Retrograde Alopecia means definite baldness?

My dad had a thick head of hair until about 50 where he started to thin at the crown. My mom's dad didn't go bald until his late 40s and 50s but I have been struck with the curse of retrograde alopecia. I have a decent amount of hair on top but I have severe thinning in the temples, above the ears/sideburns and nape of the neck. The hair that is being lost on the sides is wire-like and isn't straight like the hair on top. I shed a TON of hair on the sides and I have so little of it now that I have to grow the hair above it to cover it up so it doesn't look bad. My hairline is mature but nothing bad. The hair I had as a 17-18 year old was WAY thicker than it is now but the hair I have no as a 24 year old is still decent. So, does retrograde alopecia mean I am doomed for a norwood 6-7? I have also noticed thinning at the crown too but its very gradual and it's something I have only noticed. One day when I was around 20 I started noticing lots of shedding that I hadn't noticed before. Ever since then, I have been on to this. Basically, I caught it the second it started. This hair loss has me so depressed and I am terrified of taking Fin because of all the sides and potential PERMANENT sides. There is a guy on here that noticed his penis has shrunken and hasn't returned to it's original size. I would rather go bald any day than compromise my prostate health.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cichlidfort

This hair loss has me so depressed and I am terrified of taking Fin because of all the sides and potential PERMANENT sides. There is a guy on here that noticed his penis has shrunken and hasn't returned to it's original size. I would rather go bald any day than compromise my prostate health.

---

Sigh.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KO1

Sigh.

---

Ok, I know the chances of permanent sides are very slim but still a possibility hence all the lawsuits that are out there. However, my attention isn't on Fin, it's on retrograde alopecia and what the implications are of it long term. Any advice is welcome. Not looking for a debate about Fin.

You need to see a doctor. I'm not sure what kind though, because I dont know how much experience derms have in treating htis.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KO1

You need to see a doctor. I'm not sure what kind though, because I dont know how much experience derms have in treating htis.

---

I am actually seeing a dermatologist tomorrow for her to give me a strong/honest opinion and ultimately to have her refer me to a hair lost specialist. I don't want to show up to some "hair loss expert" just to try and sell me on some cure. I want something legit without any sugar coating. I really want to start Fin but I am having an immense amount of trouble taking that leap of faith. I know most guys are fine on Fin but there are users out there that have suffered and is it really worth the risk for a cosmetic appearance? Sorry, didn't mean to deviate away from the main topic here.

Since taking finasteride my penis had actually gotten bigger.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Notcoolanymore

Since taking finasteride my penis had actually gotten bigger.

---

How old are you though? I am guessing between 18-22. If you're like 30 something and this happened I'll be shocked.

I was just being silly. I just cant see how somebody can actually get smaller using fin. Impotent maybe. Smaller..c'mon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Notcoolanymore

I was just being silly. I just cant see how somebody can actually get smaller using fin. Impotent maybe. Smaller..c'mon.

---

There is a user on this forum that had this happen to them and have not got their size back based off what he said so tell him that not me. I'm talking about retrograde alopecia. Anyone have thoughts on that?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cichlidfort

There is a user on this forum that had this happen to them and have not got their size back based off what he said so tell him that not me. I'm talking about retrograde alopecia. Anyone have thoughts on that?

---

There is a user on this forum who claims their sex drive is shot from using an herbal shampoo. There are others who have taken "natural" treatments known to do absolutely nothing who claim they became impotent on them. Every time finasteride is studied, the scientists are never, ever able to reproduce the kinds of complaints found everywhere on the Internet. One double blind, independent study of low dose fin actually showed higher side effect reports from a placebo than from the actual drug. This hysteria needs to stop.