Advice and experience needed?!?

[Lito]

I am 26 years old and I have no family history of balding - at least before the age of 50. My father and all of my uncles have as well as my brothers have full heads of hair. Cousins do as well. In June of 2015 (3 months ago) I cut my hair which at the time was 14 inches long. I instantly regretted it, but figured I'd just grow it out again. I complained a lot about how much I missed my hair, and a friend stated that I should use rogaine to make it grow faster. (In hind sight stupid I know) with out much knowledge of rogaine or how it worked I proceed to follow through with this "speed growth" experiment. Afraid that it would do something to the entirety of my my hair I opted to try it on my front and tempals first (aug 4) - rubbing it all over my hairline as far as an inch behind my hairline. I used rogaine 5% foam for 10 days twice daily. After ten days I noticed a small thin spot (appeared almost bald) in the front of my hairline. I freaked out and suddenly stopped using rogaine instantly. At this point I started to notice mass amounts of hair falling on my hands while showering. Come to find out this is the "initial dead shed" commonly associated with hair loss products. I thought that stopping the product would end my shedding, but this has not been the case. Today is six weeks since stopping the use of rogaine, and I still seem to be shedding 50 plus hairs in the shower. This is something I've never noticed before, and prior to this I didn't think I had a hair problem. I figured if I shed this much previously in the shower then I would have noticed 50 plus 14 inch hairs falling out in the shower. Also, if I rub my hands through my hair over the sink repeatedly I can accumulate another 30-40 hairs. did I start some balding process that won't end now?!? I saw a dermatologist and he was familiar with the initial affects of minoxidil. He took a family history of hair loss, examined my scalp, did a scrape of my scalp, and then stated that he highly highly doubted I was experiencing some sudden onset and aggressive onset of MPB. He told me that once the process of "shedding" begins it can't be stopped and one must go through it, and t could last up to 3 months! Is this true?? Please help ease my misery and anxiety. Any input would help!!

[Lito]

57 views and no one can offer me their opinion?! Please. Any experience or opinions welcome!!

[Artista]

Hello Lito! Welcome to this great forum.

First of all, if you are at a NW-scale , which would you say that you are at?
Also, it would really HELP if you would post photos of your hair, front and back, using good lighting.
Of course you do not have to show your face. Just your hairline.
Hope to hear back from you today.
Are you here in the United States?

One more thing,,do NOT allow yourself to become STRESSED out over hair issues,,or anything else in life.
Stress WILL cause a percentage of hairloss too.

[Lito]

I would assume I'm a 2 on the Norwood scale. Two months ago I had extremely long hair, and I always wore it pulled back. Never did I feel I was balding, and no one ever mentioned anything either. Again, I also never noticed any "shedding" prior to the use of rogaine. I feel that I would have noticed with 2 ft hair strands accumulating in the shower - right?! I made a second appt with another dermatologist for a second opinion.

[Artista]

Great photos Lito! Thank you....

The first thing I would say to you is that you MIGHT ONLY be experiencing a natural maturing of your hair.
No one really knows at this point in time.
Your hairline does looks A-OK at this point in time.
Its possible that you may be experiencing hairloss but it MIGHT be minor my friend!
Again Ill say, STRESS WILL cause you to lose much more hair so please be accepting of what you have.
Keep in mind that there WILL be much better treatments in our future...especially for you younger guys!!
(women too)
But you cannot hold back on life and happiness.
Your hairline looks GOOD...of course not what it probably looked like when you were a teenager but like I said, your maturing bro.
Now, I would suggest that you possibly try using Finasteride.
It is NOT as dangerous as you might read online.
My doctor had prescribed Finasteride to me back in 2013..Im still on it and I DO NOT experience any bad side-effects from it.
I AM EXPERIENCING ONGOING POSITIVE results from its usage.
My doctor has been prescribing Fin' to over 100 of his patients,,NONE have had bad sides from it..all have experienced hair improvements..some minor and some major!!
Also, start taking the vitamin Biotin for hair.
It does HELP hairloss as well!

[Lito]

I greatly appreciate your timely and friendly responses - truly greatly appreciated. I am a worrier, and have high amounts of anxiety and stress - diagnosed with severe anxiety. I will be back within the year to keep y'all updated on the progression or lack there of - hopefully. After the past 6 weeks of research I have highly considered using fin, and am going to ask my dermatologist about it this Thursday. After all I took accutane at the age of 14, which from my understanding is more dangerous in terms of side effects.
Thanks again!