Really down about my hair

LegacyUser

Hey guys,

I've never posted anything like this and I never thought I would because I'm pretty happy normally, but I have a problem that I think can only get worse.
I'm 21, almost 22 and my hair on top is very thin already. It was always thin as a teenager but I think its gotten worse. My scalp is easily visible after I got it cut.
I have to be honest, I'm really upset I've lost my hair already,almost crying. I loved it and feel like "why me". I also have the problem that I'm going to live in the US for 3 months on Monday and I can't see me getting anything sorted health wise with a doctor before then.
It's only really hit me today, I don't want this to depress me while I get to go away for 3 months. Please help me in any way

Terodil

Yeah, I know the feeling.

1. You're not alone with it. A substantial %age of men suffer from genetically caused hair loss.

2. It's really in how you see yourself and how you deal with it. The loss of hair is by no means equivalent with the loss of virility I know it's hard for you now but really, you will realise before long that it's only a minor issue if you're in great health, have friends and/or a good daytime occupation.

3. If you cannot make yourself not care and accept it as part of yourself, there is good medication available against genetically caused hair loss, it's the same substance (but in a much lower dose) as what's used to reinforce your prostrate. Ask a GP for details when you have the time.

4. I have personally vowed to shave my hair off once the situation becomes too evident. Shaved heads can look great too.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the reply.
Are you as young as me? That's a big part of it for me, I'd accept it a lot more if I was 30 or 40, but it started at 15/16, maybe earlier I can't remember.

I heard that people shave it when it gets a bit ridiculous, I don't know if I should do that now or not though.

LegacyUser

hey im same age as you and losing my hair getting really depressed about it too can barley even look in the mirror sometimes and wont have my picture taken. i really dont want to shave it as it wont suit me. its getting to the stage that if anyone says it too me i get even more depreesed then normal about so there are people in same boat as you

kjl

you will eventually get used to it, I still have all my hair, but I have loads of friends who lost theirs and there are all fine about it. Its only hair in the end of the day

But all it not lost, there is a huge amount of research going into spem cell hair regrowth, so it might be gone in a few year, but in a few more you might get it back.

Fiend-Foe

kjl wrote: »

you will eventually get used to it, I still have all my hair, but I have loads of friends who lost theirs and there are all fine about it. Its only hair in the end of the day

But all it not lost, there is a huge amount of research going into spem cell hair regrowth, so it might be gone in a few year, but in a few more you might get it back.

Just because they act like/say they are fine about it doesn't mean they are. The OP's friends may think that he is fine with the situation. Guys are very good at hiding their feelings and what bothers them from their peers.

eily

hey there,
hope this isnt considered medical advice or a plug or such, I worked in a pharmacy and we stocked a product called viviscal.seemingly it halts hair thinning and slowly begins to reverse the process. I was told that after a couple of months you begin to see hair coming back. Both women and men used to buy it but there definately was a man version for it. Not cheap but it should just be on the vitamin/supplement shelf.

Vyse

There are three main treatments/ drugs for hair loss:

1) Minoxidil, also know as Roagine. This is available over the counter and I'm sure you've heard of it. Very cheap to buy off eBay. Works out at about a third of the price you'd pay in a pharmacy here.

2) Finasteride, also know as propecia (a lot of generic versions also available e.g. alpecia, finepecia etc). This is a hormone blocker which helps stop production of the hormone which causes male pattern baldness. You will need to go to your doctor about this one and he may not even perscribe it for you. You could order online but the IMB have been clampling down on this type of thing. Might be worth visiting a GP about it when you're in the States, readily available there. Maybe pick up a years supply.

3) Nizoral shampoo. Shown to decrease inflamation on the scalp and aids in hair regrowth.

Any vitamin/ mineral supplement that claims to regrow hair on its own is probably useless. They would most likely only tackle hairloss that is due to a dietary deificency as opposed to genetic hairloss. I personally wouldn't bother with them at all. You can google these things readily. A good website is hairlosstalk.com.

There is a product that can help cover up your thinning. It's called Toppik. If you have diffuse thinning may help fill in the spaces.

Good luck with it.

Terodil

Sadguy wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.
Are you as young as me? That's a big part of it for me, I'd accept it a lot more if I was 30 or 40, but it started at 15/16, maybe earlier I can't remember.

