Let me get this straight....

[EXprettyboy]

I'm new to the forum and I've been doing some web research lately as a means of coping with a recent bout of depression triggered by 2 mirrors and harsh light.
Anyway I would like to make sure I am completely up to date with all the best treatment hopes in the near future, by running the main things I've learned passed you guys. If I've missed anything substantial please enlighten me.

1. The most appealing possibility is being proposed by REPLICEL. They will isolate dermal sheath cups and multiply them in culture, then reinject them into the scalp where they will rejuvenate dormant follicles as well as create brand new ones. Hair will grow at the right angle giving a natural look. We should know if they're onto something by March 2012.

2. Histogen are developing a hair stimulating complex that is derived from cells grown in embryonic conditions. The product will contain growth factors and proteins that should stimulate growth.They've been delayed by a lawsuit and the earthquake, but When is this gonna be finished it's trial? will it be available in japan first? (cos I'm there if it is!)

3. Aderans, seem confident they will be able to clone follicle cells and reinject them, they call it 'ji gami'. I don't know if this will be as natural looking as replicel but beggars can't be choosers. Am I right in thinking 2014 is the anticipated public launch date??

4. George Cotsarelis, discovered wounding growth windows for wnt proteins years ago and founded follica. Last year discovered baldies still have hair stem cells in their scalps, which just need a kick start. (Yale researchers have found certain fat cells could be the signallers). I would love to see these guys do somethin' because, the results would be an actual expression of your own dna blueprints. It would be the shape of your own hairline, because it's your own stem cells being activated. Cotsarelis always says maybe within ten years. (well at least he's honest)

5. Intercytex and berlin technical university have generated a follicle from stem cells, they may be able to repeat this in the scalp. I don't really know the science on this one or the timeframe. Anybody??

OK I think they are the best hopes for the next few years. I'm sick of minoxidil and lasers, and they're not fucking working any more. I'm running out of time here! I reckon I can hold on another year before I start to lose control of it.
Anyway have I missed anything? Is there any other Massive company on the verge of making history that we know of?

[tawleedo]

Hi ExPB ..good research ,im wondering though, if one has had a HT these procedures your talkinig about will still have the desired affect opposed to not have had an HT .

[EXprettyboy]

I'm just going by intuition here and some basic biology knowledge but I don't think it matters if you've had a hair transplant or not. It's basically a hair follicle successfully implanted into human tissue. I don't think growth factors or dermal cup sheath cells "care" if the hair was from a HT or not. And even if transplanted hairs didn't respond (I'm sure they would though) The procedures would still do their magic around them in the surrounding scalp.

[S.W]

Excellent summary. pretty much covers everything hopeful while excluding the trivial mice experiments. We might not have a sudden break through since Einstein or Newton in our age (if there are any) don't care about hair loss. But since science especially bioscience goes by cycles, I keep the hope that a more efficient treatment for baldness from the biology angle is right on the corner.

I'm new to the forum and I've been doing some web research lately as a means of coping with a recent bout of depression triggered by 2 mirrors and harsh light.
Anyway I would like to make sure I am completely up to date with all the best treatment hopes in the near future, by running the main things I've learned passed you guys. If I've missed anything substantial please enlighten me.

1. The most appealing possibility is being proposed by REPLICEL. They will isolate dermal sheath cups and multiply them in culture, then reinject them into the scalp where they will rejuvenate dormant follicles as well as create brand new ones. Hair will grow at the right angle giving a natural look. We should know if they're onto something by March 2012.

2. Histogen are developing a hair stimulating complex that is derived from cells grown in embryonic conditions. The product will contain growth factors and proteins that should stimulate growth.They've been delayed by a lawsuit and the earthquake, but When is this gonna be finished it's trial? will it be available in japan first? (cos I'm there if it is!)

3. Aderans, seem confident they will be able to clone follicle cells and reinject them, they call it 'ji gami'. I don't know if this will be as natural looking as replicel but beggars can't be choosers. Am I right in thinking 2014 is the anticipated public launch date??

4. George Cotsarelis, discovered wounding growth windows for wnt proteins years ago and founded follica. Last year discovered baldies still have hair stem cells in their scalps, which just need a kick start. (Yale researchers have found certain fat cells could be the signallers). I would love to see these guys do somethin' because, the results would be an actual expression of your own dna blueprints. It would be the shape of your own hairline, because it's your own stem cells being activated. Cotsarelis always says maybe within ten years. (well at least he's honest)

5. Intercytex and berlin technical university have generated a follicle from stem cells, they may be able to repeat this in the scalp. I don't really know the science on this one or the timeframe. Anybody??

