Mature Hairline or Balding?

[John P. Cole, MD]

Pretty good news, I think. You can use Nizoral shampoo. The 1% is available over the counter. The 2% needs a prescription. Apply this three times a week. Leave the shampoo on for 5 to 10 minutes and then rinse. It's topical so you need to leave it on for awhile to get the benefit. You can use the head and shoulders the other 4 days of the week. Keep me posted on how you are responding. Rogaine is indicated only for the crown, but it works anywhere on your scalp. All the best.

[Skippy]

Thank you John for continuing to reply. Is nizoral a brand of shampoo or an ingredient? And as for the Rogaine foam, I am partially ambitious to try it but at the same time am nervous to because I don't want to have to apply it twice a day forever to maintain any results. Do you think its still worth a shot for me to try it?

[John P. Cole, MD]

The Rogaine foam is better tolerated and dries faster than the solution. I would use it. Nizoral is an anti fungal that you should be able to find at any pharmacy. Nizoral fights dandruff by attacking malassezia globosa, which is the cause of most dandruff. Of course not everyone likes to take medications. Up to you really. How bad does you hair loss bother you?

[Skippy]

As of right now it does not bother me too much as the temple recession comes to a sharp point and is not rounded, so to me it looks like a potential mature hairline. What bothers me is the potential possibility of it continuing in which case any further hairloss would very much bother me as I would much rather keep my hair. So if you think trying rogaine is worth it I think I will go buy some tomorrow and start on it. I'm not too against medications, so if things do happen to take a turn for the worse, I am willing to risk side effects and take finasteride.