I heard that people shave it when it gets a bit ridiculous, I don't know if I should do that now or not though.

Yep, I am almost as young as you, 29 now. Hair started thinning a few years back. I'm by no means bald but the hairline is receding.

Shaving is not irreversible. You can give it a try. I always feel more energetic with shorter hair.

I'd be careful with medication (see advice above). Before you do that, have yourself thoroughly checked by GP and only take what s/he advises you to, and get the medication from a proper pharmacy!! (I cannot stress that enough!)

tbh

you're heading to the states? Take my advice, shave your head before you go. You're only conscious of it because you can see the difference between you having hair, and not having hair. If you meet someone for the first time, and you have a shaved head, that's the mental image they'll have of you. If you show them a pic of you with hair, they'll tell you it doesn't suit you. It is what it is man. I hate saying "deal with it" but that's what you have to do in this case, I'm afraid.

Wurly

tbh wrote: »

you're heading to the states? Take my advice, shave your head before you go. You're only conscious of it because you can see the difference between you having hair, and not having hair. If you meet someone for the first time, and you have a shaved head, that's the mental image they'll have of you. If you show them a pic of you with hair, they'll tell you it doesn't suit you. It is what it is man. I hate saying "deal with it" but that's what you have to do in this case, I'm afraid.

+1. That is the best advice.

I have never envied men having to go through this. I am sure it's extremely distressing. But it depends what way you look at it..

As TBH said, what about shaving your head? Maybe that could be the start of a cool new image for you. Plenty of girls love shaved heads.

Kipperhell

What ever you do don't pretend you still have hair when you don't. It fools nobody ever. Try the products but try and keep a proper record using photos to check if there is actually a change your memory will fool you. Either way the chances are it will only be temporary. My brother used Regaine and it made a big difference setting the clock back about 2 years but it was only a slowing and eventually it became pointless.

People don't really laugh at people for being bald but they certainly do when somebody tries to hide it.

If the products don't work just shave your head. I can only imagine how upsetting it can be but you have to face reality.

LegacyUser

Just want to say that I think bald men are very attractive, especially the shaved look..lots of girls like me out there. As you go into 30s lots of men are bald/balding and they never have trouble with women.

LegacyUser

Hey,

I'm 36 now and i start losing mine when I was 17. It f*ck me up until I was 28. Didnt want my picture taken, would get really upset when I was slagged (not in front of people, later).

I never tried the products, but maybe you should first. If it doesnt work then I would say shave it. I got my confidence back as so many people shave now.

The worst thing you can do is go into denial, because it is happening. Shave and move on

Wish I could have got this advice when I was younger.

Take care

xcarriex

tbh wrote: »

you're heading to the states? Take my advice, shave your head before you go. You're only conscious of it because you can see the difference between you having hair, and not having hair. If you meet someone for the first time, and you have a shaved head, that's the mental image they'll have of you. If you show them a pic of you with hair, they'll tell you it doesn't suit you. It is what it is man. I hate saying "deal with it" but that's what you have to do in this case, I'm afraid.

Defo agree with this, Its not as bad as you think, i used to NEVER really notice it with guys unless its a desperate cover up job, then its way worse, im seen a guy exact same age as you and he's almost completely bald he just shaves his head, and to be honest i LOVE it,

He said it was prob the most daunting experience ever realising it, but he spent so long been down over it he just kinda one day decided enough was enough, hair is hair, its not you, it doesnt make you a better/worse person, though not letting it take over your life will make you a happier person

Honestly i know your thinking 'easier said than done' but the unless ur willing to get treatment, i suggest embracing it

Good Luck op!

Taltos

I was in college with a guy that by the end of first year was totally bald.

I was not much older than you when mine also started to thin.
Right now I keep it very short - blade 2 back and sides with top being less than finger thick.
When it recedes much more I will definitely shave.

While I am not looking forward to that day in a way it will be liberating. Used to love my hair when I was younger - even grew it long. But now keeping it this short is just so damn handy - not to mention that alot of women seem to like it short - I definitely get more attention than when it was long.

The advice about shaving before going to US is actually really good - maybe think about it - but make sure you remember to protect your scalp - moisturise / sun-cream....

