New Member, Need Some Advice

[StuckInARut]

Hi all, new member here. I have started thinning and losing hair and am in need of some dire advice. Let me start with some basics, I am a 32 year old male, a bit stressed with certain aspects of my life but overall healthy. I don't have a bad diet and try eat as many healthy whole foods as I can. last time I weighed myself I was 175lbs. Not sure if all that info was necessary but just trying to show that I am generally healthy and don't think this is diet or health related in any way.

My hair loss issues started about 7 years ago. I would notice whenever I showered or combed my hair there would be hairs either left behind in the tub or on the comb. I admit at first I didn't really worry too much about it because I know it is perfectly normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day and honestly I had thick hair so it didn't alarm me too much. I wasn't losing alot of hair maybe 15 to 25 strands at most. This continued year after year until 2012 when the problem has gotten considerably worse. I have really started to thin at the front of my head and on the sides around my ears and temples. I also notice thinning at the crown and there is slight thinning in the back but nothing dramatic. Obviously this is really starting to affect me on many levels and is seriously affecting my confidence levels. I can sort of cover up the thinning areas but it is getting increasingly hard to do this up front.

I recently had an appointment with my family physician on an unrelated issue and had a complete blood work done just routine and all came back normal. I saw him a second time to bring up the balding and his response was very discouraging. He looks at my head and says "Yep, that's male pattern baldness", I asked him what my options were and he cheekily replies "Nothing, you will just have to accept it". Now mind you he is bald himself and has long since accepted it but for me this is nearly impossible. I really felt bummed after seeing him but not wanting to just accept it I started to do my own research online and came across a bunch of info in regards to treatments available which my doctor never told me about. Well I must've have read on this subject for at least a month now and see the majority of people are using a combo of Finasteride, Minoxidil & Nizoral with good results.

After reading all this info I thought it best to take advantage of a free consultation at my local hair restoration clinic. I met with the owner and he was pretty nice guy and immediately noticed all my thinning areas. He explained the basics about hairloss some of which I already read about and game me a scalp exam which showed ALOT of sebum in the front areas where I am thinning the most. He said I was lucky I came when I did because he said most people wait until it's too late to do something. Anyway, we were going over the available options and I mention the "Big 3" that I listed above and he said those are all good ways to combat the problem however I may have to deal with some pretty nasty side effects. Now this worried me because I have dealt with side effects on other prescription meds but these ones associate with Finasteride sounded pretty bad.

He proceeded to tell me about a hair loss system that they sell there that is all natural and has no sides, showed me all the products and gave me some product literature to read upon so we ended the consultation with that and I went home and started reading the info he gave me. It didn't mention in detail what was in it so I found more info online and it seems like a great product system but all my research has shown less than stellar results on using natural ways to combat hairloss although I am more inclined to try this due to no side effects.

Basically I just need some advice on where to go from here. I know no one can really give me a definite answer but I am curious what others have tried and was it successful? I know for sure I am gonna purchase a good shampoo and conditioner but other than that I am unsure how to proceed. On on hand I can possibly go the "big 3" route but the idea of those nasty side effects scare me silly as well there have been reports of long-lasting effects, I'm talking years later from using Finasteride. Sex is very important to me so I don't need to be dealing with low libido or ED symptoms. On the other hand I can try an all natural approach and take a gamble on whether it will really work or not but I guess it is a risk worth taking. The guy I met with at the hair restoration clinic, I did get the sense that he was really trying to push the products and make a sale which is part of the reason I didn't commit to anything because I am not a sucker but when I searched on the net for more info I found I could by the whole system online for half the price he quoted me buying through them.

Everyday I am losing more and more hair and haven't acted on any preventative steps because I am so confused. The more I read the more confusing it becomes and it is overwhelming at times. Has anyone had any positive results on a natural regimen?

Thanks for reading and taking time to reply I really appreciate it. I will post some pics below of my current hair loss status.

[Delphi]

Was this person you had the consultation with a doctor? It’s unlikely that what he wants to sell you will help you so it's best to see a hair loss specialist who can explain things to you truthfully.

[dex89]

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/medical-treatment/patient-photos/

be positive my friend.

[StuckInARut]

Technically his title is "Hair Loss Consultant" but he is the owner and they have been operating here for decades. Very well respected and they have doctors on staff there. To be honest that's the place to go for hair related issues here. Basically it is a complete system based on natural ingredients none for optimal hair health. Ingredients such as Saw Palmetto, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B5 , Niacin, Iodine, Stinging Nettle, and a host of other ingredients. I assume this is for reducing DHT and one product does have Minoxidil in it to regrow hair.

[Delphi]

Technically his title is "Hair Loss Consultant" but he is the owner and they have been operating here for decades. Very well respected and they have doctors on staff there. To be honest that's the place to go for hair related issues here. Basically it is a complete system based on natural ingredients none for optimal hair health. Ingredients such as Saw Palmetto, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B5 , Niacin, Iodine, Stinging Nettle, and a host of other ingredients. I assume this is for reducing DHT and one product does have Minoxidil in it to regrow hair.

That’s all I needed to know. Go see a doctor. The link Dex89 posted is a good one. Forget about the consultation you had with the salesman and seek advice from a qualified medical professional.

