john2008

I would have to agree with Bill. My wife has this shampoo, I use Nioxin which 'says' it cleans DHT - but I do not think it can get access to the bottom of the scalp. I personally do know if I would trust that Treseme would regrow hair. John

My father-in-law is 68 and has a FULL head of hair, so I would say no. Quite jealous actually!

sorry I meant five not one. still on vicoden.

Thank you Bill. I used to cut proscar but during my HT last week, my HT dr told me that he was reading that Merck had caught on this people doing this to save money and were placing 1mg of fin more randomly throughout the pill. Anyone else heard of this? John

Thanks. That may be a good point as I do not know all of the studies. I was just taking this from Rogaine's Web site which said to spread the 'foam' on the head: How to apply: * Within the hair-thinning area, part your hair to expose your scalp. * Hold the can upside down and press the nozzle to dispense the topical foam onto your fingers. The total amount of foam should be about half a capful. * With your fingers, spread the foam into your scalp and gently massage it throughout the hair loss area. Then wash your hands, and you're done. Remember??”be sure to use ROGAINE?® Foam twice daily. Once in the morning and once at night. Found at http://www.rogaine.com/men/abo...ne-foam/how-to-apply

Are you using the regular Rogaine (or generic) or are the foam? The regular causes irritation and flaking in many people including myself. The Foam doesn't use Glycol - something or other (I know the name but it has left me. I know someone else should piggyback with it), and it does not irritate. Although I am not a Dr, I was on the regular for 10 years and I know that it causes this for some of us. I would guess that it is less your shampoo and more the regular Rogaine. Thanks, John

I have been using it since October '08. I am also on fin and min, bot for over then years. As you may have seen on other postings from me, I have gone from 16 hpcm in Oct to 24 hpcm on 03/18/2009 when I got my second HT. I think that it is a good addition to fin and min, mainly because it really helped my irritation and it has made my hair shafts fuller and healthier looking, but I would not say that it would replace either drug. John

I have been using the Lexington HairMax LaserComb which I am sure most of you know is a low level hoe laser. It has worked for me, but during the first few weeks shedding is normal and they state on their site and in their literature that it is expected prior to the regrowth. Although I do not know about the commercial machines, I would assume that they would have the same shedding as they are low level lasers. Thanks, John

If you are just looking for a concealer. My HT Dr gave me one after my HT and they come in different shades. It is called Toppik. You can get it at Sally Beauty Supply in their mens sectino (pretty small area. Basically, you you just shake it on like a salt shaker. It is about $20-$25 there. You can likely find it on the Internet too.

On 03/18/2008 I had 3000 moved for $3800. I paid with a credit card. If I had financed it would have been $4200. They are not part of this network but Dr. Markou is awesome. This is my 2nd HT with this clinic: The Hair and Scalp Clinic in Clearwater, FL - http://newhairlaser.com/

Hello stamos, There is not a specific length of time to rub it in. You just want to make sure that you rub it until it dissolves into a liquid and be sure to spread it over the needed area of the vortex. This is better than the original which just ran everywhere. As far as the greasiness, I feel that the foam is much better. the original is much greasier in my opinion, plus it irritates a lot of people's scalp. I know it did mine. Please let me know if this did not answer your question. Thanks, John

The FDA approved it over 10 years ago. If it was that bad they would have killed it by now. But again, it is not for everyone.

Hey Calv, Yes, it is still working for me. Keep in mind that although they say 5 or 6 months, it really takes a year to see full results. Almost as it would after receiving a HT. I hope this helps. Hallo, It sounds like you are one of the very few percentile that receive the side effects. I am sorry to hear that. It is less than 2% of people, and I have been on it for almost 11 years. It helps my hair and I have not had any side effects. I have been married for almost nine years and our love life is great too. So, to those who do not know if it would work for them - try it. If it works and no side effects - God bless it. If you have side effects way the pluses and negatives and make a decision. John

My HT doctor is currently working on something with stem cells to do something similar to this. I will see if I can get a brochure or paper taht I can scan in and post as an attachment for everyone. John

Hey Guys, I know a lot of us use Nioxin. I know I have for years. We also know that it is not that cheap. So, as a married man, I sometimes find myself in Sally's Beauty Supply and they has NutriOx which is supposed to be the same thing. I am just wondering if anyone has used this and has any info on it. Thanks again for all the help everyone has been giving, John

