Propecia/Nizoral 7 month update (pics)

[bobbyt]

Hi guys, just thought I would share an update/my results from using propecia and nizoral for the past 7 months.

As you can see from the pics, I suffer from diffuse thinning and I think propecia overall has helped me out - (the better quality pic on the left is the latest one!) my hair overall is thicker and it feels healthier. These are not life-changing results but I am mostly happy that it seems to have arrested the rate of my hair loss, which was quite depressing when I began treatment.

I tried to take a pic of my hair when it was at a similar length - I usually get it cut short every month or so and this is me about 3 weeks after having a hair cut, although I do ackowledge taking pictures with different quality cameras and in different environments isn't ideal but hopefully you can get an idea of the small improvement I believe I have experienced.

I am quite confident it will continue to help in the foreseeable future and I intend to stick at it.

With regards to sides, I am pleased to report I haven't experienced anything major - some slight ball-ache in the first week or so, but that went away quickly.

These forums were a big help when I was thinking about starting this so I thought I would make a small contribution.

Cheers

[baldy1990]

you appear to have a full head of hair now,are you sure that the thinning was from was from androgenetic alopecia had you go to a dermatologist?

[bobbyt]

you appear to have a full head of hair now,are you sure that the thinning was from was from androgenetic alopecia had you go to a dermatologist?

Thanks, I didn't get an official diagnosis - I did plenty of research before and I am confident it was (and still is) male pattern baldness - the cause of hair loss in 95% of men I understand.

[baldy1990]

Thanks, I didn't get an official diagnosis - I did plenty of research before and I am confident it was (and still is) male pattern baldness - the cause of hair loss in 95% of men I understand.

it was so simple to go to a dermatologist,did any of your parents had diffuse thinning

[bobbyt]

it was so simple to go to a dermatologist,did any of your parents had diffuse thinning

Yeah there is a history of hair loss in my family, father + maternal grandfather.

You are of course right about seeing a specialist before jumping on this but like a lot of people I was pretty embarrassed about it tbh - my attitude was to do the research, start treatment, see how it goes, and if I experienced any sides or if it wasn't working for me after a year I would jump off it.

[z06guy]

Wow that's impressive for just 7 months. It's good seeing positive stories like this.

[bobbyt]

Wow that's impressive for just 7 months. It's good seeing positive stories like this.

Thanks! Yeah its better than what I was hoping for, although again its not like life changing dramatic results, and I have heard stories about good results at this stage and then experiencing massive sheds so I do still have my feet on the ground.

I'm just hoping for maintenance really - before starting I found it difficult to find positive reaction stories about finasteride as forums do of course attract a lot more of those that have had negative responses, and it is right of course that these views are heard, but I think it is important to acknowledge those that are getting along OK with it.

[Soxfaninfl]

bobbyt your hair looks great! I'm happy for you. I've also have had great results on fin. I use Nizoral on occasion, but I used it before I noticed my hairloss due to dandruff.

[bobbyt]

bobbyt your hair looks great! I'm happy for you. I've also have had great results on fin. I use Nizoral on occasion, but I used it before I noticed my hairloss due to dandruff.

Thank you - yes exactly the same here, perhaps I should have stated that before - I have been on Niz (2&#37 twice a week for about a year and Propecia 1mg once a day since July. I was suffering with Dandruff before which Nizoral got rid of but the actual improvement of my hair occurred when using the 2 together (since July).

I also take a multivitamin (with iron) and a cod liver oil tablet everyday, although they are more for general health benefits than solely with a view to improve my hair..

On my non-nizoral days I also use Avalon Organics Thickening Shampoo that has some (supposedly) good ingredients in, including biotin, saw palmetto, wheat protein etc. It claims to have no bad sulphates in also so I don't hesitate using it often.

I haven't got on minox just yet but may do in the future (seems a bit of commitment!).

[Soxfaninfl]

I tried minox when I first noticed my thinning, but it was way to much of a hassle putting a foam twice a day into my scalp. I only did it for a month.

[z06guy]

On my non-nizoral days I also use Avalon Organics Thickening Shampoo that has some (supposedly) good ingredients in, including biotin, saw palmetto, wheat protein etc. It claims to have no bad sulphates in also so I don't hesitate using it often.

I've been using that shampoo for nearly a year now on the non nizoral days, it's a great shampoo IMO.

[bobbyt]

I've been using that shampoo for nearly a year now on the non nizoral days, it's a great shampoo IMO.

Yeah I like it too, I've been using it for about 3 months - the ingredients seem good and again because its (almost) sulphate free I feel like I can use it when I want/regularly, pretty cheap too

[drybone]

This is where I am at.

I dont smoke, drink or do drugs.

I dont eat any processed food such as bread or pasta (ok i cheat a bit on the pasta when my wife entices me with her yummie alfredo once a blue moon.)

I had a hair transplant on Nov 17th 2012 . I was a norwood 2 hairline but my hair on the top had thinned and I was heading to a norwood 4 or 5 in density within 5 to 10 years. No bald spot on crown yet.

So I replaced the small amount lost on my hairline to re establish it with 1333 grafts a half inch across my forehead. After 2/ 1/2 months very impressed with recipient area totally healed . Donor area a thin line I cant even find it in my hair anymore . Probably wont see it again until I shave it low enough.

I used normal 1/2 shampoo 1/2 conditioner daily but have switched to 1mg norizol. I havent had any itching since switching shampoos.

I then went and got 'toppik' to attack the thinning behind the hairline. This stuff is great but It feels like bits of iron and you have to use hairspray to get it to stick properly. But it works if you put in the effort.

I then decided after reading much of what you guys have written here that if I got onto finasteride , that my diffuse thinning should halt in its tracks. So I went out and got 5mg pills and chop them into 4. I hope that this will help strenghten the thinning areas on top .

I then went out and got 1000mcg botin pills and started gulping 1 pill per day.
It has made some kind of noticeable difference. My hair looks and feels thicker but it could just be my imagination. Its only been about a month.

So I read it actually works at peak value at 5000 mcg per day so now I am upping it to 3000mcg and by the end of the week be up to speed.

I am very excited about my hair and its mostly because of the excellent stories I have read from you guys . You have given me strength and courage to challenge myself to face my fear of being bald . That was the most important thing.

[bobbyt]

^ Glad to hear your feeling positive about things! I also felt much better knowing that I was being proactive about my hair loss. I have biotin in the multivitamin I take and again in that Avalon shampoo - haven't heard people taking that much of it for hair loss but I guess it couldn't hurt. Glad to hear your transplant worked out well too!