Minoxidil for a receding hairline - photos

[mpb47]

UPDATE: Okay, so it's been about four months since I began Minox. Besides the massive shed, I can't say I've noticed anything significant. Perhaps some darkening of the smaller hairs, but even that could be my imagination. The shedding seems to have stopped though, I don't notice hair loss in the shower like I used to, not as many hairs around me all the time.

But I can't really tell if it's gotten worse. Oftentimes I think it has - that the thinning is progressing around my left parting - but I've checked it so much it becomes hard to judge. It's certainly worse than the beginning of this thread due to the shed, but I'm unsure if it's gone past that. The photos I've taken recently have been better quality and in better lighting.

Again - the hair loss seems concentrated in one area. The right side of my hairline is still completely thick and unaffected, drawing more attention to its retarded, thinning neighbour encroaching from the left like a ****ing nuclear fallout.

I'm coming to the stage where I'm ready to concede that Minox might not be helping too much, and might be using that Proscar script pretty soon. I'm aware though that it could take longer, and that I should maybe give it a bit more time to see the full effects. I only apply it once a day so that could prolong results too. I do hope it's maintaining a bit anyway.

Some of the photos below are with minox applied and in strong light. So: looking like shit, then.

I had the one sided loss like that. Over time it slowly went across to the other side. The good news is your mpb may be super slow like mine has been. The bad news is I doubt seriously that minox alone will stop it. If you are concerned about propecia sides, start on a very low dose and see how it goes.

[Eromnova]

UPDATE: Okay, so it's been about four months since I began Minox. Besides the massive shed, I can't say I've noticed anything significant. Perhaps some darkening of the smaller hairs, but even that could be my imagination. The shedding seems to have stopped though, I don't notice hair loss in the shower like I used to, not as many hairs around me all the time.

But I can't really tell if it's gotten worse. Oftentimes I think it has - that the thinning is progressing around my left parting - but I've checked it so much it becomes hard to judge. It's certainly worse than the beginning of this thread due to the shed, but I'm unsure if it's gone past that. The photos I've taken recently have been better quality and in better lighting.

Again - the hair loss seems concentrated in one area. The right side of my hairline is still completely thick and unaffected, drawing more attention to its retarded, thinning neighbour encroaching from the left like a ****ing nuclear fallout.

I'm coming to the stage where I'm ready to concede that Minox might not be helping too much, and might be using that Proscar script pretty soon. I'm aware though that it could take longer, and that I should maybe give it a bit more time to see the full effects. I only apply it once a day so that could prolong results too. I do hope it's maintaining a bit anyway.

Some of the photos below are with minox applied and in strong light. So: looking like shit, then.

[Eromnova]

Go for it. I have a prescription for finsasteride (propecia, proscar) and i got 5mg tablets so I could chop them into 4 pieces and save some coin.

Beware there might be some side effects and there should be some shedding from one to 3 months . In effect, it gets slightly worse so then it can get better.

Seems that's the way with any treatment that works. I'm going to give it a few weeks before I begin, I want to see if minox starts to regrow what's been shed just so I have a better idea of how that's working. I imagine the meds won't be cheap here (Europe) but at least they'll last me a year.

[drybone]

So, I got a proscar script today, though the doctor took a lot of convincing.

He had literally never heard of propecia. He kept telling me he had huge doubts as to the efficacy of any treatment such as propecia, despite admitting moments before that he'd never heard of the drug. He thought it was something 'like regaine' and would be well-known if it was as effective as I was claiming.

I told him it was well-known. I also told him I was shocked he'd never heard of it, whilst looking at his receding hairline.

I think somebody from the waiting room might have slipped into the GPs office, murdered said GP, stuffed him into a wardrobe and played doctor for the afternoon.

I'll probably hear about it on the news later.

Anyway, I have a 3 month proscar script now - 12 months on 1mg.

Go for it. I have a prescription for finsasteride (propecia, proscar) and i got 5mg tablets so I could chop them into 4 pieces and save some coin.

Beware there might be some side effects and there should be some shedding from one to 3 months . In effect, it gets slightly worse so then it can get better.

[Eromnova]

So, I got a proscar script today, though the doctor took a lot of convincing.

He had literally never heard of propecia. He kept telling me he had huge doubts as to the efficacy of any treatment such as propecia, despite admitting moments before that he'd never heard of the drug. He thought it was something 'like regaine' and would be well-known if it was as effective as I was claiming.

I told him it was well-known. I also told him I was shocked he'd never heard of it, whilst looking at his receding hairline.

I think somebody from the waiting room might have slipped into the GPs office, murdered said GP, stuffed him into a wardrobe and played doctor for the afternoon.

