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I've been scouring these forums for the last couple months, so I felt now is as good a time as ever to join the forums and introduce myself. So hi, everyone.
As my title implies, I am 18 years old and I've suspected for several months that I'm thinning at the temples. Ever since the fall my hair has been kind of itchy on top, and I've had a TON of hair shedding. The hair is shorter, weaker feeling, and some hairs are lighter or almost clear-colored hairs, which seemed to me to be vellus hairs.
I went to a dermatologist, and she seems to think that my fears are reality, it is MPB, and I have a receding hairline. I also have seborrheic dermatitis, which could also be causing the itching/redness, and definitely could be accelerating the hair loss. I am now using a rotation of shampoos- Rx Ketoconazole, Zinc (Head and Shoulders), and Salicylic Acid (TSal), as recommended by my doctor. I was on Selsun Blue for years with no itching, I hadn't used it for several months before my SD symptoms showed up. Go figure. So I might get back on that too, see if it helps my itching. The shampoos seem to help the seborrhea but it doesn't work as well as I'd hoped, the itch is still there. There does seem to be less hair fall now, however. I fear the itch could just be the "hair loss" itch that I see many people complain about on these forums...
My hair loss is almost unnoticeable right now, but it seems to be pretty aggressive. I fear that if I don't do something now it will be too late. I also fear that nothing will work, or that even if it does, it will come at a major cost to my health and future. I am also dealing with repeated pneumothoracies, or better known as lung collapses, which combined is creating a lot of stress. I'm a college student as well, so I'm a bit desperate at this point.
The good thing is that I think I've caught the process relatively early, and my family and girlfriend will support me regardless what decision I make.
I'm considering all of the options, but I'll be honest I'm pretty damn scared of the possibilities. I've seen the horror stories, I know what Finasteride can do to you.
Considering:
Finasteride - Obviously the most successful hair loss drug on the market. I've read up and down this forum and others, trying to decide if the benefits of this drug are worth the cost. I figure I'll at least try the drug and see if I have any immediate, obvious side effects. But I don't know how i feel about being on this drug this early in life, and how I feel about being on this for years at a time. I am heavily considering this option, and will likely start on Propecia in the coming weeks unless persuaded not to.
Shaving my head/going bald - I absolutely, 100% hate how I look with short hair. especially if there isn't any hair actually there. But i know this is an option. And the only safe option. I am a pale, skinny white guy with an awkwardly shaped head and I cannot grow a full beard, at least as of yet. Hats, I've been told, don't work well on me. And I don't want to be known as that guy who is balding at age 19. So obviously, as everyone on here is, I'm fighting this option.
Minoxodil - I'm considering this, but not right now. Only once I see noticeable thinning on the crown will I use minoxodil. I have seen that some people have success with minox at the front of their hairline, but I have also seen people who have said it just shed the hair quicker and never grew back thicker. I also don't want to commit myself to minox because I know that if I EVER stop using it, most of the hair will shed away. Plus many of the people who have had success use it in conjunction with fin.
NOT Considering, unless persuaded:
Laser Treatment - Never been able to find anyone who honestly believes this can work without other treatments
Hair Transplants - I'm too young for this shit. The hair might shed away within a few years, and then I'll just need another surgery. Or, more importantly, even if it works the hair around it will continue to bald. This is only an option once I am almost completely bald.
So anyway, as everyone else does on here, I'm asking for your opinions, and I'm asking for help. I'm already on a keto shampoo, and will likely go on Propecia soon. Thanks to anyone who read this whole thing through. You guys have been super helpful to thousands of men wrestling with their issues.
Here's some pictures of me. The hair is wet in some pictures, and the lighting makes it look worse. It's practically unnoticeable unless I point it out. But its aggressive.
As my title implies, I am 18 years old and I've suspected for several months that I'm thinning at the temples. Ever since the fall my hair has been kind of itchy on top, and I've had a TON of hair shedding. The hair is shorter, weaker feeling, and some hairs are lighter or almost clear-colored hairs, which seemed to me to be vellus hairs.
I went to a dermatologist, and she seems to think that my fears are reality, it is MPB, and I have a receding hairline. I also have seborrheic dermatitis, which could also be causing the itching/redness, and definitely could be accelerating the hair loss. I am now using a rotation of shampoos- Rx Ketoconazole, Zinc (Head and Shoulders), and Salicylic Acid (TSal), as recommended by my doctor. I was on Selsun Blue for years with no itching, I hadn't used it for several months before my SD symptoms showed up. Go figure. So I might get back on that too, see if it helps my itching. The shampoos seem to help the seborrhea but it doesn't work as well as I'd hoped, the itch is still there. There does seem to be less hair fall now, however. I fear the itch could just be the "hair loss" itch that I see many people complain about on these forums...
My hair loss is almost unnoticeable right now, but it seems to be pretty aggressive. I fear that if I don't do something now it will be too late. I also fear that nothing will work, or that even if it does, it will come at a major cost to my health and future. I am also dealing with repeated pneumothoracies, or better known as lung collapses, which combined is creating a lot of stress. I'm a college student as well, so I'm a bit desperate at this point.
The good thing is that I think I've caught the process relatively early, and my family and girlfriend will support me regardless what decision I make.
I'm considering all of the options, but I'll be honest I'm pretty damn scared of the possibilities. I've seen the horror stories, I know what Finasteride can do to you.
Considering:
Finasteride - Obviously the most successful hair loss drug on the market. I've read up and down this forum and others, trying to decide if the benefits of this drug are worth the cost. I figure I'll at least try the drug and see if I have any immediate, obvious side effects. But I don't know how i feel about being on this drug this early in life, and how I feel about being on this for years at a time. I am heavily considering this option, and will likely start on Propecia in the coming weeks unless persuaded not to.
Shaving my head/going bald - I absolutely, 100% hate how I look with short hair. especially if there isn't any hair actually there. But i know this is an option. And the only safe option. I am a pale, skinny white guy with an awkwardly shaped head and I cannot grow a full beard, at least as of yet. Hats, I've been told, don't work well on me. And I don't want to be known as that guy who is balding at age 19. So obviously, as everyone on here is, I'm fighting this option.
Minoxodil - I'm considering this, but not right now. Only once I see noticeable thinning on the crown will I use minoxodil. I have seen that some people have success with minox at the front of their hairline, but I have also seen people who have said it just shed the hair quicker and never grew back thicker. I also don't want to commit myself to minox because I know that if I EVER stop using it, most of the hair will shed away. Plus many of the people who have had success use it in conjunction with fin.
NOT Considering, unless persuaded:
Laser Treatment - Never been able to find anyone who honestly believes this can work without other treatments
Hair Transplants - I'm too young for this shit. The hair might shed away within a few years, and then I'll just need another surgery. Or, more importantly, even if it works the hair around it will continue to bald. This is only an option once I am almost completely bald.
So anyway, as everyone else does on here, I'm asking for your opinions, and I'm asking for help. I'm already on a keto shampoo, and will likely go on Propecia soon. Thanks to anyone who read this whole thing through. You guys have been super helpful to thousands of men wrestling with their issues.
Here's some pictures of me. The hair is wet in some pictures, and the lighting makes it look worse. It's practically unnoticeable unless I point it out. But its aggressive.
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