[StuckInARut]

I realize the basics on DHT but it is the possible side effects of Finasteride that freak me out. Lots of reports out there of nasty sides such as low libido, ED symptoms, brain fog, etc. Some of these symptoms continue for years after discontinuation of the drug. I know everyone will not get the sides but just reading the stories gives me enough pause to really research every possible avenue.

BTW, @dex89 that was a good link thanks for posting.

[rdawg]

I realize the basics on DHT but it is the possible side effects of Finasteride that freak me out. Lots of reports out there of nasty sides such as low libido, ED symptoms, brain fog, etc. Some of these symptoms continue for years after discontinuation of the drug. I know everyone will not get the sides but just reading the stories gives me enough pause to really research every possible avenue.

BTW, @dex89 that was a good link thanks for posting.

Alot of it is fear mongering. The vast majority do not experience sides.

to put it to perspective, millions use finasteride without sides. About 10-15% IMO(that number is a little higher than research states) experience some amount of sides like low libido. MAYBE 1% at most experience something permanent or semi-permanent.

So when you put that together, yea there's a couple thousand guys experiencing sides, so of course you're going to see a vocal minority online. But there's thousands, millions who use it everyday without sides and just dont talk about it.

IMO the positives outweigh the negatives with taking fin(im on it myself without any sides yet.)

Propecia as of this moment, is the only true thing out there that can actually halt or even somewhat improve your hairloss. Minoxidil may help a bit(and you should go on it as well) but no where near the extent of propecia. Go over your options and it's your choice of course but I'd definitely reccomend the big 3.

[gutted]

IMO the positives outweigh the negatives with taking fin(im on it myself without any sides yet.)

what are you doing here?

[StuckInARut]

Alot of it is fear mongering. The vast majority do not experience sides.

to put it to perspective, millions use finasteride without sides. About 10-15% IMO(that number is a little higher than research states) experience some amount of sides like low libido. MAYBE 1% at most experience something permanent or semi-permanent.

So when you put that together, yea there's a couple thousand guys experiencing sides, so of course you're going to see a vocal minority online. But there's thousands, millions who use it everyday without sides and just dont talk about it.

IMO the positives outweigh the negatives with taking fin(im on it myself without any sides yet.)

Propecia as of this moment, is the only true thing out there that can actually halt or even somewhat improve your hairloss. Minoxidil may help a bit(and you should go on it as well) but no where near the extent of propecia. Go over your options and it's your choice of course but I'd definitely reccomend the big 3.

That's actually a very informative post thanks for your reply! I never looked at it from that point of view and that helps ease my mind a bit; because yes I would assume men who don't experience sides don't even talk about it and the ones who do are very vocal about it.

BTW, not sure if links are allowed to be posted but this is the hair loss system he recommended to me. Activ8 hair Loss Solution, not mentioned there is a laser comb for which info could be found here.

[khan]

I realize the basics on DHT but it is the possible side effects of Finasteride that freak me out. Lots of reports out there of nasty sides such as low libido, ED symptoms, brain fog, etc. Some of these symptoms continue for years after discontinuation of the drug. I know everyone will not get the sides but just reading the stories gives me enough pause to really research every possible avenue.

BTW, @dex89 that was a good link thanks for posting.

This is a study I had posted before.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1529-8019.2011.01441.x/abstract

It is the longest study on Finasteride and it is "not" sponsored by Merk. The abstract states "Side effects were referred by 6% of the patients; nevertheless, some of them went on with treatment because of the great results"

I am not telling you to use the drug or not use it. That is your decision. But just know that the people that are most likely to be complaining on hairloss forums are the ones that have something to complain about.

Anacedotal evidence of anonymous hairloss websites is not comparable to clinical studies. But in the end its for you to weigh the cost (possible sides) with the benefits.

[FlightTL]

This may not be of any use to you, but the weeks I eat healthy, exercise with cardio, and get moderate sunshine, I feel pretty decent, or at least slightly better, mood wise....

I have also been considering FUE big-time...just haven't taken the plunge yet

[Soxfaninfl]

I've been on propecia for 5 1/2 months now with no sides, and it's halted my hairloss. What it seems to me like if you experiece any sides, they usually happen after two weeks to a month. This is what I'm seeing fom the other posters. If you do, simply get off of the medication. It's really only solution out on the market to stop hairloss. Minoxidil is a waist of money. My doctor told me, I'd be waiting my money since that product does not have great success. It also doesn't stop hairloss like Fin does. That is the whole point to bring it to a halt until there are better solutions.

[StuckInARut]

How is Minoxidil a waste of money? Many people have used it with great results, I though Finasteride mostly halted hair loss as opposed to stimulating new growth.

[Soxfaninfl]

My dad used Minox for a whole year and got no regrowth. Propecia regrows hairs in 42% of the men that take it and the other 48% only experience hair loss to cease. It has stopped my hairloss and regrown what I have lost. I started on propecia the same week I noticed my hairloss, so there wasn't much to regrow for me. I didn't wait to get on it like a lot of men do and only get on propecia when their hairloss is really noticeable. Minox will not stop hair loss and propecia does in 9 out of 10 men. Propecia works with out Minox. Minox will regrow hair for some men, but it will not maintain it. Eventually you will loss that hair since Minox does not halt hairloss. You will never find man with a full head of hair on just minox. On top of it Minox is a pain in ass to have to rub a foam in your hair twice a day. Whereas propecia is only a pill you can pop with your vitamins.