Help a 17 years old guy. - Regarding Finasteride

[Startingtorecede123]

Helo guys how are you doing?
First of all, I just wanna make clear that when you read this post you may think Im crying just like a little girl but well.... I came for help and any of it will be HIGHLY appreciated.

Status:


I am a 17 years old male - 5'10 - Not skinny/not athletic/normal.

As most of you I have started to suffer from hairloss.
On my father's side of the family: Father's bald, Grand-uncle's bald. Not one else, including my grandfather and my uncles are bald. They have started to show receding signs now that they are in their 50s.
Mother's side of the famly: Grandfather is NOT bald. One of my great grandfathers was bald.

My hairline looks like the one in this guys link:
http://www.yeshairstyles.com/matthew...ding-hairlines


Issue:

I have noticed my hair's been receding slightly since last year. Just slightly, almost nothing, but well, I am a 17 yo and NONE of my friends has a receding hairline like me, they don't even have one.
I decided to go to a doctor specialised in hair problems to see what he would say. He's one of the best ones in my city so I take MOST of his words as true.
This doctor looked at my hair and said I would probably be bald by 25 - EARLIER Than my dad did(he started to get bald on his 30 and by 35 he was bald). - I got shocked - slightly depressed
.

I told him I use nizoral shampoo due to my dermatitis(that simply doesnt heal) - as a bonus effect, to help me with the receding hairline.
He told me I would not have to use Nizoral however I would have to use Finasteride to make sure some of my hair will regrow and that it will keep my hair forever - as long as I use it forever.

But, I am only 17 - I am only 5'10 - I consider myself ugly - I have narrow shoulders/child-bearing hips and Im REALLY *ucking scared of taking a medicine that might screw up my hormones, mess up with my future beard and my height/bone growth



What do you guys recommend me to do?



At one side I am really scared of taking the risk to have some sort sexual dysfunction for the rest of my life
On the other hand, I can surely keep my hair, even regrow some of it and increase self-esteem/girls success, etc.



I have talked to my father, and well, I really, HONESTLY, wouldn't mind getting bald at 35. but... since the doctor said id be bald by 25, it means that during my late teens and early 20s I would have thin hair.
I mean ... its just WAY too young. My father is awesome, he is one of the most intelligent people I've met and hes very charismatic whereas I am an ugly dude with a girly face ,really stupid - baldness wouldnt suit me at all and would make things even worse.
He was very nice and told me I could take finasteride and that he would pay for it, however, he also told me he'd never really cared about hairloss and caring or not would be a problem I would have to decide.




Nevertheless..... damn..... its so hard. I mean, I imagine if I not take finasteride and when I turn 20~25 ,be made fun of by other people, I might regret and even becoming depressed. And I also imagine what would happen if I handt taken it, would my face turn manlier, would those *ucking hips go away and would I get taller?

I've also read some HORRIBLE permanent side effects its caused to people, but I know that its such a small chance, and if I were to consider every single option/thing that MIGHT happen I wouldnt step in a car/plane etc....





I hope you guys get what I mean, English is not my first language so I might have confused you. If thats the case, tell me.

[Nik3]

Sort of had the same situation as you, but my balding was at the back of my head. It started when I was 18 and I didn't do anything about it until I was 21 which was a big mistake. I've been using Propecia/Rogain for about 6 months now and I notice a pretty big difference already. Unless you're balding in the back I would suggest not even using Rogain as it's time consuming/expensive and really only works on the back of your head. For me the chance to get my hair back outweighed the negative side affects that can come with Propecia. I got my confidence back, I'm a lot happier and have had no negative side effects (the first month or so my sexual drive went down but slowly went back to normal as my body adjusted)

My only regret is not waiting as long as I did.

[Startingtorecede123]

Actually my hair is not thinning at the crown at all. Only on the front/temples.

I am not planning on using rogaine/propecia and the doctor didnt recommend it either.



I am really scared since Im young it might affect my hormonally and last forever.

[35YrsAfter]

Actually my hair is not thinning at the crown at all. Only on the front/temples.

I am not planning on using rogaine/propecia and the doctor didnt recommend it either.



I am really scared since Im young it might affect my hormonally and last forever.

I honestly don't know what the hell a doctor is thinking telling a young man like yourself he will most likely be bald at 25. Stress contributes to hair loss. My brother in law's hairline receded quite a bit when he was between your age and 28. It receded to a point and stopped. He still has hair in front and in the back in his old age. I realize 17 is young but some guys are claiming results even using a fraction of the regular dose of finasteride. If you go that route be sure to avoid the unknown brands that can be purchased online without a prescription.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
forhair.com
Cole Hair Transplant
1070 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck

[Notcoolanymore]

A few things I would like to comment on:

You saying honestly you wouldn't care if you went bald at 35. Easy to say when you are 17. When I started balding at 22 I am sure I thought the same thing, I was wrong. 35 will be here before you know it. If you care about it now, you will then too. Maybe not as much, but believe it or not 35 isn't that old and if that is when you plan on letting yourself go then that is pretty sad.

I understand your concern about facial hair and the possibility of sexual side effects, but all that other stuff most likely will have nothing to do with fin. Child bearing hips??? I highly doubt taking fin will make any difference on that.

Lastly your doctor recommended fin. I would take that advice over what anybody says on this message board. You are losing hair quickly. It comes down to risk and reward. If you to keep your hair, you are going to deal with the small risk of sides.

[Kudu]

You're in the same boat I'm in. I'm 17 and would like to try fin but too scared of side effects, especially at our age, it's a catch 22. I need to do something soon though, I'm a Norwood 3.

[Andrew Vernon]

My regret is that I didn't address my hair-loss sooner. I recommend washing your hair with Nizoral twice a week, applying rogaine foam daily and consulting another doctor about taking proscar/ finastaride . I'm from Wales - UK and visited Dr Cole in Atlanta .

View my experience on Youtube / Forhair / Patient from North Wales -U.K .

I hope this helps . I highly recommend Dr Cole.