Considering fin but I don’t know if I have hair loss

[Marty1990]

I’ve been worried about losing my hair since I was 19. I’m 32 now, I still have a full head of hair, but I don’t know whether it’s because camera quality has improved in that time or I’m just finding fault with my hair, things that have always been there, I don’t know. 
 

I’ve crudely labelled the pictures attached. From the pics, direct light, you’ve been able to see through my hair to not scalp since at least aged 19. Same now. Same when it’s wet. Have always had a weird crown, maybe a part or cow lick, but not sure if now it looks thinner. Either way it’s bothering me enough to come on here and ask. 

A lot of pics, but I’ve got a lot from over the years. Not in order but have noted down the years.

Anyway - will finasteride benefit me or not? 
 

 

Edited June 12, 2022 by Marty1990

[John1991]

If your hairline is good, I see nothing to be concerned with.  At most, you have very minor thinning in the cowlick region.  And I think even that is stretching it.  Try Nizoral 2% 2-3 times a week and see if that thickens you up.  You should try to get away with as little intervention as possible.  If you notice loss after that, then perhaps consider fin (but try it every other day to see how your body tolerates it).  There may be some on here that try to advise you to immediately jump on 1 mg of fin a day - please do not do this.  You very well may have no negative side effects, but it's not worth the risk given how good your hair is.  To answer the fundamental question of whether fin would thicken your hair, yes, it almost certainly would, but I'd imagine you could get away with Niz alone.

[HappyMan2021]

4 hours ago, Marty1990 said:

I’ve been worried about losing my hair since I was 19. I’m 32 now

why are worried about something that hasn't happened yet? what does your family hairloss look like?

[THE TRUTH]

You have genetic DHT-caused diffuse thinning from Androgenic Alopecia. 

Yes what you have is Male Pattern Baldness at its very early stages. 

Consult a good doctor and start Finasteride immediately please. 

That will save you tens of thousands of dollars of hair transplants down the road...

Time is off the essence when it comes to fighting the evolutionnary curse in permanent Male Pattern Baldness. 

Edited June 12, 2022 by hope everything is nova

[Ryan Daniel]

I wish we could see the hairline

Either way, you should feel blessed being 32 and still a full head of hair. 

Regarding the minor thinning that you are seeing under direct lighting, it can be addressed with a safe dosage. Speak to a doctor to give you clearance and get you on Finasteride, maybe 0.5, 1mg every other day or 3 times a week would be a good start. You'll be thankful that you'll save thousands worrying about treatments and hair transplants along the next couple of years

Edited June 12, 2022 by Ryan Daniel

[Gatsby]

You have a good solid head of hair. Your hair maybe slightly thin but as @Ryan Daniel stated for 32 your hair looks great! Speak to your doctor about Finasteride and you could even look at minoxidil as well. All the best!

[Marty1990]

9 hours ago, John1991 said:

If your hairline is good, I see nothing to be concerned with.  At most, you have very minor thinning in the cowlick region.  And I think even that is stretching it.  Try Nizoral 2% 2-3 times a week and see if that thickens you up.  You should try to get away with as little intervention as possible.  If you notice loss after that, then perhaps consider fin (but try it every other day to see how your body tolerates it).  There may be some on here that try to advise you to immediately jump on 1 mg of fin a day - please do not do this.  You very well may have no negative side effects, but it's not worth the risk given how good your hair is.  To answer the fundamental question of whether fin would thicken your hair, yes, it almost certainly would, but I'd imagine you could get away with Niz alone.

Thanks. I’ve actually just been prescribed Niz for psoriasis, have had what I thought was eczema on my scalp for a long time. Only used it once, used it a while back and didn’t seem to control my inflammation on my scalp but doc has advised to try again. 

5 hours ago, HappyMan2021 said:

why are worried about something that hasn't happened yet? what does your family hairloss look like?

When I was 19 someone commented on my crown, and since my hair is very light and straight and scalp can been seen in certain lights, it was enough for me to worry. Dad had receded a little mid 30s, he’s 71 nearly and it’s receded a fair bit but his crown area is okay. Younger brother is receding, he’s 25 and been on fin and min for 2 years.

2 hours ago, hope everything is nova said:

You have genetic DHT-caused diffuse thinning from Androgenic Alopecia. 

