I recall seeing a thread about people losing their hair due to male pattern balding or whatever. Since search is disabled, I am creating a new thread. Personally, my crown is balding at an unbelievable rate and I'm only 32 . At this rate...if left unattended, I may not have any top hair in 5 years or so. One thing is for sure...male pattern balding sucks bigtime. So, I decided I am going to try and do something about it. I'm wondering if any of you tried anything about it and, if so, what did you do and did it work? I started MPB(male pattern...) a few years ago and it has continued over the years. It all started one day when I got out of the shower and literally chunks of my hair just fell right out. It has been gradual ever since. It's quite a shocker when, one day, your hair just decides to fall out like that. When it started happening, I decided to try Rogaine. I applied the treatments twice a day with a dropper and used their Prograine 2-in-1 shampoo. All seemed to be okay until one day...probably into the second month...my scalp had horrible irritation, flaking, and itching. I never felt anything itch so bad. I had to scratch. I think the effect of that in men who do have it occur(side effect) is that it causes more hair to fall out and the Rogaine treatments do not work if you continue. How could I continue anyway? I was in sheer agony. I was utterly pissed off about it, too, because I think it made me worse off than before. At that point, I swore it off and just said to HELL WITH IT ALL . But, a few years passed by and as more thinning came, I decided I better get back in the game or lose it to the point where I should probably just shave my head. I have zero problem on the sides as my hair appears normal and I do have hair on the top front which is slowly but surely thinning. I do have a recession of the hair line in front but, by far, the biggest problem is the crown which continues to slowly grow in diameter. So, I decided just recently to go with Propecia(or Finasteride). I have only been taking this a week so far. Who knows if it will work? One thing I did find out is that Propecia is expensive(I'm finding it will be about $600 - $800 a year). I also found out that there is a related pill called Proscar which is the same thing except in 5 mg instead of 1 mg for Propecia. So, all you have to do is dice it up. And, at 5 mg, it is much less expensive and lasts much longer. At least 1 mg of Finasteride is the requirement for treatment. Results should be something like at 3 months hair stops falling out and at 6 months some regrowth occurs. Studies have gone up to 5 years and progress is accumulative. So far, it is only one of two that have been medically proven and approven by the FDA to actually re-grow hair. The other is Minoxidil(aka Rogaine and other formulas on the market). So, I am going with Propecia for the time being. Next up is probably Dr. Lewenburg's Formula which is Minoxidil-based but different from Rogaine. It may cause the same irritation I had before but it has been formulated to still grow hair(90% success rate compared to much lower for Rogaine). It is a topical spray which you apply four times a day. I may use this spray in conjunction with Propecia at the six month mark. It has been asserted by the makers that if irritation occurs...it will still grow hair. I'm not sure if it was the alcohol in Rogaine that caused my scalp irritation or the Minoxidil. A lot of people tend to think it is the alcohol as there is only 2% Minoxidil(or 5% in extra strength) in Rogain. Dr. Lewenburg's Formula is available over the web at about $30 a bottle. The difference between this formula and Rogaine is there is some herbs and vitamins in the formula along with the Minoxidil. This formula works in as little as 8 weeks and, according to their website, the regrowth seems pretty dramatic if it works. At a 90% success rate, this is worth the risk. After that...some Canadian firm has a new product called Laser Comb which is actually a device which emits blue laser light and you comb your hair with the hair brush-like device maybe once or twice a week for ten minutes at a time. There are no side effects. It invokes a response of the hair cells at the molecular level. Results have been very promising thus far. Canada's equivalent of the FDA has approved the product. The product is currently in the mid-year of a trial under the FDA which ends around April. The results have been very encouraging and it has shown to not only help keep your hair but make it stronger and grow much more. No medications involved. The unit is bought for $675 and lasts a lifetime pretty much if used under their recommendations. This will be one of my last resorts or down the road. Results are seen quickly in a few months. This is supposed to be safe and effective so, for $675 and considering how long it lasts, this may be in my repetoire before long. It is not a gimmick device that gives false hope from what I have learned about it. If that were the case, then it would not have made it past the 4 month mark last year in the FDA trial which is still ongoing. There are a lot of other things in the experimental phase and a lot of things that are unproven about other products on the market(like Avacor(lawsuit