Doctor, Specialist, or self treatment?

[birchlore]

I was asking my doctor about my potential MPB and she just said that she could get me on a rogaine treatment.

Is it usually best to get treatment through your doctor? I'm just afraid that they might have some out-of-the-box response for all people who are losing their hair ('oh yeah, just try rogaine!). As oppose to doing my own research and ordering online, or speaking with a hair loss specialist?

Thoughts?

[Shan]

Google spex for hair loss to get good info on your next step

[Tracy C]

Is it usually best to get treatment through your doctor?

The best way to go is to see a specialist. You may need to travel to get to a specialist though.

Doing your own research is not the best way to go. The saying "A man who defends himself in court has a fool for a lawyer." applies in much the same way here. A person who self medicates has a fool for a doctor.

[Shan]

My doc didn't know much about hair loss, so i contacted spex who advised propecia, after being charged ridiculous amount by belgravia.

[Nish]

I suppose you could email Spex, but Spex pretty much says what most of us already know. Propecia and Rogaine are probably the best non HT solutions. I would try those first for at least 6 months, and then possibly look at a Hait Transplant.

[Shan]

Spex also has links on where to get meds

[Nish]

Oh I'm not making a knock against Spex in any way. I think he does great work. All I'm saying is that with all the resources we have online, as well as this forum, it's pretty clear that Rogaine (Minoxidil), Propecia (Finasteride) and HT are the solutions for Hair Loss.

Also, if you visit a dermatologist, they can probably give you good reccomendations on where to buy propecia. Mine did.

[25 going on 65]

I was asking my doctor about my potential MPB and she just said that she could get me on a rogaine treatment.

Is it usually best to get treatment through your doctor? I'm just afraid that they might have some out-of-the-box response for all people who are losing their hair ('oh yeah, just try rogaine!). As oppose to doing my own research and ordering online, or speaking with a hair loss specialist?

Thoughts?

The only possible use for your GP in this situation is to get bloodwork done to make sure nothing else is causing your hair loss

[Shan]

The only possible use for your GP in this situation is to get bloodwork done to make sure nothing else is causing your hair loss

Very true, doctors usually have little knowledge regarding hair loss and put it simply down to the ageing process and tell you there is nothing to worry about

[El Nino]

I was asking my doctor about my potential MPB and she just said that she could get me on a rogaine treatment.

Is it usually best to get treatment through your doctor? I'm just afraid that they might have some out-of-the-box response for all people who are losing their hair ('oh yeah, just try rogaine!). As oppose to doing my own research and ordering online, or speaking with a hair loss specialist?

Thoughts?

Which ever way you go about it, you should also research all of the potential side effects of the meds.

Finasteride has the potential for mental side effects as well as sexual. See here for proof - http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/showthread.php?t=12256

You should also be aware that there are many law suits pending against Merck (the company behind Propecia ie Finasteride). So it's FDA approving COULD be removed when more is known about how it interacts with everything.

Good luck with whatever you decide.