Yes what you have is Male Pattern Baldness at its very early stages. 

Consult a good doctor and start Finasteride immediately please. 

That will save you tens of thousands of dollars of hair transplants down the road...

Time is off the essence when it comes to fighting the evolutionnary curse in permanent Male Pattern Baldness. 

You think diffuse thinning? Have attached a couple of pics from 2010 I think, can see scalp and a “thin” area. I would have assumed diffuse would have been a lot more noticeable by now?

41 minutes ago, Ryan Daniel said:

I wish we could see the hairline

Either way, you should feel blessed being 32 and still a full head of hair. 

Regarding the minor thinning that you are seeing under direct lighting, it can be addressed with a safe dosage. Speak to a doctor to give you clearance and get you on Finasteride, maybe 0.5, 1mg every other day or 3 times a week would be a good start. You'll be thankful that you'll save thousands worrying about treatments and hair transplants along the next couple of years

Have attached some pics of my hairline. Have labelled years as there’s a couple from 2011 and 2016 to see a comparison today. I can get fin quite easily here in the UK, so wouldn’t be a problem. Online consultation and delivered to me. Just some reservations about using it (affecting sperm count etc.), but from what I gather it’s safe. 

26 minutes ago, Gatsby said:

You have a good solid head of hair. Your hair maybe slightly thin but as @Ryan Daniel stated for 32 your hair looks great! Speak to your doctor about Finasteride and you could even look at minoxidil as well. All the best!

Thanks. This is why I’ve come here because I don’t know if I just have naturally thin and light hair or if there is some slight thinning. I mean 13 years of documenting my hair and no dramatic change is a good sign I hope. 

Edited June 12, 2022 by Marty1990

[Ryan Daniel]

I wouldn't worry to much. You look better than people who have had multiple hair transplants.

The best thing you can do is get on preventative medication and enjoy the rest of your life

Good luck @Marty1990

[Marty1990]

Thanks @Ryan Daniel. I’m still deciding whether I should jump on fin (side effects concern me a little for starting a family in the future), and because my hair seems mostly the same after nearly 15 years, it gives me hope it’ll stay like that, but at the same time I agree a preventive measure is the best way to go. 

I’ve noticed Sons do a topical finasteride and minoxidil serum, is that any good? Or is oral the best way to go?

[Ryan Daniel]

16 minutes ago, Marty1990 said:

Thanks @Ryan Daniel. I’m still deciding whether I should jump on fin (side effects concern me a little for starting a family in the future), and because my hair seems mostly the same after nearly 15 years, it gives me hope it’ll stay like that, but at the same time I agree a preventive measure is the best way to go. 

I’ve noticed Sons do a topical finasteride and minoxidil serum, is that any good? Or is oral the best way to go?

I don't have any proof what is better and what isn't.  I just assume that oral is always offers you a higher chance of success.. compared to something that you apply 

[John1991]

2 hours ago, Ryan Daniel said:

I wouldn't worry to much. You look better than people who have had multiple hair transplants.

The best thing you can do is get on preventative medication and enjoy the rest of your life

Good luck @Marty1990

The best thing he can do is use the least side effect likely preventative meds he can. So he shouldn’t just jump on fin. If he loses hair - which he hasn’t - then he should try it. As for now, Noz very well may be enough to thicken him and keep him great 

[Tommy Vercetti]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with his hair

[pkipling]

I agree that at the current state, your hair really does seem to be fine, and the opinion on whether or not you jump on Finasteride is gonna vary. Some people are very adamant that it's best to start as early as possible, and others are more cautious. I fall in the more cautious side personally, but that's just how I view most medication. If it were very clearly thinning at a rapid rate, I would definitely suggest it, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

Also, it seems to me like in the photos where the crown looks "thinner" that it's also when your scalp seems be a bit sunburnt/red - and I think the contrast of your blonde hair and red scalp makes it look "thinner" than maybe is the reality. 

[NARMAK]

Just to put my own opinion into the mix. The crown has a "whorl" pattern which is in a 360 degree type of shape unlike other areas which are usually forwards or downwards on the back of the head and layer more on each other to "cover" the areas. You have it in the centre pretty much, similar to mind too but your problem is that you seem to have a slightly higher skin to hair contrast ratio which makes it more visible. That said, people can also start thinning at the crown at the same time as the front. It's vertex hair loss and not exactly uncommon. 

