Treatment Protocol?

[tedwuji]

I would say based on pics I saw some fine regrowth and some thickening of the hairline. I got excited at first because it took me to what I perceived as a nw2.5. Sadly, I've lost most of that regrowth after about 2 years or so. Can't stop rogaine now because I'm not sure what kind of effect it's having and I don't wanna risk it. Some people are lucky and regrow with rogaine and maintain for many years, but I guess I wasn't the case.

I know most here will disagree with me (except maybe artista) but I am a FIRM believer that emotional stress and things like lack of sleep speed up hair loss. During engineering school I she'd massive amounts of hair and I was super stressed and not sleeping well (think 3-4 hours a night) also had a greedy gf at the time that added to the stress. During that time my scalp was in horrible shape- tons of inflammation, redness, flaking.

During my first job out of school (very stressful) I noticed an increase in shedding and bad scalp.condition. that's around the same time I lost whatever regrowth I had too. Now whenever I skimp on sleep or stress about big things like buying a new home, you guessed it- scalp goes to chit and shedding starts. Moral of the story- reduce stress and stay on a good sleep schedule. IMO that's very important.

I used to work out frequently (currently recovering from shoulder surgery) this is totally anecdotal but I felt like lifting heavy may contribute a bit to shedding due to the temporary spike in test. I didn't really let that stop me though cuz I guess I rather be more healthy. What are your thoughts on this? Do you work out?

That's tempting with the rogain and i think stress could probably exacerbate the progression of balding in those already vulnerable. As far as lifting goes, it is hard to say. I workout 5 days per week with weights and/or cardio, i dont think that alone effected my hair loss, but maybe that is because my fin response is pretty good.

Side effects from fin are nearly zip, thankfully.

[JohnMPB]

This is a good post and interesting read. I agree with everything you've said for the most part. What did you see in terms of progress during that 9 months you simply added Rogaine to your daily regimen? You used it only once per day, correct?

I would say based on pics I saw some fine regrowth and some thickening of the hairline. I got excited at first because it took me to what I perceived as a nw2.5. Sadly, I've lost most of that regrowth after about 2 years or so. Can't stop rogaine now because I'm not sure what kind of effect it's having and I don't wanna risk it. Some people are lucky and regrow with rogaine and maintain for many years, but I guess I wasn't the case.

I know most here will disagree with me (except maybe artista) but I am a FIRM believer that emotional stress and things like lack of sleep speed up hair loss. During engineering school I she'd massive amounts of hair and I was super stressed and not sleeping well (think 3-4 hours a night) also had a greedy gf at the time that added to the stress. During that time my scalp was in horrible shape- tons of inflammation, redness, flaking.

During my first job out of school (very stressful) I noticed an increase in shedding and bad scalp.condition. that's around the same time I lost whatever regrowth I had too. Now whenever I skimp on sleep or stress about big things like buying a new home, you guessed it- scalp goes to chit and shedding starts. Moral of the story- reduce stress and stay on a good sleep schedule. IMO that's very important.

I used to work out frequently (currently recovering from shoulder surgery) this is totally anecdotal but I felt like lifting heavy may contribute a bit to shedding due to the temporary spike in test. I didn't really let that stop me though cuz I guess I rather be more healthy. What are your thoughts on this? Do you work out?

[JohnMPB]

There is a poll with voting at top of page.

3,000+ views and 7 voters.

Don't even think about HT with that head of hair. 99% of girls won't notice like you said. Also with that much native hair you can risk shock loss. You can have pretty much any hair style you want. Just monitor and continue treatments.

As a,side, have you experienced any side effects...real or perceived?

[tedwuji]

Those pictures are great, you can't even tell. You have what people going in for a transplant should be hoping to achieve, don't **** with it.

Yeah I agree my hair does look like a Norwood 3A who transplanted to a traditional Norwood 2 (as that guy would never have 100% density in his newly transplanted area, just like me). I would however, love to have a slightly lower midpoint to my hairline though, in addition to more density in entire frontal region. This may just be hair greed however as I do realize my hair looks good in most cases. The average woman does not consider me to be balding at all. That is great. Thanks for your post. What is your regimen?

