I'm a 27 yr old male and my hair has been thinning over the past year. I took action about 2 months ago and went to see my dermatologist to get a prescription for Propecia. My doctor told me I was very lucky because I caught it in the very early stages and that I should be ok. However, since I started treatment (2 months ago), I have done nothing but shed hair and lots of it! My hair has become very thin and my scalp is starting to show. I am starting to freak out! At least 30 hairs fall out everytime I wash my hair.
Although my doctor didn't mentiong anything about a "shedding" phase, I did some research online and saw that alot of people experience a shed. I also read that it is a sign that the Propecia is working by putting your hairs into a resting phase only to have it grow back thicker a few months down the road. This all sounds very encouraging but I feel as though I am losing alot more hair during this shed than what I have read online from other people's experience with shedding.
Is there any clinical studies done on the shed? The Propecia website mentions nothing about this. Has anyone out there experienced a shed from Propecia? When Merk claims that a certain percentage of men maintain the hair that they started with, are they referring to when you first start taking Propecia or after a few months when it starts to work? Any info would be great!
Ok you say it's dupa..... if so then explain how my hair was thick on the sides and back and a LITTLE thin up top... after propecia i got diffuse thinning all over...
So are you sure it's dupa ???
Your hair regrowth is impressive.
You never got any side effects from Spiro? Every doctor I've
asked about that says it's very dangerous for males.
Ok so I am 22 soon to be 23... I used to have really thick hair and did not think much of hair loss. My father is 51 and had a full head of hair as well as his dad which is 76. The only hair loss in my whole family is on my moms side her father was pretty much bald by the time he was 30.
I went to see the doctor and told her i was STARTING to thin .. and that I want to keep AT LEAST what I have left. I asked about Propecia and she gave it to me and then i popped my first 1 mg pill on 1/13/09.
Well as time went on my hair began to shed ... not just shed BUT I LOST ABOUT 30% of my hair in 4 months ... i'm attaching pictures so you guys can see what I mean ... I have woken up in the morning and wanted to stop taking it ... But im afraid if I stop taking it more hair will fall out ... but what does not make since to me is that even though hair did not really fall out before and now its falling everywhere why would it keep falling out after i stop taking it ?
Anyway I know there are some sheds you may go through but this has been going on for 7 months and its bad ... the sad part is that I don't know what to do anymore... i'm only 22 and i'm trying to avoid further hair loss..
So I went back to the doctor at month 3 and she said shedding does not happen on Propecia and that if i shed it was prolly just timing that my hair got worse right when I starting taking it... which is total bullshit.
So what do you guys think do you think i may have improved or not improved .. i mean the shedding is getting worse and worse and its been over 7 months now... I dont want to start rogaine because I heard you only use that if there is a bald spot and that im my stage I should just use propecia alone... what do you guys think...
Ok here are all my blood test results:
CMP-Normal
CBC-Normal
ANAw/ reflex titter- Normal
FERRITIN-Normal
Iron-Normal
Free T3(Thyroid related)- Normal
PTH(parathyroid hormone)- Normal
TSH(Thyroid)- Normal
Ironized Calcium- Normal
Prolactin- Normal
RPR(DX) W RELEX FTA- Normal
[b]SED RATE-Normal
Testosterone, Total-Normal
Vitamin b12/folic acid-Normal
So in conclusion all these test were to see of ANYTHING related could cause hair loss... and the results is NO ... I'm normal on all levels.... as in my thyroid is fine.
Ok NOW THESE TEST I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT :
POSITIVE FOR" SHORT" ALLELE(CAG<22)
A man that tested positive for the" SHORT" CAG allele of the AR gene had approximately 70% chance of a GREAT response( i.e., hair re-growth) using 1mg daily dosage of Finasteride for 48 weeks. Any score BELOW 22 means great results.
In conclusion this test mean I will have GREAT RESPONSE to propecia !!
ONLY TEST I'M WAITING ON NOW IS THE HAIRDX MPB GENE TEST I WILL GET THOSE IN 3 WEEKS.
So many people are wondering what should I do? Should I get on rogaine ? Should I keep taking propecia( even though i missed 2 months and been playing around with doses)... what should I do.
The answer is this... I will KEEP taking 1mg of propecia and I have done EVERY test there can be done to cause hairloss... I NOW know what I SHOULD DO...I "HOPE"
I WILL return in 3 weeks to give you guys my test results on my LAST test which is the" HairDX MPB gene"... And then i'll update you guys after that in 1 year...
After that one year mark... I will assess if rogaine is needed... but since these test show That i SHOULD be a great responder to the drugs then no need for rogaine yet...or is there after the propecia shedding !!!
The treatment program BELOW is what I will be doing for the NEXT YEAR:
Nizoral 1x a week leave in 2-3 mins ( really dries my hair way too much) But I follow with:
Vive Pro Thickening Shampoo and cond. to help.
Nioxin system#2 shampoo & Cond. & Mediceuticals Therapro shampoo system ( Every now and then)
Dr. Proctor Nano Shampoo (5x a week)
Dr. Proctor Proxiphen-N ( 2 times a day)
Hairchi Foam ( 1x in morning after shower)
Propecia 1mg ( 1x per day)
S5 Sprio cream 5% ( At night )
Beta-Sitosterol 340 mg ( 2x per day)
Magnesium citrate 400mg ( 2 per day)
Biosil 5mg ( 2x per day)
Biotin 5mg ( 1x per day)
Green tea pill ( 2x per day)
DIM ( 2x per day)
Omega-3 ( epa-dha)- 3x a day
Ground Flax seeds( 2 spoon fulls per day)
***THINKING OF STARTING**
RU58841
fluridil
Minox ( LAST RESORT after 1 year of treatments above)
SO IN CONCLUSION has anyone has these effects while starting propecia... where you had a LITTLE thinning and then took the meds and become diffuse all over your head.... has anyone recovered form this ? Thanks any thoughts would be greatly helpful !!!
Pics are below of what my shedding has been like while being on propecia:
Basline -12/08 FIRST PIC
Month 4 -4/09 SECOND PIC
Month 7- 7/09 THIRD PIC
Month 8- 8/09 FOURTH PIC
this list of things you will try is impressive! have you managed to get all of this cheaply and maintain?
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