Most guys react the same way as you - it is only natural with all the adverts out there.
Only thing that gets me is all my brothers have full heads of hair - I am the only one... But guess that means I just have more testosterone

LegacyUser

SmoothISsexy wrote: »

Just want to say that I think bald men are very attractive, especially the shaved look..lots of girls like me out there. As you go into 30s lots of men are bald/balding and they never have trouble with women.

I have to agree with this, think it's a great look, would never let bald/balding put me off, quite the opposite in fact! OP don't worry, embrace it and be safe in the knowledge that you'll still look great and there are plenty of other women out there who'd agree with me!

sobriety

sorry to hear about this my friend.

But there is an answer! I've been wearing really seemless, advanced hair systems for the past 3 years and my life is amazing now. IN maintenance they take me about 1.5 hour per week, and the cost is 170 euro per hair system (I need to replace it every 4 months or so...). It's all DIY, I never go to a salon and have all the equipment myself. it's really cheap if you don't go to salons. Just order the hair via mail order, and get some bonding agents, and away you go. There are loads of forums that show you how to do everything DIY, and lots of people online that will help if you're stuck I have the same sort of hair system that John Travolta and Ben Affleck wears.

They are breathable, 100% realistic, and the type I get are undetectable even in intimate situations, and I can go swimming, etc. if I do a good attachment.

Please PM me and I will show you photos of me. You will be impressed. I have more attention from girls now than when I even had my own hair, life is great

sobriety

baldisbeautiful wrote: »

I have to agree with this, think it's a great look, would never let bald/balding put me off, quite the opposite in fact! OP don't worry, embrace it and be safe in the knowledge that you'll still look great and there are plenty of other women out there who'd agree with me!

Depends 100% on:
a) the shape of the head
b) the size of the nose
c) The overall proportion of the face

Personally, I need hair to look good. Without it I look like a big nosed, mis-shapen headed bloke, I also look fatter for some reason overall...

Some look great shaven no doubt, but some white skinheads look sick, weak and unhealthy.

sobriety

Vyse wrote: »

There are three main treatments/ drugs for hair loss:

1) Minoxidil, also know as Roagine. This is available over the counter and I'm sure you've heard of it. Very cheap to buy off eBay. Works out at about a third of the price you'd pay in a pharmacy here.

2) Finasteride, also know as propecia (a lot of generic versions also available e.g. alpecia, finepecia etc). This is a hormone blocker which helps stop production of the hormone which causes male pattern baldness. You will need to go to your doctor about this one and he may not even perscribe it for you. You could order online but the IMB have been clampling down on this type of thing. Might be worth visiting a GP about it when you're in the States, readily available there. Maybe pick up a years supply.

3) Nizoral shampoo. Shown to decrease inflamation on the scalp and aids in hair regrowth.

Any vitamin/ mineral supplement that claims to regrow hair on its own is probably useless. They would most likely only tackle hairloss that is due to a dietary deificency as opposed to genetic hairloss. I personally wouldn't bother with them at all. You can google these things readily. A good website is hairlosstalk.com.

There is a product that can help cover up your thinning. It's called Toppik. If you have diffuse thinning may help fill in the spaces.

Good luck with it.

Please try not to listen to people who advise you to take drugs for your hairloss. They have side effects... google them. Not only that, but the effects of minox wears of after a few years and you start to lose the battle...

Don't get me wrong, the drugs can help, but they are NOT the ultimate solution and they can make you ill. I did minox for a few years and it slowed things down a bit, but that was all... fin / propecia can give you headaches, man boobs and interferes with hormones... I wouldn't risk it for hair. It's just hair at the end of the day, your health is more important.

A light, breathable, hair system, purchased from one of the many cheap online providers is the best solution and gives amazing instant results (see my previous post). I have photos to prove it..

sobriety

Feck it... they say a picture speaks a thousand words...

And right now, I'm remember myself being bald, depressed, looking in the mirror and almost feeling like my young life was already over... not getting much attention from girls, and worst of all, uglier and overweight guys with lots of hair looking younger and more radiant than me...

and knowing that a bit of hair can change everything virtually over night, so heres hoping you can see how good these things are with some pics! and maybe you'll make the same decision as me, and be done with feeling depressed...


