Saw a "hair specialist" today, I am very disappointed

Today I saw a dermatologist who is supposed to be the expert in hair loss in my area. He looked at my hair and said I have androgenic alopecia. He told me about the different kinds of hair loss and explained to me my options. He answered all my questions except for the biggest one.

I asked him a recommendation for treatment. He told me that it was something the patient has to decide. He said he has patients who have results from monoxidil and others from finasteride. I told him it seems to me that finasteride would be addressing the cause of my condition, while monoxidil would not. He said you could say that.

He said that I should try just one type of treatment first to know if it is effective. I said that it might limit my ability to maintain my hair if I do Rogaine first and continue to loose hair. He said that wasn't so much the case.

I'm very frustrated because I paid a lot of money and the only thing I really received was a confirmation that I am indeed balding. I am no more sure of the best approach to addressing the issue today than I was yesterday. I'm not looking for miracles here. I'm just hoping to maintain what I have for another 7-8 years.

Should I get another opinion? There is another dermatologist I scheduled an appointment with for the end of the month just in case I didn't like the outcome of this appointment.

Just get on propecia and use rogaine. Thats the only two things that really work and when you combine them it can be effective. Just hang in there and pray with the rest of us that one of these companies can up with a better treatment. Sucks big time but life just ain't fair sometimes.

I know how you feel. These so-called hair loss specialists are no specialists. I don't think these bastards know any more than many of us do here. I never believed in them or believed they could offer anything of any use to someone with hair loss. They aren't any different than immigration "consultants" who trick people into believing they can help them with their immigration problems but all they do is rip people off and offer no help in return. Both are in it for the easy money.
If you asked me I would've told you the same thing the so-called specialist told you....for free. Unfortunately, because of the despair a new hair loss sufferer feels, he thinks going to a hair loss "specialist" can give him an answer and a way out of his unfolding nightmare. Unfortunately, if your parents passed down the curse of baldness to you no hair loss specialist in the world can help you.

Anyway, dont want to make you feel even worse. All you can do now is try Finasteride and Minoxidil and hopefully they'll work for you and at least slow down your hair loss.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VictimOfDHT

I don't think these bastards know any more than many of us do here.

---

I'm actually starting to think that as well. With every appointment I go to my dermatologist. Believe it or not, they have at some point asked me questions about treatments, when I bring up the treatment and say i'm using it. It's supposed be me asking them and learning, but no.

All they are, is us, with a 4 year college degree, 4 year med school certificate, and 4 year residency. So they get a license to do this stuff.

One thing I won't take away from dermatologists is, that they know there stuff when it comes to skin. They are very good at that. But when it comes to MBP, like you said, they know about as much as we do.

Yes, they might be better when it comes to skin problems but even then, not all are good. The only thing a person suffering from MPB needs to see a doctor about is to get a prescription for Fin/Dut. Other than that you're only wasting your time and maybe money.

I