OK I think they are the best hopes for the next few years. I'm sick of minoxidil and lasers, and they're not fucking working any more. I'm running out of time here! I reckon I can hold on another year before I start to lose control of it.
Anyway have I missed anything? Is there any other Massive company on the verge of making history that we know of?

[EXprettyboy]

Yeah it at least gives some realistic hope of an acceptable solution ....I mean a couple of years ago I went online with no Idea what kind of solutions were being proposed and was absolutely horrified at some of the suggestions. That might be interesting to discuss:

The first one I recall was some sort of scalp adjustment surgery where they remove a chunk of bald scalp, then fold and stretch and stitch the rest up to leave you without a bald spot. ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS??? legitimate doctors thinking that this is anything more than a bad joke is baffling. Being a hairloss sufferer and reading that on a major hairloss website as a viable option was enough to make me lose all hope. It's just ridiculous. butchery.

Another treatment I can think of that astounds me with it's absurdity, but depresses me that some big hairloss organisations are considering is beard/body hair Transplanting.... I go away from the internet research for over 2 years and leave these credible corporations to come up with some solutions, and I return to find them presenting this RIGHT NOW in Alaska ISHRS annual meeting. Spongey coarse beard hair on my head?? body hair : back hair, under arm hair, pubes and chest hair and fine leg hair, ON MY HEAD?? ...Thank fuck for the other companies!!!

To a lesser extent, the dilema proposed by propecia just adds insult to injury. "We have a drug for hairloss!!!" ....With the worst side affect in the world.

It's an undignifying condition, and you have done nothing to deserve it, and there's nothing you can do to grow hair YET... but were getting closer, as russell crowe roars in gladiator to his troops facing the enemy "HOLD THE LINE" (the hairline that is!)

[mlao]

Intercytex is out of business they sold their research to Aderans.

[67mph]

Exprettyboy, hairloss is like a soap opera, you have your main characters both good and bad, same shoddy storylines and same old viewers watching it all pan out in front of them.

You could not watch a soap opera for months yet when you do tune in, good characters have become bad, then bad to good, same shoddy storylines with pretty much the same viewers tuning in just incase there is something worth watching, me included!

Of course you will always have your christmas specials which keeps you coming back for more but, well, i for one feel i can tune out then back in again and nothing will have changed.

We all love a far fetched storyline though eh!

I just hope i'm watching said soap opera when it really has changed for the better.

57mph

[EXprettyboy]

Yes I do my rounds of the hairloss forums about once a year, although this is the first time I've ever joined and contributed, normally I just read.
I usually start depressed about the hairloss, read and contemplate, then find hope. This will inspire me to add a treatment to my regime and get my shit together. After about 5 months My hair is usualy looking decent with lots of discipline.
But I always end up falling apart and going back to square 1. I've been doing well for myself up until this point, but I think I am running out of time now. I have one more year left in me, The thinning has commenced, the temples are breaching the limits of cosmetic acceptability.
Whats Ironic is that balding ruined my life before it even got going. Now that it is happening, I'm dealing with it better than I expected.
I am literally surviving on my last months of having hair, and I am optimistic that a biotech savior is on it's way.

Even if they don't cure the condition, I would be overjoyed just to get a one off treatment that would preserve whats left and allow me to stop taking minoxidil twice a day, and stop laser combing everyday. I would be free even if they did that much. It would be a bridge to a cure in the future. We are well OVERDUE that advance. Rogaine is nearly older than me!! I'm 25 years old. I could still attain the confidence I crave while I'm young.

I'd say countless great men in history never reached their potential because of balding weakening their self esteem. What a shame. I hope we don't fall into that category. Redemption is tantalizingly close!

