1 year propecia update...ugh...Help and advice needed!

[heynow1234]

Sorry for the long read! Just had to get some things off my chest...

Been on propecia exactly 1 year on friday(real propecia from a real pharm and havent missed a day), had ups and downs, now is def a down. My hairline is pretty much a NW3 right now, when i started it was a 2.5. To tell you the truth, I am pretty shocked that it hasnt really worked. I had realistic expectations when starting, went in expecting to keep the hair I had with no hopes of regrowth, and I would have been happy with that. Im young just turned 26 and started at a time when my hair loss was not horrible, so this blows. I guess it may have slowed some stuff down but then again maybe not. I would still be ok with keeping the hair I have now at this stage, not happy, but i could live with it and not really care, however i feel like its getting worse still. I dont see any signifcant hairs shedding anywhere but my hair keeps getting worse/thinner. Anyway im pretty bumed prob gonna have to buzz it this summer for good. I wouldnt be so upset about buzzing it, im in decent shape, tall, and not bad looking, but im a fair skinned guy, i dont tan just burn, and feel that would make me look terrible.

However i still have a small amount of hope in that I have not yet tried Rogaine. That being said I fear rogaine. 1) I keep my hair long and I have heard applying rogaine to long hair is horrendous. 2) And this is what really makes me horrified, THE SHED! My frontal 3rd is thin enough as it is I dont think I could live through a couple months of major hair loss, even if it was just temporary. If i see like 20 or hairs on my pillow or in my hand after I shower, ill prob catch a heart attack and stop using the meds.

Questions for my fellow sufferers:
1) Any hope propecia will improve or keep what i got over the course of year 2?
2) On average how terrible is the Rogaine shed, like if my hair is pretty crappy will it be super crappy in one months time? And on average how long does this shed last.
3) Is there even any hope that Rogaine will give me results? I have read many places that it produces minimal results if any.
4) My hair started to get noticebly thinner after using 2% Keto shampoo in october, any hope/chance that this is causing it? Shed, bad reaction, etc?
5)im a poor grad student so unproven things like PRP or laser comb are really not an option, propecia cost enough already, not to mention if i add rogaine at another 40 bucks a month.
6) Im pretty horrified about a hair transplant, because of how permenant it is, and also afraid of Dut because of how powerful it is.
7) If I dont want a Hair Transplant is there any advantage in going to a hair specialist over a derm. Dr Feller is pretty close to me and Bernstien is a short train ride away.
8) Is there anything Im not thinking of?


Im going to see my derm tomorrow for a check up and will mention these concerns to him, but im pretty sure he wont have any good answers.

Thanks for reading, any comments are welcomed!

[California13]

I was in the same boat as you, and decided to add rogaine. If you have long hair, I would recommend using the 5% rogaine liquid. I personally use the foam however. My experience is that it does a good job of thickening hair, and works well with propecia. Honestly, you are too young for a hair transplant in my opinion. Also, propecia should be given at least 2 years to work. So, if I were you, keep taking the propecia, maybe switch to the proscar 5mg to get it cheaper, and start rogaine for the front. I did not experience a rogaine shed personally, but even if a shed occurs, it will resolve itself, and means the medication is working. I use rogaine before bed, and wake up ealry to apply it in the morning, let it sit as long as possible, at least an hour, and then take a shower to wash it out, since I cant stand the way it makes my hair look with it in.

[heynow1234]

hey thanks for the response. How long did it take before you noticed any results with rogaine?

[California13]

It took about 6-7 months. If you want to know for sure, get your scalp mapped for minutarization before you start, and then again in a year, and you will know more or less for sure... I would also say that the hairs I did regrow at the hairline are pretty short and whispy. But one interesting thing is a hair grew from my old juvenile hair line!!

[blondetooth]

Dont start Rogaine, esp. if your just a 2.5. Its such a hassle and you are better off taking Fin + a biweekly of .5 Dut which is 100 times stronger in some areas. Then Derma roll, and apply vitamins and caffiene etc. Go natural. Minox only works for 48 weeks then its baseline. Minox also is a nasty chemical that gives high blood pressure, wrinkles, black eyes etc. Then if you stop all your hair falls out.