for false claims), etc.). From my vast research, the three above are the best shot. You can use accompanying shampoos such as Neutrogena T-Gel or others that are similar which mainly control dandruff and conditions which cause flaking(which I don't have a dandruff problem but some do). Interestingly enough...all the Propecia studies were conducted with users taking the pill once a day and using a Neutrogena T-Gel shampoo(which should only be used once or twice a week with regular shampoo used other days). If your thinning, then it can be good to use conditioners labeled as volumizers and the like. Some shampoos claim to strengthen hair at the root and the like while others and conditioners just add volume or thickness when used. Combining treatments, like Propecia and Rogaine, have produced excellent results in some as well. I may end up doing all three at some point depending on results. Of course, if you stop, then you will lose all that hair pretty quickly(within a year but more than likely only a few months). That is my story. You probably couldn't tell I was balding looking at me from in front(besides a receding hairline that alot of men tend to get as they age). But, if you were to look down on my head, then you would notice it. I don't wear hats much at all. It's not really a good feeling at all and it's worse when your hair is wet. My head also tends to sunburn easier with less hair(obviously) so I do wear baseball-style hats if I'm out in the sun a lot. I don't think about it often and I could really give a rat's ass what other people think if they were to make a big deal about it. But, people tend to want their hair and look/feel good about themselves. Feel lucky if you have all your hair. If your thinning like me, then I have done much research and I hope the above info helps someone who may now be experiencing thinning. The sooner you deal with the problem...the better off you will be in the long run. I will let you know how it goes. I may end up trying all three as if I have a choice between hair and money...bye bye money. If none of those work, then I am inventing a Rockets toupee . Surf
About a year ago (at 24), I noticed that my hairline was receding gradually, but noticeably. So, I started using Rogaine. I only apply it once a day, using the spray thingy (with no itching or irritation...). After a year of use, I'm proud to say that my hair has stopped receding. However, I don't think I'm growing any new hair. Perhaps, if I used the spray twice a day, I would actually grow hair. Oh, well. The bottomline is that I've stopped the bleeding, and that counts as a major victory in my eyes.
You asked: Stop wasting your money. Shave your hair close and accept it. I met a lovely gal well after I became folically challenged and we are now married. Do I wish I had a head full of hair? Hell yes! There is a lot more in life to worry about...someday you'll look back and realize that. Good luck.
Sorry to hear that guys. I almost feel guilty for having to cut my hair every two weeks. Seriously though...I had an older friend that looked like Elmer Fudd...no kidding...and after he remarried to a good friend of my ex's, he went in and got a hair transplant. It looked weird at first, but he didn't really go out until his hair "took". Looking at him now, you wouldn't have ever guessed that he had a hair transplant.
Geez. I'm just "playing a little defense." I ain''t bald. My hair is thinning a little (and like I said before, receding), but I still have a full head of hair. In fact, I'm overdue for a haircut. If you think you're going bald, it doesn't hurt to use some preventive medicine (except the hurting you put on your wallet). Better safe than sorry, I say...
Nah, sorry. I always said that if I started to go so bald that you could see my scalp then I was going straight Picard. Cut it so close that you can hardly tell. Good news is my grandfather on my mother's side (recessive gene's you know for MPB) had a full thick head of hair until he died at 78, so hopefully I won't have to worry about it.
Let me ask this, at what age did you guys start noticing a recession in the hair line? I'm 25 and my hair grows quite lucsously (sorry to rub it in!), however I have noticed a few gray hairs sprouting around. Basically, I'm wondering around what age I should start to expect a less frequent need for the barbershop?
Well, I truly believe I will look like crap with a closely shaven or bald head. So, I don't want to go there unless I have to as a last resort. Money is not the issue for me. I don't sit around thinking about my hair(or lack thereof) all day long. I am not bald...I am thinning. If I can take a few minutes of my day and spend some money to gain my hair back, then I am going to try to do that as millions of others do with products that actually can or will work. I have enough hair where I don't need to shave my head at this point.
Too bad about Rogaine causing itching. It's slowed my hairline from receding quite a bit. I haven't had any serious dandruff problems with it. Just apply it at night, and then wash it off in the morning. Proscar pill is supposed to work okay, but it's supposed to cause impotence, for what its worth. At 22, I don't think I can handle not being able to get it up.
