BaronVonHairline

For what it's worth, my diet is pretty much the best it's ever been over these last few months, and I've lost more hair than I've ever lost at the same time. So, short of making a wig out of spaghetti, I don't think food is going to stop hair loss.

If you don't mind my asking, how long were you on topical fin, how often were you using it, how long had you been off oral propecia prior to that? And if you were using topical for long enough to gauge, did you have positive results? Any other thoughts or opinions on it?

Hey all, Anyone know of a good doctor to consult with over hair loss and potentially trying propecia, and if so, getting a prescription? I'm not looking for an HT consult (I've had those), but specifically one with a doctor (maybe a hair loss specialist, or dermatologist?) to speak with them about fin and possible side effects/health concerns, a good point person basically to get some good advice from. I know I could go to nearly any doctor and ask for a script and get one, but I'm hoping for someone specifically knowledgeable about fin and hair loss. Maybe even someone to help double check my thinning isn't being accelerated by vitamin deficiencies, etc etc. Basically, just looking for a doc well-educated in hair loss issues, rather than a regular dr. who will just be like, "propecia? I've heard of it. I think it's safe. Here's your script." I live in NYC, so I imagine there should be a few at least. Any help would be great.

This is the 1st time I've ever heard of the flap, just Googled it, and DAMN, it just seems massively painful, impractical, and ridiculous. I can't even believe they even used to do that. Then again, maybe when there is a real and simple cure for balding, future generations will think today's HTs were brutal. Or the idea of shutting down male hormone conversion, etc. Still, the flap idea seems almost like something from a sketch comedy routine to me.

Yeah, that's another thing. What if you take it, get some HT work, then decide down the line you want to get off prop for whatever reason? Then you've spent your donor supply on just the front or middle or wherever, and you're screwed. I guess lots of guys use it hoping that it'll hold them over till that elusive 'cure' comes along, which always seems just a couple of years away, but if history is a lesson, is probably not really coming any time soon. I hope they prove my profoundly wrong any day now, but I remember when I went for my 1st HT consult like 12-13 years ago and the guy was like, "we think they're just a couple of years away from a cure now." And here we are, a decade and change later, just a couple of years away.

I hear you, OP. I am back and forth on prop/fin. I feel like, having researched this a lot, it's the only thing that really works. But those stories, however small the % of users they come from, are terrifying. I'm personally also tempted to try it because I actually used it for several months when I was younger, and don't recall any side effects really. At that point I stopped just because I was only about 24 and I didn't like the idea of being on it daily for 30 or 40 years. I'm 36 now and after a long dormant period in hair loss, it's really picked up again. I keep scouring these forums, probably like you, hoping to read something that will clarify the answer for me, but as some above have said, in the end, it's just a personal decision we gotta make for ourselves. To be fair, the chances of severe sides are really low. But having read of some of them, damn scary. And the other scary part is even if known sides don't occur, what do we really know about possibly messing with hormones and/or the endocrine system long term like this? Also, I know it doesn't necessarily work this way, but in general, do you respond well to medications? I find I do and generally have never had major sides with any meds, whereas I've had friends who were always really sensitive to them--ie- seizures from anti-deps, nausea/vomiting/illness from pain meds, etc. And to be fair, there are horror stories for lots of medications. A couple of years ago I was on Lexapro (anxiety/depression) for about 9 months before stopping. The only real side was I gained weight...a lot actually, about 30 pounds. It came off within a couple of months of stopping. Other than that, I was fine day to day, and only stopped because I didn't feel the meds helped. But there are forums of people who claim permanent cognitive problems, irreversible/long term brain issues, etc after merely a few days on the meds. There are similar stories about common antibiotics even. The point being, I think maybe some people in general may just have a constitution more prone to adverse reactions to outside chemicals. I know this is an anecdotal opinion, and it would vary from med to med, but I think if your body is typically good at handling medicines, maybe you can take some comfort in that. Any doctors or medical pros on here who want to debunk my above theory as utter nonsense, please feel free. My feelings on this are obviously anecdotal and I'd rather be proven wrong if I actually am. Sorry for the mega-post!

Oh man, that sounds amazing. So not available in the US as yet, but it is available in Canada? Might be worth the trip up north if that's the case.