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sobriety

Sorry for flooding the place with my posts, but the final thing I would like to add is that:
I have had no really negative experiences with my hair system (or wig!) in the past 3.5 years... nobody seems to have noticed it, and nobody realises I'm wearing it. Even on a bad day, where I've been neglecting it, people just don't seem to care about hair too much. I've only ever had positive compliments about it, like "jaysus you have a great head of hair on ya", and girls like to touch it, but I don't mind too much cos they never feel anything strange anyway I should add that I'm very blad, and even my temples/ temple points have disappeared - I've covered these up with hair from the hair system and sort of brushed it forward..

The only noticable thing so far is that one of my friends is convinced I'm secretly dying my hair! and I found out that he thought that after he made a comment to my ex-gf. Maybe others have noticed, but if they have then they've hidden their suspicions very well!! I told my parents and they are glad that I have a nice head of hair, and my Dad thinks it's cool cos when he was young he wanted one but they were too expensive back then.

For 99% of my time I've totally forgotten about this thing on my head... it's just threads like this (and my weekly remove/clean/attach) that makes me remember I'm secretly a baldie hahah... but I remember the dark times, and the negative self-image and low confidence, and I will gladly help out any of you who want their hair to look like mine, I'll show you what I know and I won't ask you for a penny! But please... please avoid the crooks in those salons, like advanced hair studio, and versaachi, hairloss.ie etc....they will rob you blind.

SarahMc

baldisbeautiful wrote: »

I have to agree with this, think it's a great look, would never let bald/balding put me off, quite the opposite in fact! OP don't worry, embrace it and be safe in the knowledge that you'll still look great and there are plenty of other women out there who'd agree with me!

Hear hear, it is indicitive of high testosterone, and v. sexy

TirNaNog.

Cheer up OP you're a natural humpty dumpty
watch out for the eagles in usa they have sharp claws and like to swoop down on egg type things.........

Wibbs

TirNaNog cop on. Only helpful posts please.

Wibbs

As for sobriety's posts; I know a few women who use hair system(wigs) with no problems and they look and feel natural, so if it affects your self esteem to that degree I really don't see why not.

You can try the medical route and see how that pans out for you, but there may be side effects like with any drug. Give it a whirl if it suits. Throw in a good diet, as it seems that may have somthing to do with it. I recall reading about how Japanese men outside of Japan who ate a western diet went bald quicker and that tribal types didn't go bald nearly as quickly. Something about saturated fats etc. May be something to that. Better for your overall health anyway so win win situation regardless of your hair.

Or you can go for the shaved head look. A lot of women do like that. I remember an ex of mine many moons ago, whose previous bloke was of the bald, shaven headed persuasion and was at me to shave my head(at the time I had very long hair) to a disturbing degree, hence she's an ex. The wagon went back to him too:D If you're worried about the ladies reaction, I really wouldn't for in the majority of cases. Women are looking for men. Good men, strong men, supportive men. Hair of any kind optional. That ex I mentioned above and the guy she went back to? He was a better man than me at the time. Simple choice and she made the right one and damned right too.

Hank Scorpio

I got a bald spot, and today i shaved it off with a 2 blade

Your getting older - As am i , i dont have any problem with it, i always get 2 blade, keep it short and be happy

Im 22 also

sobriety

nuxxx wrote: »

I got a bald spot, and today i shaved it off with a 2 blade

Your getting older - As am i , i dont have any problem with it, i always get 2 blade, keep it short and be happy

Im 22 also

good on ya, if it looks good and you feel confident.

if you don't, then check my previous posts

pepsi1234

Does anyone have any experience with hair transplants?

sobriety

Hair transplants can be good, but there are a lot of dodgy results out there if you look at all the people who got botched ones on hairlosshelp.com forums. Do you research and you'll see that transplants can also be an ongoing thing - you may need to go back and get stuff redone when your hair continues to thin around the transplanted area... we can't predict our hairloss, and there is also the shock loss.

Handsome Bob

Hey OP, my hair started to thin badly when I was 16, by the end of 5th year I threw caution to the wind and just shaved it all off. I'm a bit lucky because the shaved head suits me so it wasn't really a big deal for me. There are times when I see some bloke sporting a cool hairstyle that makes me feel a pang of regret but for the most part it doesn't bother me. It's not the end of the world, just because you are going bald at a young age doesn't make you any less of a man.

