treatments for receding hairline? propecia?

bojangles · Aug 31, 2005

Hi. I'm 23, and over the past several months I've kind of noticed that my frontal hairline has been receding a bit, mostly on the sides, but I didn't think much of it. But recently I got my hair cut significantly shorter than usual, and it really hit me how far back my hairline has receded. It also looks and feels kinda thin in the front, and I think I'm noticing more hairs falling out than usual. It doesn't exactly look bad....yet....but it could look better, and I'm really frightened about the idea of it receding any further.
I've only noticed thinning on the front.

So, what are my options here? It seems like Propecia is the most effective hairloss treatment, but I've read that propecia hasn't been shown to work on the temporal area. Is that true? Would Propecial be worth trying for a receding hairline? Are there any propecia alternatives?

Also, are there any actually effective DHT-blocking shampoos/conditioners, and if so, would using something like that alone do anything?

Thanks for any help.

oni · Sep 1, 2005

shampoos/conditioners, no they will not help on there own. I would like to know where did you read that propecia hasn't been shown to work on the temporal area? :roll:

bojangles · Sep 18, 2005

oni said:
shampoos/conditioners, no they will not help on there own. I would like to know where did you read that propecia hasn't been shown to work on the temporal area? :roll:

Sorry I took so long to reply. Couldn't find the bookmark for this site.

Where did I read propecia hasn't been shown to work on the temporal area? Pretty much everywhere. Google up info on Propecia and you'll find "There is not sufficient evidence that PROPECIA works for recession at the temporal areas" all over. Is it not true?

Also, are the chances of experiencing sexual side-effects from it really as low as they say? Anyone here experience that?

socks · Sep 18, 2005

Finasteride reduces scalp DHT by 65%. Period. It doesnt reduce DHT in one area and not the next.

However, remember that male pattern baldness occurs when DHT (along with any other androgen) binds to the androgen receptor which then signals the cell nucleus of the presents of androgens. The cell nucleus then "expresses" certain genetic code that has a negative effect on the growth of the hair follicle; The hair follicle atrophies and, eventually, dies permanently.

So, depending on how "sensitive" you hair is, 65% DHT reduction may or may not be enough. Being that the hair in the front tends to be more sensitive then the hair on the top or crown, the front hair is the toughest to save but not impossible.

As far as sexual side-effects, I get every common side-effect from every drug I have ever taken... I have had z-e-r-o side-effect while on Finasteride.

Perhaps the 2% figure is low (or perhaps not) but it is no where near the percentage some of the paranoid folks on the Internet would have you believe. The way some of them talk, you would think you would have a 50% of your dick falling off LoL Whatever