Does anyone know much about the results? Are they supposed to be better than Minoxidil, or the same? Are they comparable to fin in pill form (minus the sides)? And is it also 2x daily forever like Min? I'm only just starting to hear about it recently.

So I checked out that Stephan Youtube guy you mentioned. He has one video where he shows how he makes his formula, and he also mixes the acids with the oils. He adds the OGV and mixes with a cup of oil, I forget which kind. So he's not keeping them separate either. And yeah, I think I'll give dermaroller a shot. Gotta order one.

Well, I tried the topical because I was already shedding, so it wasn't that which ignited it. I know 2-3x weekly isn't that much, but the problem with using daily is if I wash my hair daily it tends to get dry and I feel like I lose more of it. I'll check out those videos you suggested. Though, in the researching I did before trying it, I came across many recommendations for mixing oils with onion juice, as the oils would thicken the solution and have it sit on the scalp and in the hair more easily, rather than having it run off. But I guess there are different methods. As far as getting a check up, yeah, I'm scheduled for that soon.

I've also been trying a home made topical thing--onion juice, coconut oil, castor oil, apple cider vinegar--and have used it 2-3 times a week for about 3-4 months now. I honestly don't think it's done a thing for me. The oils DO make my hair feels softer and smoother, but I shed a lot when applying it and rinsing it out, and I definitely don't see any lessening of shedding and loss, let alone regrowth. My suspicion is that if you have a specific scalp condition (some kind of psoriasis, rash, or extreme dryness) causing your loss, then this kind of thing might help. But for regular gene-driven MPB, I have my doubts.

Horses don't go bald, though, do they? I'm sold. I'm gonna try these meds, coupled with a raw hay diet.

Yeah, I saw this the other day. While I do think diet probably plays a part in quality and maybe even quantity of hair, I don't think if your MPB predisposition is that strong, that you're gonna avoid it with diet. Plus, there are tons of fat dudes at McDonald's right now with phenomenal hairlines. And there are other 'hair loss diet' cures out there that say you should include dairy, fish, meat, and other things this one says to ban. Also, I have known some very bald lifelong vegetarians with great diets. It really does just come down to the genetic lottery, I think. If you have hair loss specifically due to dietary issues (ie- low iron et al) then, yeah, I could see something like this working. The upside, though, is obviously that trying would mean that at worst you'd get a whole bunch of other health benefits. However, on a side note, I was watching a documentary on tribes in the Amazon the other day, and I noticed that every single male they showed, of every age, had thick, super healthy, maddeningly dense black hair. I don't know if somehow the bald gene never made it into that ancestral pool, or if living in a place without modern toxins and pollutants getting on your skin and in your food keeps them from losing it, or if it was just the coincidence of a small sample size getting screen time. I think also maybe the natural plant lotions they make and use on hair and skin, and mud baths et al, maybe helps somehow purify the skin and clean the pores and follicles or something. Ok, now I'm just rambling. In any case, I may move to the Amazon. Bald in the modern world, or a stunning mane but living in a hut? Which would you choose?

Yeah, I figured. I guess if anything really worked it wouldn't be under the radar at this point.

Anyone heard of or used this stuff? It's a natural DHT blocker and sort of multi-vitamin. The reviews on Amazon are super suspicious, as about 1/2 of them are by profiles with no name or history. But some of the other reviews seem decent, and some of the ingredients are ones I keep coming across in various posts/articles on hair loss prevention (ie- saw palmetto, ashwaganda). I searched this forum and seems it's never been mentioned in here, unless I searched wrong. Just curious.

Here you go. One of the front center, and one of the part. Sorry it's upside down. It's normal on my file, but uploads like that for some reason.

I've done a few consults, and as far as slowing the loss, the only suggestions, as expected, were either Rogaine or Propecia. As for natural things, I've been reading up on dietary improvements that might hopefully help, and would be good for health in any case, and I'm gonna try the Dermaroller too. I was also thinking of trying that shampoo Regenepure, which seems to get decent reviews, but I doubt a shampoo alone would make that much of a difference. I'm also planning on cutting my hair shorter soon, as it's quite long right now. Not that that would stop the loss, but maybe I'll be able to better nourish it and keep it from being dry/brittle, and it'll also make it easier to clean my scalp more thoroughly, which I hope might help to some degree. Overall, though, I really don't know. I'm very likely planning on getting an HT in the next maybe 6-12 months, but just gotta make a smart decision on stopping the shed.

