finally coming to admit it

[hippiehippiehoorah]

I'm an 20 year old male from the UK, i've been trying not to believe it for a while but am finally admitting to myself that im starting to go bald, on the crown and temples.
It kind of upsets me because i still think im too young to be having to worry about this. But i'm going to try what i can to prevent it or just try and slow it down.
I was wondering if anyone would be able to point me in the best direction in respect to medication, treatments or diet, and also i hear people talking about going to a dermatologist but i'm not really sure how to do that in the uk.
Oh yeah and i'm on 10mg a day for anxiety attacks would this affect any potential medication that i might take.

Thanks very much in advance to anyone that replies.

[Dr. Glenn Charles]

You should consider starting Propecia/Finasteride to slow down the progression of your hair loss. Do you have a strong family history of male pattern genetic hair loss? You can ask the doctor prescribing the anti-anxiety medication if there would be any problems with the two meds being used at the same time. I would not think there would be a problem.

[hippiehippiehoorah]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah my dad suffers from baldness, but the rest of my family my cousins, uncles and granddads all do not.
Would i have to go to the doctor to get a prescription for it?
I guess that it wouldn't be covered by the NHS.

[mattj]

Yes, you'd need a prescription and the NHS unfortunately won't cover it.

Propecia can be bought online without a prescription, but your best bet is to contact Dr Ashcroft. He's a GP with extensive knowledge of the subject who prescribes and supplies the drug.

Check this thread:

http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/showthread.php?t=2959&highlight=ashcroft

If you want to see a dermatologist you'll need to be referred through your GP. (Although it could be worth talking to Dr Ashcroft about that too).

[hippiehippiehoorah]

Thanks very much for the information, very informative.
Oh yeah i was wondering for your opinion on vitamin b12.
I heard that it encouraged hair growth and healthier hair.
I'm not expecting it to cure it or anything but just wondered if it was beneficial at all to take it?

cheers

[mattj]

I think that's one of those things that could have a minuscule effect on overall hair health but probably wouldn't provide any noticeable benefit. A vitamin tablet is probably less beneficial than eating the right diet containing the same vitamins. Certainly doesn't harm to try the tablets, though.

[johnone23]

Sorry to hear that man

[PatientlyWaiting]

There are some members here who know more than dermatologists when it comes to MPB.

I would still advise you to go see a dermatologist, so that wouldn't be in the back of your head. You'll know that you already did that. So when some one asks you if you have seen a dermatologist, you say yes, and you tell them what a waste of time it was, and that you learned more about MPB from The Bald Truth website.

You said you don't know how to see a dermatologist in the UK. Well I don't think it's any different than in the US. Just go see your normal doctor, tell him/her about your hair loss, ask the doctor that you want to be referred to a good dermatologist. That's it, that's how you do it here. I didn't even have to ask, my doctor just referred me to a dermatologist. But if your doctor doesn't, just bring it up yourself. It's that simple. Unless it's completely different in the UK.