Flavio

I've always had hair problems. Dry dandruff, greasy hair and scalp and then hair loss. I started losing my hair when I was 17 and I went to 5 or 6 different dermatologists in Portugal. They were all shit and didn't solve anything. If you want something done, you have to do it yourself. I did a lot of research on this subject (and this was before the Internet!) and I found out about finasteride and minoxidil. Thanks to finasteride, hair loss is no longer a problem and it also improved the 'greasy' look of my scalp. Even if I don't wash my hair for 2 or 3 days, it always look fresh and decent. Dandruff is still a huge problem, though. My hair is always full of 'snow'. I've used many shampoos and none of them worked. Yesterday, my hairdresser recommended me the Redken scalp relief shampoo (it doesn't say anything about dandruff...). Do you know this shampoo? Is it effective? What shampoos/treatments do you recommend? For more on this: www.redken.com

I've always had hair problems. Dry dandruff, greasy hair and scalp and then hair loss. I started losing my hair when I was 17 and I went to 5 or 6 different dermatologists in Portugal. They were all shit and didn't solve anything. If you want something done, you have to do it yourself. I did a lot of research on this subject (and this was before the Internet!) and I found out about finasteride and minoxidil. Thanks to finasteride, hair loss is no longer a problem and it also improved the 'greasy' look of my scalp. Even if I don't wash my hair for 2 or 3 days, it always look fresh and decent. Dandruff is still a huge problem, though. My hair is always full of 'snow'. I've used many shampoos and none of them worked. Yesterday, my hairdresser recommended me the Redken scalp relief shampoo (it doesn't say anything about dandruff...). Do you know this shampoo? Is it effective? What shampoos/treatments do you recommend? For more on this: www.redken.com

I never buy generics. When it comes to my health, I don't take any chances. I don't mind paying a bit more for my peace of mind. You said you are taking Avodart. Did you notice any side effects? And how much do you take every day?

I'm not a huge fan of food supplements but Kal Hair Force pills seem to be an interesting option. BUT this is not a medicine and it does not replace a healthy, varied diet.

I'm sick and tired of hearing that baldness is fine and we should accept it and do nothing about it because it's natural and pharmaceutical companies shouldn't spend so much money on research in this area and blah blah blah. Hair loss is a condition that drastically affects a person's self esteem and quality of life. It causes stress, depression and anxiety. Suicidal thoughts are not uncommon. Only the hirsute find baldness funny - for those who suffer from it, it's no laughing matter. So, no, I don't think it's immoral that billions and billions are spent in this research (these findings will be valuable for the treatment of other conditions, e.g. skin cancer) and yes, I sincerely hope that pharmaceutical companies keep investing their money and come up with a cure.

Thanks for the tip!

Thanks guys! I have nothing against cosmetic surgery, but today's procedures still seem unsafe and inefficient. Maybe in a couple of years, who knows? And you're right, moderate exercise is not enough, I really have to put my heart and soul into it.

Yep, that's it. It will save you a small fortune. And don't forget to store your pills in a cool, dry place (NOT in the bathroom, because of the humidity!).

?«However, a UK specialist said further work would be needed so that the new hair looked right. [...] To get anything growing at all is a real achievement, although it will be difficult to make the hair come back in the right way, pointing in the right direction, with the hair follicles lined up the right way."?» This is the part of the article that I didn't like.

It looks promising, but even if it works it won't be the definitive solution to MPB (that will have to be some sort of gene manipulation, I guess). Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is basically still a transplant (much less violent and intrusive than today's HT, though) and it will require numerous interventions.

Ooops, this is obviously the wrong section for this thread. Could somebody please transfer this topic to the Hair Loss Drugs forum? Thanks.

I swim 2x every week and I'm on a diet (not too strict, though - I just eat a healthy breakfast, avoid junk food and sodas and don't eat anything after 8 pm), but I'm not pleased with the results. How do I get rid of my love handles? I'm starting to think that exercise/diet are not enough. Is liposuction a good option? Is it painful? And how effective is it?

Why did you quit Avodart? Was it because of the face roundness? And how much did you take every day?

Come to Portugal! Competition among pharmacies is so ferocious here, they never ask for a prescription. It's cheaper and safer - you know you're getting the real thing. I never buy drugs on the Internet, the risks are too high. It is estimated that over 90% of the drugs that are being sold on the Internet are counterfeit. If you can't come to Portugal, here's a reliable website (it's expensive, though): http://www.euroclinix.net/

Well, that's the big question. Dutasteride is still a great mystery: it seems to be more effective than finasteride but it hasn't been approved as a hair loss treatment yet and side effects could be serious and permanent. I would advise you to take finasteride and wait until there's more info available.

Yep, that's it. You guys are not alone, believe me. I've suffered from both too and it's NOT fun. I felt like shit and even had suicidal thoughts when I first started to lose my hair (only women and hirsute men say that hair loss is not really a problem, etc). But hey I've survived! Matt, there's no problem that can't be solved, you seem like a great guy and I wish you all the best, I really do.

Matt, I don't question your sincerity and I'm sorry Propecia didn't work for you, but it has worked for me and I've been using it for 8 or 9 years. So, I have a question: Did you already know about finasteride's side effects (e.g. loss of libido) when you first started to use it? If so, don't you think that your health problems (incl. pain in the testicles) could have a psychological origin? There are numerous causes of ED and anxiety is probably the most common. And whenever the words 'erectile dysfunction' are mentioned, men immediately panic. Could this be your case? Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience, it's always important to be informed and hear all sides of the story.

I'm not an expert, but I think you should give Propecia a try. It's by far the most effective drug. Yes, it is true that there could be side effects (e.g. loss of libido) but these are not permanent and only affect a small percentage of users (3 to 5%). Talk to your dermatologist before you decide to begin any of these treatments.

I'm sorry, you get irritation from minoxidil 5% and no irritation from minoxidil 15%? How can that be?! I've heard of Xandrox but I've never tried it. I don't know if it works but their website looks suspicious and when it comes to my health, I don't take any risks and only use approved medication. I'm currently using finasteride and minoxidil 5% with good results.

Absolutely. In my case, Propecia saved the hairline as well.

Absolutely. It seems that dutasteride could have permanent side effects, so it should be used with great caution. And there is no consensus on the right dosage for the treatment of baldness.

Ok, the big question: we all know that Avodart (dutasteride) is a dual 5AR inhibitor and is much stronger than Propecia (finasteride), but does this mean it is more effective in the treatment of male pattern baldness? Are there any studies to back this up?

I'm not an expert but I have been using finasteride for many years and the best advice I can give you is this: be patient, don't give up. Propecia works, but it takes some time and results are usually not spectacular. Anyway, Propecia is probably the only drug out there that really works (along with minoxidil), so we don't have much choice...

Yes, but as I've said before, we have reasons to be optimistic. Medical research is advancing at great speed, faster than ever before. And we've already seen results: today, there are at least two drugs that are effective in the treatment of MPB.

Thanks for posting, guys. That's my advice to everyone facing a health problem: always consult your doctor, but do your own research as well.