I have to say I feel slightly offended when I read stories like yours, it's as if you feel ashamed that you are going bald at a young age. So you must automatically think that the likes of myself should feel ashamed. I'm not and I would never be down on myself over something that I can't control. I suggest you adapt the same attitude.

wexford202

Sadguy wrote: »

Hey guys,

I've never posted anything like this and I never thought I would because I'm pretty happy normally, but I have a problem that I think can only get worse.
I'm 21, almost 22 and my hair on top is very thin already. It was always thin as a teenager but I think its gotten worse. My scalp is easily visible after I got it cut.
I have to be honest, I'm really upset I've lost my hair already,almost crying. I loved it and feel like "why me". I also have the problem that I'm going to live in the US for 3 months on Monday and I can't see me getting anything sorted health wise with a doctor before then.
It's only really hit me today, I don't want this to depress me while I get to go away for 3 months. Please help me in any way

Hi there I know that 22 is quite young to start going bald but you would be best to just go with it now as there is not a whole lot you can do.

Shave it off before you go. Nobody over there will know what you looked like before and will just take you as you are when you arrive.

I can honestly say that as a girl I wouldn't find you any way less attractive if you had a shaved head but I would find trying to cover a receeding hair line a turn off.

Everyone has their insecurities when things like that happen. My husband is 80% grey and only 27 years old. Just started about a year ago which is very young for that. I think he looks super and I bet the girels will think you are super too. ;)

gavney

Hi OP,

I'm 25. My hair started thinning about 2 years ago. You can tell I'm going bald at the front but it's not that bad and I don't have a bald spot yet. I know it will gradually progress over the next few years.

About two weeks ago I started using Minoxidil 5% (Rogaine). It apparently doesn't work as well on receeding hairlines as on the bald spot- but I'm giving it a go anyway- I'll see if there's an improvement in the next few months.

My advice would be

1. Try shaving your head just ONCE- it may not suit you- but at least give it a try. I tried it a few months ago- and it looked grand- I think I look a bit better with hair though- but only a bit!

2. Have a go with Minoxidil. It's only proven to work in about 40% of cases. But you might be one of the lucky ones- and it's cheap- go to www.minoxidil-direct.co.uk. It's also got no potential side affects.

3. If nothing after a few months- try get a prescription for finasteride.


And try balance each negative with a positive. If you're going bald- maybe take better care of your appearance in other ways- fitness, diet, posture, clothes etc.... Most women seem to be more interested in how stylish you dress more than how much hair you have anyway!

the_syco

Sadguy wrote: »

I've never posted anything like this and I never thought I would because I'm pretty happy normally, but I have a problem that I think can only get worse.
I'm 21, almost 22 and my hair on top is very thin already. It was always thin as a teenager but I think its gotten worse. My scalp is easily visible after I got it cut.

Consider yourself lucky: I started losing the hair when I was 18. By 21 I looked 15 years older.

The sense of relief when I shaved it off (using a razor that I'd use to cut my beard) was weird. Big burden taken off my shoulders. No longer felt the need to cover it up.

plumlover

I don't know if someone has mentioned this already (apologies if they have) but it may be possible to treat this nutritionally. Off the top of my head I know that a deficiency in B vitamins can lead to hair loss. So try and improve your intake of vit B6 and B12, they can be found in chicken, fish, eggs and milk brewer's yeast, liver, whole grain cereals, vegetables, organ meats and egg yolk.Niacin (vit B3) aids in promoting scalp circulation. Vitamin A, C and E are also important in maintaining healthy hair. Inositol helps in keeping hair follicles healthy. Pantothenic Acid (Vit B5) it helps in preventing graying and hair loss. Biotin works as an anti aging agent by preventing graying of hair and hair loss.

I would recommend going to a nutritionist and get blood tests to see if you are lacking in any of the above.

Hope this helps!

LegacyUser

Shaving the head doesn't suit everybody. Personally I think shaving the head is the new combover. I would just cut it short if I was in that situation.

Handsome Bob

ducksonthemoon wrote: »

Shaving the head doesn't suit everybody. Personally I think shaving the head is the new combover. I would just cut it short if I was in that situation.

How is shaving the head the new combover? A comb over suggests for me insecurity as well as vainness. Shaving your head suggests the opposite to that.

Also I don't think you understand what it is to go bald. If you are going bald you cannot just "cut it short", not unless you want a monk haircuit ala Zidane.

