what to expect from proscar?

[ReceedingHairGuy]

hey

i'm 24 and am planning on starting proscar to prevent further male pattern baldness from occuring and maybe thickening current hairs around the hairline, i will also use it with nizoral 1% or 2%.

i am concerned about the shedding cycle. how often should i expect to shed in the first year of use? after you get through the one year phase is it possible to shed again? is there a chance that sheeding won't occur?

i've read a bit on the forum, and it looks like most people shed after 3 months, after this shed does it typically happen again? if so, when?

is there anything else that is good / better for a receeding hairline?

thanks!

 

[leonbelmontsam]

propecia works better for the vertex and mid scalp. however, it does work on the hairline. Also, while many people do experience regrowth with propecia, it is best known for its maintenance. I suggest staying with propecia for at least 6 - 8 months to see what kind of results you get. Some people respond better than others. Then if you really need some regrowth and are not seeing it with propecia, add in minoxodil.

 

[ReceedingHairGuy]

thanks, what is the normal shedding cycle on proscar?

 

[Subliminal]

propecia works better for the vertex and mid scalp. however, it does work on the hairline. Also, while many people do experience regrowth with propecia, it is best known for its maintenance. I suggest staying with propecia for at least 6 - 8 months to see what kind of results you get. Some people respond better than others. Then if you really need some regrowth and are not seeing it with propecia, add in minoxodil.

Didn't the clinical trials for Propecia mostly note regrowth -- as opposed to no further loss -- for the responders?

 

[jambri]

yes...

so that would imply that regrowth is more likely than simple maintenance.

 

[hairwegoagain]

thanks, what is the normal shedding cycle on proscar?

Everyone is different. You may have a ton of shedding or not much at all. It could happen within a few weeks of treatment start or might not occur for months. There's no prediction algorithm.

Most freak out when they start to shed and take it as not responding well or that finasteride is causing them to lose more hair. Don't fall into that trap. Ride it out.

Oh yeah, see your doctor.

 

[leonbelmontsam]

actually, and im not trying to sound like a jerk here, but studies show that a much larger percentage experienced maintenance or slight regrowth (regrowth that is not noticeable). A much smaller percentage, I cant remember the exact figures but I think it was around 20-30% experienced significant regrowth.

 

[hairwegoagain]

actually, and im not trying to sound like a jerk here, but studies show that a much larger percentage experienced maintenance or slight regrowth (regrowth that is not noticeable). A much smaller percentage, I cant remember the exact figures but I think it was around 20-30% experienced significant regrowth.

That could be - everyone is different, and how long the hair's been gone is a variable of response. What you don't read, and what's difficult to know, is the amount of hair you'd lose if you did nothing over the same timeline. Therefore, it's very possible that the successful maintenance of existing hair, say after a year of treatment, represents a *net* increase/improvement (as an absolute value) relative to not treating in the first place.

 

[Felk]

actually, and im not trying to sound like a jerk here, but studies show that a much larger percentage experienced maintenance or slight regrowth (regrowth that is not noticeable). A much smaller percentage, I cant remember the exact figures but I think it was around 20-30% experienced significant regrowth.

That could be - everyone is different, and how long the hair's been gone is a variable of response. What you don't read, and what's difficult to know, is the amount of hair you'd lose if you did nothing over the same timeline. Therefore, it's very possible that the successful maintenance of existing hair, say after a year of treatment, represents a *net* increase/improvement (as an absolute value) relative to not treating in the first place.

Certainly. I'd wager that if someone had aggressive male pattern baldness and was going blad fast in early life, if he maintained his hair for five years with finasteride (after five years the average hair count is around 40 hairs more than baseline), relative to where he should be by then he has "regrown" a full head of hair

 

[leonbelmontsam]

Touché :wink:

 

[Bryan]

actually, and im not trying to sound like a jerk here, but studies show that a much larger percentage experienced maintenance or slight regrowth (regrowth that is not noticeable). A much smaller percentage, I cant remember the exact figures but I think it was around 20-30% experienced significant regrowth.

That could be - everyone is different, and how long the hair's been gone is a variable of response. What you don't read, and what's difficult to know, is the amount of hair you'd lose if you did nothing over the same timeline. Therefore, it's very possible that the successful maintenance of existing hair, say after a year of treatment, represents a *net* increase/improvement (as an absolute value) relative to not treating in the first place.

I'd go even farther than that, of course. People seem to have the impression that if you even slowly lose ground over the years while taking finasteride, that shows the drug isn't "working". But that's not correct! You would likely have done even WORSE without it.

Finasteride at least slows down further hair loss, even if it doesn't maintain or outright improve your hair.

Bryan