[NeedHairASAP]

Yes I do my rounds of the hairloss forums about once a year, although this is the first time I've ever joined and contributed, normally I just read.
I usually start depressed about the hairloss, read and contemplate, then find hope. This will inspire me to add a treatment to my regime and get my shit together. After about 5 months My hair is usualy looking decent with lots of discipline.
But I always end up falling apart and going back to square 1. I've been doing well for myself up until this point, but I think I am running out of time now. I have one more year left in me, The thinning has commenced, the temples are breaching the limits of cosmetic acceptability.
Whats Ironic is that balding ruined my life before it even got going. Now that it is happening, I'm dealing with it better than I expected.
I am literally surviving on my last months of having hair, and I am optimistic that a biotech savior is on it's way.

Even if they don't cure the condition, I would be overjoyed just to get a one off treatment that would preserve whats left and allow me to stop taking minoxidil twice a day, and stop laser combing everyday. I would be free even if they did that much. It would be a bridge to a cure in the future. We are well OVERDUE that advance. Rogaine is nearly older than me!! I'm 25 years old. I could still attain the confidence I crave while I'm young.

I'd say countless great men in history never reached their potential because of balding weakening their self esteem. What a shame. I hope we don't fall into that category. Redemption is tantalizingly close!



same boat

i'm about to lose it i cant last much longer


I couldnt go anywhere without getting hit on

now I only get hit on if I'm wearing a hat


its definitely ripped the soul out of my chest and ruined my personality


i hate hearing these older guys complain... hey guys half of the people your age are bald. Less than a third of my competition is even receding

[clandestine]

Same here NeedHairASAP..
Going off to university with a receding hailine is fucking devastating. And to top that, I've got a small head as well. Pretty well right fucked over here. Confidence is out the window, getting rather depressed.

[EXprettyboy]

Now now NeedhairAsap, Lets not discriminate between the different stages of balding, I'm sure it is just as painful for older guys aswell ....Consider older guys hair loss as a longer term relationship break up!
We're unhappy because the relationship with our hair was nothing more than a fling.

But lets stick to the topic, I actually do want to know if I'm aware of everything thats happening in the cure pipeline??
I forgot about Acell, what's happening with those guys??
...And could somebody tell me when histogen will be able to update us?

[NeedHairASAP]

Now now NeedhairAsap, Lets not discriminate between the different stages of balding, I'm sure it is just as painful for older guys aswell ....Consider older guys hair loss as a longer term relationship break up!
We're unhappy because the relationship with our hair was nothing more than a fling.

But lets stick to the topic, I actually do want to know if I'm aware of everything thats happening in the cure pipeline??
I forgot about Acell, what's happening with those guys??
...And could somebody tell me when histogen will be able to update us?

histogen made an update at the convention in alaska yesterday but I dont know if anything has been posted online, 700 people in alaska know the fate of histogen


even if you have a long term break up when you're older... half your competition is balding and woman expecting to date someone that age are a little more open to baldness... fact. I dont doubt that being bald when you're older sucks, but I would argue it may not be as bad.


also Dean Saunders, a super bald guy who won the german american idol, just got gho's surgery

[EXprettyboy]

Yeah your right I always say If I was 40 and this started, at least I will have had my twenties..... but I fuckin didn't!

Heres a quick account of this nightmares progress:

Adolescence : great shiny curls, Hair was one of my best assets.

mid teens : Starting to adopt 2 side fringes to hide slight recession, not an issue of major concern.

late teens: Receding hairline, Unmanageable weakening hair, looks suffering, insecurity developing

Early twenties : crap hair, actual areas of thinning, Medicines initiated, Depression and anxiety about hair a big issue

now : Still have hair, (messy norwood 2) but only because of meds, if I stop there would be a big shed and I would be a norwood 3 with thinning). Emotionally worn out by this issue, periodic bouts of depression. hanging on.


In 2 years time ?????? I will need some real treatment. Hopefully something easier and more advanced than a HT will be available.

Just dreamin for a moment "I walk into a clinic, get an injection. 3 months later my follicles are in overdrive ....I'M BACK"

[stillinHS1994]

Oh man.....I totally see myself in ur timeline ex....about late teens.....receding hairline......f my life!....at least Il have it back sometime in the future

[clandestine]

Is treatment worth it for us young folks? I'm extremely put off by propecia due to its sexual side effects.. What are you currently using ExPrettyBoy?

[NeedHairASAP]

Just dreamin for a moment "I walk into a clinic, get an injection. 3 months later my follicles are in overdrive ....I'M BACK"

not soon enough... something tells me that things are not good


If nothing good comes of histogen were down one more. they were suppose to present yesterday in alaska... no updates from anybody who was at the convention yet

[EXprettyboy]

3 and a half years ago I realized that I could not tolerate any more hair loss, So I decided action had to be taken. It is a big commitment because you can't stop once you start. The earlier you start the better, more hair can be saved.

