a high hairline. It could be a mature hairline or some minor hair loss. Front seems thinner than the rest of your hairline so I would keep an eye on that area.
I would get on 1 mg finasteride thrice a week or topical finasteride and minoxidil 5% if I was in your position and couldn't get a scalp biopsy to know if I had hair loss or not.

 

[Moz5x]

Hi everyone,

I'll try to keep this as brief as possible while providing all relevant information.

I'm turning 30 this year. I've had a fivehead and a high hairline since childhood. Looking at old photos, I'd say my hairline receded (and hair maybe thinned out a bit, lost volume) around 4-5 years ago, but hasn't really changed since then.

I have long(ish) hair, as you can see in the pictures below, so unless I wear a tight ponytail (which I never do anyway), any thinning/balding is completely unnoticeable, as I have no noticeable thinning on the crown, only temples.

I've been researching hair loss and reading forums for like a year (only realized that I might be balding around 8-9 months ago). As of right now, my regimen consists of: nizoral and piroctone olamine shampoos, some supplements.

Obviously, I realize only DHT blockers can actually halt hair loss and know how important it is to catch it early, so I'm thinking about getting on finasteride, maybe a low dose for a start.

FWIW mom's side of family has pretty good hair genetics, dad's family a mixed bag, he is NW6 and started balding in his early thirties.

Where am I on the Norwood scale? What should I do? Should I get on finasteride, or just monitor for now? What would you do in my situation?

The fact that your hairline receded 5 years ago should be proof enough that you have inherited some of your fathers genes for male pattern baldness. Androgenetic Alopecia is polygenic so it can come from either side of the family going back generations. You may not experience the same pattern and degree of loss your father did.

Androgenetic Alopecia also doesn’t necessarily follow a predictable timeline. There may be periods of accelerated hairloss followed by dormancy/stability. Another important fact to consider is that by the time you notice hairloss with your own eyes nearly 50% of the hair is already gone…ie, it’s sometimes difficult to catch it very early. Have you noticed if your ponytail feels thinner? That’s a common experience of women that lose hair as they age past forty.

I would strongly recommend getting on Finasteride if you want to keep your hair.

 

[HairLiker]

Thank you both very much for taking the time to reply, appreciate it.

@NickyA Scalp biopsy is a good idea. I'm not sure if anyone does that here, but I'll certainly look into it. I definitely have been keeping an eye on my hairline for a while, taking pictures and all that.

@Moz5x I'd say I pretty much lost my juvenile hairline around 5 years ago looking back (didn't realize at the time), but I don't think anything has changed since then. I may have lost some density and volume overall around the time my temples receded, but not entirely sure. When balding is not on your mind, you never pay attention to these things, so all I can do is go through old photos. This doesn't help that much either, since I've had longish hair that covers my temples and forehead since high school.

If anyone else wants to chime in, please feel free.

In other news... I contacted what is probably the top hair clinic in my country (would rather not be specific, sorry). Asked if I could get an appointment and if it would be possible to get a finasteride prescription from them.

The person I talked to told me the doctors at this clinic never prescribe finasteride, or even minoxidil to their patients (they do hair transplants). Said "don't believe what you read online about finasteride," told me finasteride causes impotence, hormonal imbalances and whatnot. Said that the only safe and effective treatments for male pattern baldness are mesotherapy and PRP.

Bizarre experience, to say the least. Obviously, I just politely thanked them for their time and said goodbye. Not sure if this person was clueless or just trying to shill this clinic's treatments, but like everyone else here I've read up on male pattern baldness and know what actually works and what doesn't.

I'm not as concerned about finasteride sides as I am about the shed. Still not 100% sure I'll hop on it immediately. In any case, I'd probably be able to get my hands on proscar 5 mg pills which I'd split in four and take MWF. I plan to update this thread from time to time.

 

[jazz1]

You still have great hair, I would use the BIG3 or Topical Finasteride as that’s what I use. The below will work:

1. Finasteride
2. Minoxidil
3. Ketaconazole
4. Derma Roller

 

[Mr. Slap Head]

balding