Baqui99, that side effect only happens in 2% of men and, in almost all cases, goes away with continued use....FWIW. I am going to try a cheaper alternative to Rogaine with Minoxidil possibly like I mentioned...but only if I don't see the results with Propecia. I'll probably wait until at least the six month mark to make another move depending on results. I just can't imagine myself running around with a bald head. I would rather use spray paint than be bald probably. I would rather use putting green turf . Who knows...maybe I will look like a younger Jean Luc Picard. Doubtful, though. Once I become a skinhead, I will probably turn to drugs and violence. LOL.
The Mother's father thing is not true. Just a myth. My Grandfather had a thick head of hair till he was 60 and I have already showed signs of thinning at 26. My father, who I take after is bald and I may follow suit. I still have a pretty good head of hair, it just seems to be thinning out a little and is not noticible by anyone besides myself. But if it happens, it happens. I think if I did lose my hair, I'd shave my head, with the only negative being my professionalism in the company I run. I have read about some HORROR stories for people that did hair transplants. And I probably wouldn't go the rogaine/propecia route. Does anyone know anyone that has had hair transplantation where they remove some from the back of the head and place it where needed?? A friend of mine is like 33 and is losing it fast and badly and is considering it. I am trying to convince him not to, but he won't listen. Those infomercials are getting to him!
Im a bit worried even though I have shoulder length hair. my brother did the same thing grew his hair out long and as soon as he cut it he started thining out, hes 23 and has thin hair on top. Anyone else have this happen?
I stand corrected. If you're a man who is seeing more of your scalp than you'd like, you're not alone. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, two out of three men in this country develop some form of balding. Now that's scary! While cutting-edge treatments in the world of hair renewal are still things of the somewhat distant future, treatments such as medications and hair transplantation surgery are now available. You probably won't become Fabio's twin -- at least not where hair is concerned -- but you can start filling in those, um, gaps. Most men who lose their hair have a hereditary condition called androgenic alopecia, says Neil Sadick, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Dermatology at Cornell University Medical College. These men have increased levels of a hormone known as 5(alpha)-reductase, which transforms testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The DHT, in turn, causes follicles to sprout shorter, finer hairs, before eventually dying out. It also causes the growth phases of hair follicles to become shorter, and the other phases to be longer. Also, it doesn't matter which side of the family you inherited the condition from; chances for men and women to carry this condition in their genes are very high. However, your chances increase by 50% if you have an immediate family member who is balding. Sometimes, it's just inevitable. male myths about balding 1. Wearing hats Wear all the hats that you want, for as long as you want. However, just make sure to let your scalp breathe for at least 7 hours a day (don't sleep with a hat on, genius). 2. Using hair products Hair gels and sprays contain no active ingredients that promote male baldness, so don't worry about using them. If you are still worried, then I suggest you start using gels that are more natural-based and contain ingredients such as chamomile and Aloe Vera. 3. Trauma Going through a traumatic experience will not make your hair fall out. However, cases have been reported where such events have caused men's hair to turn white. 4. Playing with your hair Twiddling your fingers and always playing with your hair does not cause premature baldness. If you do this though, you should seriously consider stopping; it might be a sign of stress and nervousness. But don't worry, she can play with your hair all night long. 5. Viral infections There are no viral infections that cause direct balding. Some powerful medications, however, may be culprits of hair loss since they kill off the hair's roots. In any case, always consult your physician. 6. Sun bathers If you're a sun dweller, don't worry; it will not harm your precious follicles. Most of your hair already protects your scalp from the sun's dangerous UV rays. Normally though, the sun's radiation could play a part in thinning a person's arm and leg hair.
Come on man, shave your head! (or stick it in a bucket of Nads) I have a lot of friends that are going bald, and that is the best thing you can do. Get it before it gets you. Then you can grow a goatee or some wierd facial hair. You will probably like the new look.
You'll go back to worrying about the war and terrorism. I'm gonna collect some of my pubes, make a pube hair piece, and put it on my crown. Problem solved. Some people just don't look good bald. Some people just don't look good. Some people just don't look. Some people just don't. Some people just. Some people....
Hey has anyone's hair ever just pretty much stopped growing? Mine isn't falling out or receding or anything, but I shaved all my hair off about 5 months ago and I've only needed one hair cut since then just to have the barber trim up the sides. My hair has grown about an inch and a half during that time. Anyone have any ideas how to fix this or have this happen to them?