Lots of people will tell you that propecia or a DHT blocker is essential. BUT THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS EVER GOING TO MESS AROUND WITH MY MAN HORMONES OR RISK IMPOTENCE.

So heres what I actually do:
> Rogaine extra strength. I probably spray on way to much. (...as a result I believe I suffered a side affect I've not heard anybody else complain of, back hair/ beard heavier and even hair above the beard, nasty = laser hair removal)

> Hairmax laser comb daily. A lot of work for little result. I am about to build a full laser helmet because I think this treatment works if you get sufficient laser light. Like full scalp saturation for 20 minutes twice a week, as opposed to a few seconds with 5 diodes.

>Resveratrol and curcumin, I started to take these supplements for other reasons but they definitely improved my hair.

> Nizoral shampoo once every other week. any more frequently it drys my hair out.


That is all for treatment but I have a multitude of grooming methods to maintain the cosmetic appearance

> American Crew Fibre, A great clay styling product, gives a thick matt finish
>Thickening shampoos that swell the strands of hair (lock, stock and barrell RECONSTRUCT shampoo)
>Lots of conditioner
>VO5 hot oils
>Satin pillow case
>Don't wash your hair everyday
>Let your hair air dry don't towel dry or blow dry
>Avon Advance Techniques Intensive repair and serum
>Keep the back and sides tight and have a conservative hairstyle


And finaly : excercise, Eat right, sleep well and don't smoke or stress

If you do all this your hair will probably stay the same as it is now, maybe improve for a few months and then stablize, If you don't then you might thin out. (I started losing it before my friends and took action whilst never saying a word. Some of them are pretty bald now, but I'm more or less the same)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU ASKED, WELCOME TO NOT ACCEPTING HAIRLOSS

[Pate]

3. Aderans, seem confident they will be able to clone follicle cells and reinject them, they call it 'ji gami'. I don't know if this will be as natural looking as replicel but beggars can't be choosers. Am I right in thinking 2014 is the anticipated public launch date??

From my understanding, Ji Gami is actually very similar to Replicel. Both are aiming for follicular neogenesis but both realistically expect regeneration of existing follicles to be a major effect. ARI's results so far show some apparent new follicle growth and they claim results similar to Propecia for about 70% of their trial patients (presumably with the difference that this regrowth is either permanent or at least long-term). Regardless I think they should look similarly natural, particularly the growth from rejuvenated vellus.

4. George Cotsarelis, discovered wounding growth windows for wnt proteins years ago and founded follica. Last year discovered baldies still have hair stem cells in their scalps, which just need a kick start. (Yale researchers have found certain fat cells could be the signallers). I would love to see these guys do somethin' because, the results would be an actual expression of your own dna blueprints. It would be the shape of your own hairline, because it's your own stem cells being activated. Cotsarelis always says maybe within ten years. (well at least he's honest)

Yeah, Follica seems to be still be in the research stage. So while they might not be coming up with trials or results, they are making some extremely important discoveries that are being published (so all can access them and make use of them), like the stem cell discovery you mentioned. I'm glad someone is doing this because it allows others to build on their results. You can bet the guys at ARI and Replicel were all over Cotsarelis's stem cell paper when it came out, looking for ways to tinker with their own product to ensure it takes advantage of the new science.

5. Intercytex and berlin technical university have generated a follicle from stem cells, they may be able to repeat this in the scalp. I don't really know the science on this one or the timeframe. Anybody??

As someone said, Intercytex is dead and sold their tech to ARI. The Germans are the ones who are looking at possibly growing a bank of follicles that can be transplanted, sort of like a HT with unlimited donor. It's these guys about whom the worry has been expressed that if they form the follicles directly in the scalp they might not grow in the right direction.

Anyway have I missed anything? Is there any other Massive company on the verge of making history that we know of?