I do agree though with you that shaving the head doesn't suit everyone.

jptk

LZ5by5 wrote: »

How is shaving the head the new combover? A comb over suggests for me insecurity as well as vainness. Shaving your head suggests the opposite to that.

Also I don't think you understand what it is to go bald. If you are going bald you cannot just "cut it short", not unless you want a monk haircuit ala Zidane.

I do agree though with you that shaving the head doesn't suit everyone.

So if you are going bald young and a shaved head dosnt suit you, your screwed?

Handsome Bob

jptk wrote: »

So if you are going bald young and a shaved head dosnt suit you, your screwed?

Not necessarily, I know a bloke who is bald, it doesn't suit him and who has acne to boot too. He married a woman who could be a model a few months back. It's all about confidence and how you carry yourself in the end.

Overheal

I went to college with a bald guy for a flatmate. He was only in his mid 20s. Im sure he went through the very same pangs, but once it was said and done - what can you do? We joked about it. He was cool with it. And he got more women than any of the rest of us, thats for damn sure :mad:

LegacyUser

gavney wrote: »

And try balance each negative with a positive. If you're going bald- maybe take better care of your appearance in other ways- fitness, diet, posture, clothes etc.... Most women seem to be more interested in how stylish you dress more than how much hair you have anyway!

As a girl, I would definitely agree with this. You can't assume that every person you meet is going to think 'Oh look, he's bald'. People get an overall impression from you, not just from your hair. I've dated bald men, and the lack of hair has never been an issue for either them or me. Fine men they were too *sigh*

On a side note, I saw a man walking down the street a few weeks back. I was walking behind him and suddenly I noticed that he was going bald at the back of his head. I normally wouldn't take notice of something like that, but this man had put something black over the bald spot to make it look like he had hair there. If he hadn't put the black gunk on his head, it wouldn't even have registered with me that he's going bald. I felt bad for him because losing his hair is obviously a worry for him, but he would have been better if he had left his hair the way it was, and deal with the fact that yes he's losing his hair but it's not the end of the world.

I read another post here where they said that they didn't want their photo taken til they were 28. Op, you can't spend your life worrying about something you have no control over, we all worry about things we have no control over whether it's having acne scarred skin, not having the right body shape, having short stumpy legs, etc. It's how you deal with it that matters.

Good luck, have a blast in the U.S. !!

renraw

eily wrote: »

hey there,
hope this isnt considered medical advice or a plug or such, I worked in a pharmacy and we stocked a product called viviscal.seemingly it halts hair thinning and slowly begins to reverse the process. I was told that after a couple of months you begin to see hair coming back. Both women and men used to buy it but there definately was a man version for it. Not cheap but it should just be on the vitamin/supplement shelf.

+1, Ive tried and it is brilliant, I was too young to start losing my hair and used the viviscal for 9 months and theres a great difference

Posy

A friend of mine lost al his hair by age 18. You're certainly not alone.
He was pretty skinny and worried the shaved head made him look ill(!) so he started hitting the gym and now has a great body and shaved head and is quite sexy!! Much better looking than when he had hair to be honest!

LegacyUser

Hair loss at a young age i quite painful, having been through it myself. Alot of people joke and laugh about it calling you baldie etc etc, but it is a pretty painful experience, as you have to watch your appearance changing and even your own self image takes a beating. I hated having photos taken where i was once really photogenic, hated being out without some kind of hat on, it was awful. But, once i hit maybe 23 or so i said **** it, shaved it all off, and i ended up meeting a really hot girl i was crazy about and she didnt care at all i was bald, and it really gave me alot of confidence, after that i stopped wearing hats, just shaved it, now it doesnt bother me at all. Like others ill occasionally still get the odd pang of regret but im 29 now and you can only fret about this **** for so long

LegacyUser

Went to my GP to get a presciption for finasteride. The doctor wouldn't give it to me even tho I explained to them I was just going to go and get it somewhere else if they refused me and that the reason I came to them in the first place was to have a competent overseer who could monitor my situation.

Upon hearing that I wasn't going to accept their decision the GP reluctlantly wrote a letter to the dermatology dept of a well known hospital explaining my intentions. I heard nothing from this hospital for several weeks then finally upon enquiry turns out I have to wait to 2011 just to even talk to them! This isn't much use to me.