Hey Jojo, Some of us understand your feelings. I am not sure from your post if you are still using prop EOD or not at all. I just got my 2nd HT on 03/18/09 and I was talking to my dr (through 2 valume's of course - so not sure what was retained), he had mentioned that fin stays in our system for 3 days then leave, and in theory (he hasn't investigated it) if we have been on fin for a long time to build it in our system then we can change to EOD without hurting our situations at all. We did not discuss how long this time is because he has had me on it for over 10 years now - so we are assuming that I am at that threshold. Thanks, John

The only concern that I have with this product (and those like it) is that Merck holds that patent on propecia until 2013, so it cannot legally be the 'exact same' drug. I know that the active ingredient is the same, but as many may have experienced with generic minox (or other drugs)- inactive ingredients in many cases work to help the absorption of the active ingredient. Once the patent is up, generic companies start making the exact same pill, but I don't think that they can at this point. But please post the success or failure rate. If it works, many of us may look at this as a value opportunity. Thanks, John

I will add that I switched to the Rogaine Foam recently as well. Although I do not know if it is increasing my hair any, but it is a lot less iritating.Has anyone else experienced this too - or is it mental?

Hey CalvinKlein, Certainly. I was using minox and prop. I have been for 11 years. This was just an addition. Even with the minox (twice daily) and prop (daily), I couldn't get past the 16 hairs pcm on my crown. I started using this in conjunction and saw the increase and lowered the itch on my head. If I gave that impression I apologize. I would not say that the lasercomb should be used alone by any means - But I have found it to be a good addition. But again-that's just me. I know that there are other opinions. Thanks, John

Hello Everyone, I know that chemicals can be bad for your hair, especially us baldies. I know that nothing should happen to my transplants but is it harmful to use just for men to add color - rather than the permanent colors or is it safer on the remaining original hair? Thanks, John

I would like to add one more thing.. As with all of the other meds and technology we use to fix our balding situations - The LaserComb does not work while under the bathroom sink. One frustration that I have with people is they say propecia doesn't work, Rogaine doesn't work (I might buy into that one though), Avodart doesn't work, etc. The more I talk to these people, I typically find out that they are not using as often as they are supposed to. When research is done and the company says it works if you use it x times a day or a week - it is because they have evidence of it working in that frequency. If you take a propecia pill every 2 weeks for ten years, you can say you have been on Propecia for 10 years and it doesn't work, but the truth is - you didn't use it properly so you did not see the intended results. Sorry to get on a soapbox, but I have been balding and using Rogaine, Propecia, topical Avodart (not sold on this yet), and the LaserComb and had 2 HT's. The only times these things did not work is when I was not using them. I don't know about all LaserCombs, But I do know that Hairmax has spent tons of money on research and they still are researching in attempts to make it better. This is one of the things that I look at as being important. Rogaine's and Propecia's makers spent lots of money on research as well. So, I am more comfortable when the actual companies are spending big money on research rather than piggybacking on the original creators ideas. I know that I am taking a lot of time with this one but I have seen two laser combs. I own and use the Hairmax, and I have played with the Viatek Hair Pro Laser Hair Brush. The Viatek is $146.00 on Amazon and when you use it, it is flimsy, has one laser beam, and 36 LED's (which are just pretty, red lights). The Hairmax at least the newer ones, are about $450 and have 9 separate laser beams that directly aim at the scalp and the combs separate the hair to make sure that it hits the scalp. So, you get what you pay for too, and they are different. Thanks, John

Also, any ideas for surgeries or 'good' ointments for bags under the eyes? Thanks, John

Anyone know if laser acne surgery works or just stick to pills and Doxycycline? Thanks, John

Briz, I am curious now that we are about six months later, what are your findings with the finpecia? Thanks, John

Hey Everyone, I have been on Propecia for about 11 years now - well, proscar in 4's like most of us. During my HT on 03/18/09 I was discussing cheaper options and how I use the proscar in 4's and he said that he is getting away from that because there are talks that that Merk has caught on to 'us' saving money this way and that they are or are about to start placing the active ingredient randomly throughout the pills. This sent me on a mission over the last few days while healing. I found sites that are selling "generic" propecia. I know that Merck holds the patent until 2013 according to Wikipedia - of course that could be wrong, but I am wondering how effective these can be with their still being an active patent? Has anyone ordered this way and had success and do they seem like the real product? Thanks, John