Hi Everybody, this is my first post here even though i've browsed through the forum on many occasions before now. I just have a quick few questions for anyone who can help me....
Il just give you a bit about my situation at the moment first: Im 23 and from Dublin, Ireland, and i have noticed within the last year or so that i'm starting to lose my hair at the front of my head. At the moment, its not too bad and some days it doesnt bother me as much as others, but it is inevitable that i will go bald if i do nothing as i seem to be following in my fathers footsteps! Can anybody tell me in their opinion what is the best treatment to either stop the process/slow it down? I have read up a bit on propecia and this seems like the best option available, does anybody have other recommendations? I have also read somewhere that minoxodil is not very effective against hair loss from the temples as opposed to the crown area, is this true? Also, due to reading posts on this board, i would not think about having a hair transplant at this stage, due to my age and stage of hairloss (Also the fact that there are only two surgurys in ireland that specialise in this area as far as i can see doesnt help !!)Any help as to where to start would be great. Thanks!

kev, welcome to the boards. I would recommend you do what I wish I had done. Get at LEAST on minoxidil 2% and STAY ON IT. Don't question whether or not it is working. Just use it twice a day from now on... make it a routine, like brushing your teeth...

then forget about your hair... I don't know what a doctor would say about propecia at your age, but if you can get a prescription, take it along with the minoxidil.

again.. just forget about your hair. It will drive you nuts and you'll start to question whether or not it is working. Believe me, if your hairloss stops, then that is your answer for years and years to come.

You are right about waiting for the HT. I am 33 and have been on and off minoxidil 5% a few times. The last time I stopped the hair loss really accelerated. I wish I had another decade of its use at this point.

Regards,
Jeff

Personally I would recommend Propecia (finasteride 1 mg.)

Propecia is the most effective treatment, and it is also the easiest (one pill a day). Both Propecia and Minoxidil can work in the frontal hairline, however they are not legally able to claim so, because they only tested the drugs in the crown area (FDA tests are incredibly expensive, and they had to limit it to only one area).

To be honest the hairline doesn't respond quite as easily as the crown. However the good news is that it's easier to keep the hair you have, than it is to regrow hair. Since it sounds like that is a reasonable goal for your situation, you should be encouraged.

Minoxidil is not as effective as Propecia however it works well along with Propecia as they take two completely different approaches. Minoxidil is a bit of a hassle though (a topical) and I think most guys who are in the early stages should start with Propecia first, give it a few years, then think about adding Minodxidil only if necessary. (if you are already advanced with hair loss, then getting on both right away would make sense).

I would suggest Propecia. It may not do much regrowth for the front of your hair...but it stands a good chance of helping you keep your remaining hair, especially in the crown. Propecia has really helped my crown. I've been on it since May 2004 with no side effects as far as I can tell. After you stabalize your hairloss, maybe check into hair transplantation in the US if you can save up and afford flying here to have it done.

Kev
. . . Of course at 23 years of age you will be a highly paid business exec? . . . because you'll need a fair wedge of cash (and not a little luck) to get hold of generic Minoxodil and Finasteride/Propecia this side of the Atlantic.
I assume the Republic suffers the same malaise as Britain in that you can add 50% over and above USA prices . . . and how would you get hold of Propecia? I understand that you would need a very compliant GP to swing a regular supply. . . Anyway, sound ideas from Arfy, Brando et al - so good luck.

Sorleyboy

Cheers for all the replies, some great advice in there! As Sorleyboy imagined, stuff doesnt come cheap over here at all, its not known as rip off ireland for no reason!! Il have to see what i can afford,im just finished college, so money is tight at the moment. For now i suppose the best thing is to make an appointment with my GP and see what prescription he could write for me. hopefully things will stabilise and i can look into restoration later on. Thanks again!

quote:

Originally posted by kev123:
its not known as rip off ireland for no reason!!

I thought it was "rip off Britain"??? Anyway, I think we're all on the same boat on this side of the pond. I get my meds from Canada.

quote:

Originally posted by hairworthy:

quote:

Originally posted by kev123:
its not known as rip off ireland for no reason!!

I thought it was "rip off Britain"??? Anyway, I think we're all on the same boat on this side of the pond. I get my meds from Canada.

No, actually the official rip off country is Finland... I used to order meds from Canada until customs officials summonsed me to their HQ and made me open the package in front of them and then confiscated the lot I could have been prosecuted but they didn't have time with the thousands of other people they catch importing meds from Canada.