You've covered the main ones, there have been mentions of a couple of others but I don't recall any that were significant. In the meantime, since you don't want to take Propecia, keep an eye on Androscience's ASC-J9 and Cosmo's CB-03-01, which seem to be the only two topical anti-androgen drugs actively being pursued. Unfortunately both companies are focusing on acne before hairloss for some reason. Possibly because they know nobody will grow a full head of hair from them (will mostly stop further loss), whereas acne should have visible effects. On the plus side we may be able to get the acne treatments off-label although that's likely to be a cream rather than a lotion. In any event both these drugs should offer better results than Propecia (blocking both DHT and T) without systemic effects.

Even if Replicel and Histogen are successful there may still be a role for these new anti-androgen drugs to stop DHT attacking the new growth - particularly with Histogen which doesn't actually do anything to overcome the DHT issue.

Exciting times all around, it's just damn frustrating that even in the best case scenario we're looking at probably 2015. Histogen maybe a year earlier.

[EXprettyboy]

Pate, Thanks for the clarifications, I appreciate the Information.

The reason I wasn't sure ji gami would be as natural as replicel is because in the interview replicel ceo dr Hall says the cup sheath cells give aligned growth but the papilla part is discarded because it gives clumpy growth that does not grow at the right angle. I thought aderans were using papilla for some reason or maybe something other than cup sheath cells. But now I understand that they may in fact be doing something similar to replicel.

George Cotsarelis, great guy, never talks shit and shares his findings, a man of integrity, I agree.

topical anti androgens? would that not have the same side affect? it's still an anti androgen, or maybe because it's applied locally it only affects the scalp. If it's in the blood stream though it's the same no?


2015....2015..... Maybe sooner, wait and see how the FDA get on in that lawsuit about their jurisdiction with that biotech company, or maybe they will allow marketing after a succesful phase 2, or perhaps a japenese early release?


And anyway...There is something we've not stopped to consider in all this commotion.... The prospect of a viable hairloss cure becoming a reality in the next 3 years or so has crept up on us so fast that we have the luxury of the folowing problem for the first time in history:
The cure will be here before you can afford it! I am now motivated to get that money together... Before I thought that pursuing money would still leave me without hair, but with these revelations I'm ready to get down to business. By the time I have the money the treatment will be ready

[Pate]

The reason I wasn't sure ji gami would be as natural as replicel is because in the interview replicel ceo dr Hall says the cup sheath cells give aligned growth but the papilla part is discarded because it gives clumpy growth that does not grow at the right angle. I thought aderans were using papilla for some reason or maybe something other than cup sheath cells. But now I understand that they may in fact be doing something similar to replicel.

You are right about the difference in the target cells but the basic methods are similar in that they are autologous processes to multiply DHT-resistant cells and then reinject them. In either case the rejuvenation of existing hair follicles shouldn't change direction.

topical anti androgens? would that not have the same side affect? it's still an anti androgen, or maybe because it's applied locally it only affects the scalp. If it's in the blood stream though it's the same no?

Not if you choose the right anti-androgen. Ideally you want one that is active dermally when it's applied but is metabolised or otherwise breaks down when it enters the bloodstream. So you put it on your scalp, it penetrates the hair follicle, does its stuff, then when it gets into the bloodstream it quickly becomes inactive, so no systemic effects. Both ASC-J9 and CB-03-01 seem to fit this bill. Funnily enough neither of them are newly discovered drugs, and there are plenty of others (RU 58841 is one) but nobody has tried to commercialise them before.

Just make sure you wash your hands carefully before you start messing around downstairs. ;)


And anyway...There is something we've not stopped to consider in all this commotion.... The prospect of a viable hairloss cure becoming a reality in the next 3 years or so has crept up on us so fast that we have the luxury of the folowing problem for the first time in history:
The cure will be here before you can afford it! I am now motivated to get that money together...

Well... Replicel is publicly listed, so you could buy a few shares in it and then if they get a working product your shares should easily cover the cost of the procedure. ;)

(I'm kidding there - investing in a company like Replicel is only for people who can afford to lose what they put in!)

[TheDude]

I'd say countless great men in history never reached their potential because of balding weakening their self esteem.

I agree for the most part except this point..

I too am in a similar position.. young and at the point of no return..

BUT if something like going bald is going to destroy your life then the only one to blame is you.. we have no options really, drugs and ointments that scarcely work or surgery thats only successful for some and really expensive..

The only real option is acceptance (as hard as i know it is). Those that are going to make successes of their lives.. are going to do so bald or not.. AND there are many examples of this..

I really hope that some type of treatment/cure comes along but until then, (I) personally am going to focus on the things i can change and keep the hope for the rest.

