MPB or not?

[Herakles]

Hi,

 

A couple of years after puberty at age 13/14, the hair on my crown became been very fine/thin and mildly sparse. I use to get picked on at school about going bald. Well I'm 27yo of age now, and I think it's starting to get worse, and I want to obviously stop this from happening. There are some males in my family that have gone bald, whilst others haven't really lost much hair if any at all. This is on both sides of the family.

I don't notice any great amount of hair falling out in my bed or in the shower either.

 

At this stage I'm really not sure what to do, I went to my doctor and he prescribed me finasteride. He said it will only work for eight years (if it does work for me). He prescribed me finasteride without getting out of his chair and inspecting my hair/scalp. I don't really want to go onto finasteride, because of it's possible sexual side effects, but if it's the only option and my hair thins out more, then I suppose I have to.

 

Also what is every bodies thoughts on big hair loss companies like Ashley and Martin? I think should I find a doctor who actually specialises in hair loss in my part of the world.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you.

Edited June 17, 2011 by Herakles

[IamShedding]

Hello Herakles

 

I'm not familiar with what's available in Australia, but there's always more than one option. Why not post some pics of your hair so the rest of us can give an opinion?

[Dutch]

I agree, definitely need to see photos.

If you are thinning in the crown, propecia is very good for that are. It's halted my loss there. Hair doesn't fall out in my crown anymore.

Minoxidil is good for the front, especially the lotion from what I've seen.

[mattj]

Of the group of Finasteride users who experience side effects severe enough to warrant discontinuation of use, the vast majority fully recover. If you want to save your crown it is your best bet.

 

Rogaine (Minoxidil) is good for the crown too. If the potential for side effects makes Fin a no-no for you then you may want to give it a try. Or give it both barrels and use both.

 

I'm assuming you went to your regular family doctor/GP. They might not really have anything to contribute from a close-up examination, and if you were exhibiting classic signs of male pattern baldness - and as MPB is a low priority for GPs - then a prescription for Finasteride was really all you could hope for.

 

At least he is aware of the treatment and willing to prescribe it. My GP wasn't!

 

You're actually very fortunate if your hairloss started at such a young age but hasn't progressed very far. You may be aware that the guys who start losing hair that young very often end up with an advanced hairloss pattern by their mid to late twenties.

 

Did your hairloss completely stop during that period of 13 or so years?

[Herakles]

Thanks for the replies. I'll post a pic sometime this weekend. I hate looking at my crown, makes me so sad, just hope it doesn't get any worse.

 

Matt, I've always had fine hair, though at around age 13, the hair at the back of my crown area became sparse, and at that young age I didn't notice any shedding hair loss symptoms. Now at the age of 27, I believe the density of the hair at the front part of my crown area is starting to get more sparse as well.

 

I should also note that my hair grows fast, even in the back crown area where my hair density is sparse.

 

I think I will go onto Finasteride, to see if that helps me get some density back. I've tried all sorts of herbs and vitamins with no luck. My doctor told me to take quater of a tablet a day of Finasteride.

 

Thanks.

[Herakles]

You're actually very fortunate if your hairloss started at such a young age but hasn't progressed very far. You may be aware that the guys who start losing hair that young very often end up with an advanced hairloss pattern by their mid to late twenties.

 

 

What is fortunate about an advanced hair loss pattern ?:confused:

 

Thank you.

[mattj]

What is fortunate about an advanced hair loss pattern ?:confused:

 

Thank you.

I'm saying you're fortunate that your hairloss hasn't progressed a lot considering that you first saw signs at a very early age.