Hello everyone,

This is my first post in this forum. I am 22 and have been losing my hair slowly since I hit 18. Now it has become more noticeable than ever before. I want to start Propecia since I wont go in for an HT for a couple more years (a student still and rather broke) but I do want to curb or reverse it a bit for a while, atleast for a couple of years.

Anyway I want to start Propecia but I have been deathly afraid considering all that is available on the internet regarding it.

Is anyone here undergoing the same thing? Do the stories regarding it contain any real truth?

Thanks

I am 26 years old, and started propecia at the end of last year, in December.

I've seen pretty good results over the last year, though it's been no magic solution. I believe some of my hair has grown back, but not all of it. It's definitely halted any further loss.

As far as side effects go, I don't believe I've seen any, and if I have, they were minimal enough that I did not notice them.

About the side effects and the internet horror stories, I believe there is probably some truth to it, though probably not as common as most would have you believe, and probably not as severe; though this is subjective I suppose. i.e. -The people that experience negative side effects are more likely to share their experience on a forum than people who get the positive effects.

In the end, the choice is really up to you. Of the available options out there, you can either accept your loss, or start trying things and see what works for you. The longer you wait though, the harder it will be to recover on something like propecia.

Thanks. Secondly, about the shedding, is it noticeable shedding? As in will my hair look noticeably weaker for a time before the hair returns?

Everyone responds differently.

The first time I took it in '97, I had no shedding and it restored pretty much all my crown hair. I only took it for 4 years then it lost its effectiveness. I stopped in 2002 and restarted recently in preperation for my procedure. This time though I started shedding a lot. Mostly in the hairline and frontal core. I didn't stick it out to see if it would stop though.

I haven't seen any shedding either. I hear it's common, but not too bad. Then again, like Severn said, everyone responds differently.

Thanks, Im probably going to go for finasteride next week as I have an appointment with a derm on Monday. Im still horribly afraid after what I have read about but Ill just ask the doctor and see what he says. I hope this doesnt result in psychological BS... I also hope I dont shed far too noticably, my front is weak enough as it is and I dont want to last parts of the semester to be affected too much by it... but whatever...

I wonder if shedding affects older men more than younger men.

Eitherway, Ill find out soon enough.

http://www.baldingblog.com/200...tically-significant/

Here's a post from Dr. Rassman, from his blog.

You could send him an question with your concern if you wanted a professional opinion, but I think this post indicates that he doesn't see shedding in his patients that often.

In any case, going to see your Dr. is probably the best option. Just try not to worry so much about it. At least you're doing something about it, rather than just letting it happen, which is what most guys do.

Yea, talking with my doc seems best. One thing I love and hate about the internet is all the info available. It has brought me here but also terrified me with all the stories....