[Ronin]

Well said mate! Life's never been fair, but it's up to us to make a difference where we can!

[EXprettyboy]

Yeah I'm not saying that balding prevents you from succeeding, I'm saying it is a drain on the self esteem and confidence. Thats not something we can choose not to feel. we can act tough and get on with it, but regardless it is a burden. Emotionally strong men can overcome it, But what if your self expression requires you to be not distracted by this issue??

I said it's a shame that talented and great men in the past undoubtedly did not reach their potential because of their self esteem being chipped away at.

Read some of the posts on this site ...these guys are hurting. Maybe you and footballer Wayne Rooney and surfer Kelly Slater and actor Jason statham don't give a fuck about it and are unperturbed BUT most of us are drowning in self pity and shame. We devote every minute to trying to muster the strength to live 'normally'. But then we're at a party and we're consumed by self consciousness and fear. And even if society did get over it, I don't think I could!!

Can you imagine for a moment if this was cured.... A whole legion of men ready to express themselves without any distraction or without having to overcome any inner demons or fear, or self esteem issues IN THE FIRST PLACE!!

I intuitively know that that first generation of redeemed former mpb victims are gonna be a ferocious bunch. Renewed vigor and and confidence will drive them to do extraordinary things. Emotions that they had blocked off 'forever' will overwhelm them. They will have gotten through a certain death of Identity and be reawakened to LIFE! Nobody else will understand. The strength we will derive from this difficult period will make us overcome anything. That first wave of desperate men will be free again, and they will be a formidable breed. They will be hungrier and more determined than other men. New confidence and freedom will spawn creativity, unstymied expression and AMBITION.

For later generations it wont be an issue. MPB will never be enough of an issue to drive men to edge like this again. They won't get it either. It will be an easily resolved flaw, that people don't think about twice.


But for the meantime, I have to tolerate being an easy punchline, and the young girls automatic last choice, and the victim of my own inner deprication.


I just spent the day walking around town to find a fucking nice hat to wear to college to hide my Achilles heel in the first day of college tommorow. I'm ashamed of balding. I'm also ashamed of my Vanity. I used to feel good, I was reasonably attractive, I was free to express talent. Now I'm the balding guy, my energy is wasted trying to maintain my hair count and trick everybody into not realising!.

[67mph]

Brilliant post exprettyboy!

I agree with everything you just typed up.

Hey, just make sure you stay on the forum whilst your at college yeah, i reckon you've more good stuff to say.

...anyway your college days - good luck mate!

Regards,
57mph

[stillinHS1994]

I wuld have to agree that was a great post....and your right about later generations. My future children will never understand the the toll balding took on their fathers and grandfathers etc. Self confidence. It will be a quick fix for them. They're damn lucky.

[Samiam]

Yeah your right I always say If I was 40 and this started, at least I will have had my twenties..... but I fuckin didn't!

Heres a quick account of this nightmares progress:

Adolescence : great shiny curls, Hair was one of my best assets.

mid teens : Starting to adopt 2 side fringes to hide slight recession, not an issue of major concern.

late teens: Receding hairline, Unmanageable weakening hair, looks suffering, insecurity developing

Early twenties : crap hair, actual areas of thinning, Medicines initiated, Depression and anxiety about hair a big issue

now : Still have hair, (messy norwood 2) but only because of meds, if I stop there would be a big shed and I would be a norwood 3 with thinning). Emotionally worn out by this issue, periodic bouts of depression. hanging on.
"

this just depressed the fuck out of me...........

[EXprettyboy]

....It depressed me too ....HAhaha

[Samiam]

How often were you having sex or masturbating between your late teens and now?? just wondering if sex could play a role

[EXprettyboy]

..... Very frequently, .... But are you for real man? I'm not shocked by the invasive question, I'm pretty open about things. What I am shocked by is that you would actually think that would have any impact on hairloss.

Look, people go bald because of a sequence of code in their dna that eventually gets expressed as DHT sensitive hair follicles.

So if I was a monk and didn't interfere with myself I could still end up with a shimmering scalp, and if I was a nymphomaniac porno star I could be rockin an afro, all depending on that one piece of genetic code.

So my young baldrick, jerk off to your hearts content.