[tedwuji]

Yeah, still chasing my dream of being a norwood 2. Even though I'll be 31 in less than 3 months, I just got out of a long term relationship with a serious gf. Now that I'm back on the market I know from prior experience how much looks matter at least in the beginning to attract a mate.

I would say anyone starting to battle mpb needs to start out with fin as its:
1. Proven efficacy
2. Addresses the root cause of mpb (androgens)
3. Easy to take- just swallow a pill daily
4. Has long term studies (10 years as shown by the Italian Rossi et al study)

Then I'd say nizoral is a good and easy addition especially if you suffer from scalp issues. And let's face it you need to shampoo anyway. Good studies to back it up too.

Then if you need regrowth ir thickening like I did go ahead and add rogaine. I've only used the foam and irritation potential seems to be low. Again it's efficacy is proven. The only thing that seems to be an issue is patient compliance. Although you can get away with once per day application that's as far as I would take it.

So no surprise my recommendation is ultimately the big 3. Anything else is just icing on the cake and your returns will likely be minimal.

I started first with Propecia and niz for 2 years. Wasn't happy with where I was and added rogaine. 9 months to a year later added tricomin. I routinely took pictures to gauge where I was. Which reminds me I haven't done that in ages and really should.

This is a good post and interesting read. I agree with everything you've said for the most part. What did you see in terms of progress during that 9 months you simply added Rogaine to your daily regimen? You used it only once per day, correct?

[allTheGoodNamesAreTaken]

Those pictures are great, you can't even tell. You have what people going in for a transplant should be hoping to achieve, don't **** with it.

[JohnMPB]

Thanks again for your comments on my hair. I do appreciate the advantage finasteride has given me. I will be 33 before 2016 is over and I have a similar hairline to age 23. This absolutely would not be the case without the fin.

You being a norwood 3 post-30 is not all that bad, i suppose... of course it is normal to want more, but i feel society would consider your loss age appropriate. Also starting at age 15 id expect more loss. What do you feel is the most effective treatment you are currently using? Did you start all those things at the same time? How do you gauge which is doing what?

Yeah, still chasing my dream of being a norwood 2. Even though I'll be 31 in less than 3 months, I just got out of a long term relationship with a serious gf. Now that I'm back on the market I know from prior experience how much looks matter at least in the beginning to attract a mate.

I would say anyone starting to battle mpb needs to start out with fin as its:
1. Proven efficacy
2. Addresses the root cause of mpb (androgens)
3. Easy to take- just swallow a pill daily
4. Has long term studies (10 years as shown by the Italian Rossi et al study)

Then I'd say nizoral is a good and easy addition especially if you suffer from scalp issues. And let's face it you need to shampoo anyway. Good studies to back it up too.

Then if you need regrowth ir thickening like I did go ahead and add rogaine. I've only used the foam and irritation potential seems to be low. Again it's efficacy is proven. The only thing that seems to be an issue is patient compliance. Although you can get away with once per day application that's as far as I would take it.

So no surprise my recommendation is ultimately the big 3. Anything else is just icing on the cake and your returns will likely be minimal.

I started first with Propecia and niz for 2 years. Wasn't happy with where I was and added rogaine. 9 months to a year later added tricomin. I routinely took pictures to gauge where I was. Which reminds me I haven't done that in ages and really should.

[tedwuji]

There is a poll with voting at top of page.

3,000+ views and 7 voters.

[tedwuji]

I def have less hair than you. I'm 30 years old and a nw3. My loss is mainly concentrated at the front 1/3 of my scalp. I started balding very young- 15 or 16. I've been on fin, minox, tricomin, and nizoral for many years (8+). I'm trying to start a last ditch effort to try and gain some ground on my hairline- deciding between adding retin-a, high strength minoxidil, or dr proctors prescription proxiphen. Either way I'm not holding my breath because I'm almost entirely sure to get the nw2 hairline I want I would need a ht.