You're the same age as me and imo been significantly more lucky with your hair but you should start taking Finasteride 1mg 3x a week if not a full 1mg dosage everyday if you can tolerate to block the maximum DHT possible. 

Hair loss is not best fought once you're aware of it because usually by the time people notice, significant damage is already done. In fact, very reputable doctors claim its 50% hair loss before we notice. Just think about that for one moment. Would you wait until 50% of your boat had taken on water to do something about it? No, you notice any leaks you start blocking them straight away and even before then, the design should be to prevent water getting into a boat. Finasteride for hair loss prevention operates on the exact same basis imo. 

Think of it like a multivitamin for your hair if it makes you feel better and doesn't cause you side affects. 

Being reactive imo is the worse way to deal with hair loss. It's like skating up hill. 

[Eugenix Hair Sciences]

On 6/12/2022 at 5:09 AM, Marty1990 said:

I’ve been worried about losing my hair since I was 19. I’m 32 now, I still have a full head of hair, but I don’t know whether it’s because camera quality has improved in that time or I’m just finding fault with my hair, things that have always been there, I don’t know. 
 

I’ve crudely labelled the pictures attached. From the pics, direct light, you’ve been able to see through my hair to not scalp since at least aged 19. Same now. Same when it’s wet. Have always had a weird crown, maybe a part or cow lick, but not sure if now it looks thinner. Either way it’s bothering me enough to come on here and ask. 

A lot of pics, but I’ve got a lot from over the years. Not in order but have noted down the years.

Anyway - will finasteride benefit me or not? 
 

 

You don't seem to have androgenetic alopecia. Your density seems to have remained constant since the beginning. You don't seem to require finasteride. However, to be absolutely sure regarding this, you can visit a dermatologist in person and get a proper evaluation done.

[Al - Moderator]

Since your hair hasn't changed in all those years then it could be that you are simply on the lower end of the range of natural full density and haven't lost any hair.

 

[NARMAK]

I am going to be in the camp that says unless you got a proper trichoscopic evaluation it's very difficult to say how much hair is miniaturised and perhaps going on its way out. 

When i just had my recent hair transplant they buzzed my hair down, and i took a picture looking down on the midscalp in particular and i was actually pretty surprised at how many hairs i just noticed looking short and thin, and that's even after a year of being on Dutasteride. My only hope is that i acted in time to try save my hair. As i said before, by the time you realise, usually a good amount of damage has been done and i WISH i could have gone back to when i was 21 and started Finasteride than wait till 31.

[Marty1990]

Hi all,

Sorry for not replying to everyone on here but I’ve not been thinking / worrying about hair loss since my last post. However, a comment in work has triggered me. A lady in work walked past me whilst I was sitting down, and said oh I can see your bald spot - I said what? - then she called over another colleague and said look there’s his bald spot starting. 

Obviously that was enough for me to go and take pics.

First pic is not long after hair comment. 

Second pic is from like 5 years ago and the last one was when I’d brushed my hair normally. 

I know I’ve got a large whorl but this is the first time someone has made a comment like this before. 

[NARMAK]

1 hour ago, Marty1990 said:

Hi all,

Sorry for not replying to everyone on here but I’ve not been thinking / worrying about hair loss since my last post. However, a comment in work has triggered me. A lady in work walked past me whilst I was sitting down, and said oh I can see your bald spot - I said what? - then she called over another colleague and said look there’s his bald spot starting. 

Obviously that was enough for me to go and take pics.

First pic is not long after hair comment. 

Second pic is from like 5 years ago and the last one was when I’d brushed my hair normally. 

I know I’ve got a large whorl but this is the first time someone has made a comment like this before. 

Imo, i wouldn't say its a "bald spot" per se. The problem is that your whorl pattern is more central and this exacerbates the issue visually and then you also have a higher skin contrast. 

Personally it looks a bit like my own and i would say i have a history in my family of vertex thinning and loss, so i'm more sensitive about losing hair on the back and i'm on Dutasteride for just over 12 months now, so i'm hoping it continues to work for the long term like we see on some studies but it's hard to recommend you just hop on medication. It's a decision for you to evaluate.