[Samiam]

I'm not saying it causes hair loss, I'm just wondering if maybe those who are genetically pre-disposed to it could slow down the process at all by abstaining from sex.

[NeedHairASAP]

Brilliant post exprettyboy!

I agree with everything you just typed up.

Hey, just make sure you stay on the forum whilst your at college yeah, i reckon you've more good stuff to say.

...anyway your college days - good luck mate!

Regards,
57mph


ha, my advice is to not come back to this website while at college, just go out and have a good time, chicks dig that

[Dasani]

<QUOTE>I intuitively know that that first generation of redeemed former mpb victims are gonna be a ferocious bunch. Renewed vigor and and confidence will drive them to do extraordinary things. Emotions that they had blocked off 'forever' will overwhelm them. They will have gotten through a certain death of Identity and be reawakened to LIFE! Nobody else will understand. The strength we will derive from this difficult period will make us overcome anything. That first wave of desperate men will be free again, and they will be a formidable breed. They will be hungrier and more determined than other men. New confidence and freedom will spawn creativity, unstymied expression and AMBITION.</QUOTE>

I completely agree with you exprettyboy. I was 22 when I first noticed I was thinning, and it crept up on me fast. I was emotionally blown away, and I had various bouts of depression and sadness because I was generally unaware of any hope for those who are thinning and thought I was doomed to miss out on being a young adult with hair.

But then I found these forums, and started reading. I learned all about Histogen, Replicel, Aderans, Follica, etc. At the same time I went out and got on finasteride (1.25mg daily) and minoxidil. And in the short time I've been on them my thinning hair has nearly completely returned! I'm 23 now and I'm perfectly comfortable with my hair. I actually already feel somewhat relieved. I'm not depressed anymore and I can function with my daily life and pursue my goals (I've always been ambitious, something I feel like I lost in my depression when I realized I was thinning). I'm certainly still nervous, as my current treatments are only temporary. But I feel like there's hope that I can last until an effective treatment comes to market. Spencer said in his interview with G.N. from Histogen "If you're just starting to thin, there's a good chance you'll never have to live as a bald person."

I genuinely have a lot of empathy for anyone experiencing hair loss. Before I was experiencing it myself it was something I just never thought about, I had a busy enough life.

But you're right exprettyboy, if the 'cure' comes out in 2014 or 2015 I'll immediately sign up. And immediately after my treatment I'm going to do a backflip out of the office. I will have a strong appreciation for my hair, and I will feel like I've dodged a very big bullet. Even if this doesn't happen in 2014/15 I take a lot of comfort in knowing that it's virtually guaranteed I will have a full head of hair by the time I'm my father's age. It's coming, hair loss probably isn't 'forever' anymore.

[stillinHS1994]

^^^ u just made my day better cuz of ur optimism

[Piscium]

I'm new to the forum and I've been doing some web research lately as a means of coping with a recent bout of depression triggered by 2 mirrors and harsh light.

Same here EXprettyboy, I caught sight of the exposed HT punch marks in the back of my head one day in a retail changing room which sent me into a depression and lead to my second HT!

But, I share your optimism about future treatments.

I'll tell you a short story which I think is relevant (and because I'm anon on here too!).

Years ago, in my early 20s, I had an impotence problem and it was ruining my life. In desperation I went to see a doctor who prescribed a treatment called Caverject. Now, anyone familiar with this will know that it's an anti-erectile dysfunction medication that you inject directly into the pen*s! Ouch. Man, the things we go through!

Anyway, the treatment didn't work for me despite several attempts and I sank further into depression and eventually attempted suicide.

Fast forward a few years and a little blue pill comes along and does what I could only have dreamt of and cures impotence, just like that, cured. And then further, better treatments became available.

When I think back to the misery and anguish, the painful injections and subsequent faliure, and how it was all resolved by a breakthrough in medical science, it gives me hope that the one other thing that causes me anguish (but not to the same terrible degree though) may also be cured, one day, just like that.

Maybe even in a little pill, who knows?!

[Ronin]

Same here EXprettyboy, I caught sight of the exposed HT punch marks in the back of my head one day in a retail changing room which sent me into a depression and lead to my second HT!

But, I share your optimism about future treatments.

I'll tell you a short story which I think is relevant (and because I'm anon on here too!).