I'll probably hear about it on the news later.

Anyway, I have a 3 month proscar script now - 12 months on 1mg.

[Eromnova]

Christ. The speed of this is insane. Hair is see-through around my left temple now and is thinning quicker and quicker. Can't really cover it up anymore.

[Eromnova]

Slightly better photo of the thinning on my one temple which has happened in the past few weeks. Again though - looks worse in person. Minox is destroying my hairline, but I can't stop now.

[Eromnova]

Yeah, I'm likely going to go the 5mg route too if possible. I'm not exorbitantly wealthy.

Shedding seems to have eased off the past couple of days. That's some relief, at least. I think I'll still get a script for fin, though. When/if I'll begin taking it is a different story.

[Tortoise]

My personal experience with fin has been fine. No adverse side effects at all. Some very slight increase in hair at my crown, but not much change at the front. Although, my hair loss is far more along than yours. As far as sexual function, it has actually greatly improved since taking the medication (but that might be more info than you wanted). I get the 5mg pills and cut them up, as it works out much more affordable.

Best of luck!

[drybone]

So I've decided I'm going to get a fin script. I had a look at my hair under direct light and can see my scalp on the left side thinning pretty quickly into a NW3. Right side of my hair/hairline is still untouched, thick and dense.

I plan to taper onto the medication quite slowly, in preparation for the imminent possibility of my penis falling off and my developing 44 double d breasts and an unhealthy sense of empathy.

Lol thats awesome.

[Eromnova]

So I've decided I'm going to get a fin script. I had a look at my hair under direct light and can see my scalp on the left side thinning pretty quickly into a NW3. Right side of my hair/hairline is still untouched, thick and dense.

I plan to taper onto the medication quite slowly, in preparation for the imminent possibility of my penis falling off and my developing 44 double d breasts and an unhealthy sense of empathy.

[Eromnova]

Thanks man.

I don't really have the money to splash out on something like a dermatologist right now. Especially when I suspect all they'll do is tell me 'Yep, you're balding', take my money and write me a finasteride prescription. If I want that I'll probably just go to a GP, but I'm still undecided. I think what I may do is pick up a script, get the meds and then wait a month or so and see how minox is doing.

My main concern is how quickly my hairline is disappearing on one side. But I know shedding is natural and positive on minox, and that I should probably hold out a while.

I don't know. I'm repeating myself.

It just doesn't feel right not to do more right now.

[drybone]

Hey bud.

I would advise going to a doctor or dermatologist because you are getting all kinds of conflicting opinions here.

I will say that in my short tenure here Tracy has given consistent advice and tends to back it up with independent study instead of straight intuition .

Im not doubting the others testimonials regarding side effects and whatnot, but if Tracy says its 4% of men who experience them, you can be fairly confident its something in that range.

I was against meds for a long time because I felt I was delaying the inevitable and decided just to get a hair transplant to avoid DHT and what not. Like the lucky bast@rds who inherited DHT resistant full heads of hair .

However, after having my first transplant on my hairline I have changed my mind. Transplanting cannot give the density that your natural hair has . You can 'dense pack' but its expensive , time consuming and there is no guarantee it will look as good as you want.

Your hair reminds me of my hair . Grow it longer to make it look thicker. When I finally got my hair transplant, I shaved my hair down to 1/4 of an inch to match the grafts ........and then the grafts fell out. Lol.

I had not shaved my head that short since I was 23 years old. I am now 46 and when I shaved it, I was FLOORED at how far my male pattern hairloss had become.

I was still a norwood 2 , but the thinning was going to make me a norwood 4 within 10 years. I had no idea it was so thin compared to the sides and back.

All that being said, after my hair transplant healed, I decided to check out finasteride to STOP the hairloss. I dont expect a full head of hair like some chia plant to just spring out. I just do NOT want to get to where I have a hole in the crown and heading for NW 4 or 5.

Its supposed to block the DHT which then in turn allows your hair follicles to grow normally. This is all I expect.

Your hair still looks alright but I strongly suggest you look into finasteride or some other DHT blocker so that you wont lose any more.

i also bought 5000 mcg biotin pills and they DEFINITELY work. My hair is noticeably thicker and grew faster. It doesnt grow new hair but strengthens the hair you still have.

Hope this helps

[Eromnova]

I literally cannot believe how quickly my hairline is vanishing in one concentrated spot where my hair naturally parts.

I want to wait it out and see if minox will give me some regrowth. But at this rate, I might be better off just getting a fin script asap.

[Eromnova]

(Slightly) clearer picture of the thinning with the same (shitty) camera. Hair damp.