I've been on various hairloss forums since 2005 so I've seen many fads come and go and hopes for cures crash and burn. I think if you can stop your loss and get a good ht you are golden at least for your younger years.

Anyway, you're very lucky with your head of hair. I'd happily take yours in a heart beat haha.

Thanks again for your comments on my hair. I do appreciate the advantage finasteride has given me. I will be 33 before 2016 is over and I have a similar hairline to age 23. This absolutely would not be the case without the fin.

You being a norwood 3 post-30 is not all that bad, i suppose... of course it is normal to want more, but i feel society would consider your loss age appropriate. Also starting at age 15 id expect more loss. What do you feel is the most effective treatment you are currently using? Did you start all those things at the same time? How do you gauge which is doing what?

[JohnMPB]

I def have less hair than you. I'm 30 years old and a nw3. My loss is mainly concentrated at the front 1/3 of my scalp. I started balding very young- 15 or 16. I've been on fin, minox, tricomin, and nizoral for many years (8+). I'm trying to start a last ditch effort to try and gain some ground on my hairline- deciding between adding retin-a, high strength minoxidil, or dr proctors prescription proxiphen. Either way I'm not holding my breath because I'm almost entirely sure to get the nw2 hairline I want I would need a ht.

I've been on various hairloss forums since 2005 so I've seen many fads come and go and hopes for cures crash and burn. I think if you can stop your loss and get a good ht you are golden at least for your younger years.

Anyway, you're very lucky with your head of hair. I'd happily take yours in a heart beat haha.

[tedwuji]

Oh and btw I doubt the company that makes nizoral would ever consider getting it approved for mpb. Just putting it thru the FDA trials would cost them hundreds of millions of dollars. They would never make that money back given that it's an 11 dollar bottle of shampoo. I can think of 3-4 small to medium scale results that show it is helpful. Doubt anymore studies will be done to show its efficacy. My thinking of adding it was it has some decent independent studies, it's relatively inexpensive, and I have to shampoo anyway. Anyway, That's just my lil rant.

It wouldn't be unreasonable to add it. I have also considered all the things you have accurately pointed out here. John can I ask are you using anything now? What is going on with your hair? Are you very bald or just slightly recessed?

[JohnMPB]

Oh and btw I doubt the company that makes nizoral would ever consider getting it approved for mpb. Just putting it thru the FDA trials would cost them hundreds of millions of dollars. They would never make that money back given that it's an 11 dollar bottle of shampoo. I can think of 3-4 small to medium scale results that show it is helpful. Doubt anymore studies will be done to show its efficacy. My thinking of adding it was it has some decent independent studies, it's relatively inexpensive, and I have to shampoo anyway. Anyway, That's just my lil rant.

[JohnMPB]

I have been considering using minoxidil ever since i passed the 5 year mark with finasteride, but it seems too involved for me. I think I won't do that either. Maybe I will just keep doing what works.

If you are comfortable with your hair (pretty sure 99.9% of guys on here would be) then I agree-stick to what's working and what's easy. Given the 10 year fin results I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. Good luck

[tedwuji]

I am not fully convinced of it's benefit as it is not FDA approved for hair loss. I know of which studies you speak, however I have seen other ones that contradict them. To answer your question I have never had any dandruff issues. My guess is that nizroal shampoo would be a very marginal benefit for hair loss when used alone, at best.

I have been considering using minoxidil ever since i passed the 5 year mark with finasteride, but it seems too involved for me. I think I won't do that either. Maybe I will just keep doing what works.

Oh and thanks for the compliments on my mop head of hair!

[tedwuji]

Good call. You do have an awesome head of hair. Any reason besides the above to not use nizoral? It has a few good studies backing it up and helps with dandruff (not sure if you suffer from dandruff or not). It's also otc and you only have to use it a few times a week.

I am not fully convinced of it's benefit as it is not FDA approved for hair loss. I know of which studies you speak, however I have seen other ones that contradict them. To answer your question I have never had any dandruff issues. My guess is that nizroal shampoo would be a very marginal benefit for hair loss when used alone, at best.