Years ago, in my early 20s, I had an impotence problem and it was ruining my life. In desperation I went to see a doctor who prescribed a treatment called Caverject. Now, anyone familiar with this will know that it's an anti-erectile dysfunction medication that you inject directly into the pen*s! Ouch. Man, the things we go through!

Anyway, the treatment didn't work for me despite several attempts and I sank further into depression and eventually attempted suicide.

Fast forward a few years and a little blue pill comes along and does what I could only have dreamt of and cures impotence, just like that, cured. And then further, better treatments became available.

When I think back to the misery and anguish, the painful injections and subsequent faliure, and how it was all resolved by a breakthrough in medical science, it gives me hope that the one other thing that causes me anguish (but not to the same terrible degree though) may also be cured, one day, just like that.

Maybe even in a little pill, who knows?!

From one man to another: I feel inspired by your pen*s story! :D

[EXprettyboy]

Yeah the anonymity is great!.... I didn't think actually committing my inner most anguish about this problem of mine to written language would make a difference, but after years of keeping all this stuff to myself, to finally tell people ...the truth is somewhat emotionally helpful.

" I am losing my hair and I'm depressed about it. I use Rogaine. I even use a laser comb."

Nobody I know personally, Knows that shit about me. If they did I would be ridiculed and humiliated. Talking with guys in the exact same position makes me feel better.

We don't know each other on one level, but on another level you know me better than anybody. I feel the same.

Yeah, this hairloss problem really needs resolving. I will not just accept it. If I ever make some real money in my life through success, I will spend my time working on a cure. That may seem absurd to most of you, but I don't like ignoring problems and living in denial. I would at least feel like I'm actually dealing with a real issue that runs deep for me. dealing with the truth. working on an answer instead of waiting for one. I'm good at problem solving. Maybe I'll get an opportunity to solve this one. Thats essentially how scientific progress is made. Something occurs to a single man, a hypothosis, which then gets tested. Eventually one holds true. I've a thread in the 'start your own topic' section (it's called 'I'm dead serious') about some of us who feel this way possibly setting up a non-profit organisation. It would be composed of like minded people who contribute to possibly a lab facility with researchers under are direction, and a website that publishes all the science about hairloss and their daily research findings. A world wide user base learn and postulate the possible answers to this MPB puzzle. We could be part of the biggest and purest movement to get the cure ever organised. no profit considerations and distraction, just the answer, the cure.

I can't bear to just wait for the cure any longer. I'm a proactive person. I like independance. Usually when I face a problem in life I stand back after initial failure, think about what it would take to win, then execute and absolutely annihilate whatever barriers were previously hold me back...

But hairloss is beating me, It's currently the only thing that's ever completely worn me down and left me with no response.

Even if we cant organise a movement like that, ...I'm satisfied I tried. Next step For me is to go the library and get some biology and biotech books. I don't need to wait for a company to rip me off for a weak treatment, and If people don't want to commit themselves to doing this with me, thats fine.

I have a problem. I'm gonna see if I can solve it. even if I'm not successful I feel better trying.

[Piscium]

From one man to another: I feel inspired by your pen*s story! :D

I probably brought a tear to the eye too!

[67mph]

Piscium, very well put, well told!

I'll have a little spring in my step today after reading your pen*s post, haa.

That small summing up has given me a great deal hope, woh.

57mph

[Stuntz]

First post here, this is a very interesting thread with some brilliant posts.

I was like ExPB, doing once a year 'forum inspection' to see if something new appeared. Usually only got "tests on rats will happen soon blablabla". This time I decided to post because I wished to discuss or especulate 'how much' the much-waited *cure* will cost.

My story, trying to be short because it's basically the same as many people here:
36 years old white male, started balding at 19 or 20, tried propecia and regaine with very little results, perhaps kept hair up to when I was 26-27 years, but in a very awful state (hair was dry, ugly, thin), and decided to shave it all off Bruce Willis style when I was 28, and here I am. Basically fed up of having the same look (fully shaved bald head) for nearly 8 years. Was NW5 when shaved it all off, possibly I'm NW6/7 now, I don't know precisely since I try to not bother too much with this, it brought enough distress to my life so much that I basically lost my 20's completely.

I basically look for these new stuff, something new must appear, just like the blue pill mentioned in Piscium's story. I'm curious to know how much it will cost, as some mentioned that are already saving for this supposed cure. It should be somehow acessible, so the makers of such 'miracle pill' can have a broader market.