Yeah, I've thought about that, that I had no major sides when I tried Fin the first time makes it likely that I'll generally tolerate it well. Still on the fence, though. But thanks for making the point, it's actually a bit reassuring. As far as diet et al, I've really been trying to figure out if I had changed something in the last few months to cause this, but there have not been any major changes recently in diet, meds, or anything. If anything, I've been eating more veggies and salads and less things like pizza and bacon. Also, the only meds I'm on are OTC allergy meds and heartburn meds, both of which I've been on for years.

Propecia didn't have a long term effects. Hair loss can happen in spurts. It is normal to have plateaus and then accelerated loss in peaks and valleys. >>>Yeah, I didn't really think it did, but was just throwing the thought out there. It's way more likely just a natural cycle. Just seems odd that it was rapid, then stopped for 10+ years, then suddenly started again, and rapidly. Propecia would likely help you if you are willing to try it. Unfortunately, hairloss is a progressive condition and without medication it will only get worse. >>> I know, but I am very wary of the side effects, and the more I read, the more I don't think I will try Fin. Even if rare, the chance of potentially permanent sexual sides is just terrifying. Although, I did take it for that short span when I was young, and don't recall major sides. But also I was pretty young then and the body handles whatever you throw at it at 23. I don't know. I am thinking of cutting my hair a bit shorter soon and giving a go with Rogaine 5% foam to see if I can stabilize, so that's my other med option. Another small part of me is quietly trying to acclimate little by little to the idea of just saying fuck it, shaving my head, and never thinking about hair loss again. But I'm definitely not there yet. Too bad we don't live in an era where men are expected to wear powdered wigs all the time, like the 1700s. We'd all be on equal ground then.

My crown has a full appearance still, but I can feel that it's less dense than before, less padding so to speak. I have long hair, so it can still look full in certain areas, but I can tell there's less bulk underneath than there used to be.

From what I've read, it's not necessarily unusual for hair loss to come in unpredictable spurts, but I'm just wondering if any others have experienced it the way I have. In my early 20s I saw some thinning up front and the hairline moved back a bit. But then it pretty much plateaued for literally 10-12 years, as if I was suddenly not even really losing hair anymore. Then the last couple of years I noticed a quite slow and gradual bit of thinning up front and along the center part line. But then suddenly, all within the last 6 months or so, the part is visibly widening, the front is very thin, and for the 1st time ever, hair is coming out in large amounts when I shower and comb it. Also, the ones that fall out look thinner (miniaturized?) and finer than they should. Is this normal, to have had such slow loss for years, and then all within a span of a few months start shedding so much? Also, during my 1st round of thinning, early 20s (I am 36 now), I did try Propecia. I was on it for about 6-9 months, but eventually stopped, fearing long term use might cause side effects. I was only about 23, and didn't like the idea of taking a pill daily for 30, 40, however many years, So I stopped. My question is, is there any possibility that even that short span of usage with Propecia somehow arrested my hairloss for all those years even after stopping the meds? I know it's probably not the case, but just wondering. My assumption is that I just had a small round of thinning early on as my adult hairline was taking shape, and that it stopped thinning on its own, and that my current loss is regular mpb and that the short span on Propecia probably had no real effect. Any thoughts?

Dang. Reading this stressed me out. I think I just saw another 3 hairs jump ship.

Monkey tails have hair on them. That's more donor supply. I'm in!

Thanks for posting. I've been heavily leaning towards No on trying fin, and this certainly hasn't changed my mind on that. As I lose more hair daily, I'm tempted, but I think the risk is just not worth it. I've had a few HT consults recently and one Dr. even told me he does not prescribe it for his patients, he has several still experiencing side effects months after stopping the med, and that he himself would definitely NOT take it. Although, another doc said he has thousands of patients on it with minimal sides. I think it's really interesting how they phrase it in the above documentary, that hair growth is actually one of the "negative" side effects of a med for shrinking the prostate. So users are literally taking the drug FOR the side effect. I really wish they would just hurry up and get hair cloning up and running, so we could all have limitless donor supply.

Thanks again for the replies, guys.