DoubleHelix

Hello everyone, my story began when I was 15 or 16 years old, I had thick curly hair, I loved twisting it etc, and one day I tore a small patch out. I thought it was no big deal, and that it would grow back. The reality of it was that things only got worse. I progressively started losing more hair on the temples and on the top, at first I thought it was '''funny'', I was in hardcore denial since no one so young can be balding, right ? I thought it was something temporary, maybe a reaction from a shampoo and that it would reverse. I was completely wrong, things only started getting worse, day bay day, month by month, year by year. It made me very depressed at times, but I kinda tried ignoring it with even more denial, and trying to bury the depression. Now I am 19 years old, my hairline is very very weak, and now I am fully grounded in reality, knowing that this is genetic balding trying to ''devour'' me. The depression still comes up at random times even though I try not to think about it though which affects my personal life. Anyway as I was saying, I am ready to tackle the problem with medical solutions, however it seems that the only thing which could really help me ( Propecia ) usually comes with nasty side effects which seem not to be worth the risk. I want to ask you if it really is that dangerous to use and if Rogaine alone could do something about it (bare in mind I am quite young and I think I read here somewhere that these products ). Anyway your help, recommendations etc would be very appreciated.