I am aware of the possible side-effects and I have accepted them. So can anyone recommend a doctor to me who I can just go to, get the prescription and leave. Thanks.

==

BTW I agree with the person who says "total shave is the new combover". It's basically bald people trying to convince themselves that they're not bald by adopting a radical look that they would otherwise never choose had they the option. It's a better look no doubt, but psychologically no different.

piby

unreg20090711 wrote: »

Went to my GP to get a presciption for finasteride. The doctor wouldn't give it to me even tho I explained to them I was just going to go and get it somewhere else if they refused me and that the reason I came to them in the first place was to have a competent overseer who could monitor my situation.

Upon hearing that I wasn't going to accept their decision the GP reluctlantly wrote a letter to the dermatology dept of a well known hospital explaining my intentions. I heard nothing from this hospital for several weeks then finally upon enquiry turns out I have to wait to 2011 just to even talk to them! This isn't much use to me.

I am aware of the possible side-effects and I have accepted them. So can anyone recommend a doctor to me who I can just go to, get the prescription and leave. Thanks.

==

BTW I agree with the person who says "total shave is the new combover". It's basically bald people trying to convince themselves that they're not bald by adopting a radical look that they would otherwise never choose had they the option. It's a better look no doubt, but psychologically no different.

With all due respect can I ask why bother? Yes we're all insecure, we all want to look better, hotter, fitter. There's not a single person on this planet I reckon who is deep down 100% happy with how they look. Everyone will find some tiny little thing that they think is wrong with their body, that's just human nature (To a large degree I blame the impact of modern Holywood but that's another matter!). But that's just the point, it is nature. Why spend all this money and effort worrying about something that's just a natural part of life?

I say this as someone who is also 22 and on borrowed [hair] time! I actually shaved my head about two years ago just to see what it would look like. Most people said I looked better, the few who didn't I think were just a bit more shocked by the sudden change. The truth is that while I'm thinning on top I still don't need to shave it yet and maybe that's why some people didn't like it ie. I didn't need to do it yet. But in another 2/3 years when I do, I'll have no qualms about it. Life's too short for it to be dictated by a few follicles on top of your head!!!

LegacyUser

"With all due respect can I ask why bother? "

I could ask:

Why wear glasses or contact lenses or get laser eye surgery?

Why get false teeth or fillings?

Why live beyond the age of 40?

After all it's 'natural' for all these things to fail on a human (sooner or some than others), but for whatever reason for all the above we have decided as a species to not accept them anymore.

Similarily I almost guarentee you if a cheap, easy to mange, no-strings-attached way for a person with hairloss to get all their hair back tomorrow presented itself you wouldn't have one person on here saying "actually dya know what, I'm gonna stick to this 1/2 shiny 1/2 stubbly look I'm currently sporting". Tho maybe you'd be the exception?

So for now I'm ok with the pricetag and also I'm willing to give drugs a try (as long as I don't experience the side-effects). That's my pov anyway.

LegacyUser

Hey guys, its me(the OP)

Wow, I couldn't believe when I saw that this thread was still on the front page. Thanks so much for all the posts everyone made, they are so helpful. Really, I appreciate it so much.

So, 2 months into being in the US things are going well..I didn't shave it off before coming, I just don't think I could handle going through that in a new country on my own. I might when I return to Ireland. Things with my hair aren't really different, it hasn't bothered me as much as I thought though. I asked my friend straight up what she thought, I trust this girl with my life and she said not to shave it. For now, I think it was the best choice. I'll probably go to my Doctor when I go home and talk about options. I'm willing to try any product or whatever. Thanks for the ideas, I feel like I cant trust any hair growth products ive seen advertised. Good to hear that some real life people can recommend them
Thanks again...

LegacyUser

Never mind. I bought a bunch of finasteride online just now without a prescription. Amazing how hard it is to find a company that sells this stuff AND will ship to Ireland AND will accept certain very well known credit cards.

Here's I hope I didn't get scammed and the stuff actually arrives/works

dudara

unreg20090711 wrote: »

Never mind. I bought a bunch of finasteride online just now without a prescription. Amazing how hard it is to find a company that sells this stuff AND will ship to Ireland AND will accept certain very well known credit cards.

Here's I hope I didn't get scammed and the stuff actually arrives/works

OP, be aware that it is illegal to buy prescription drugs online and have them shipped to Ireland without a prescription.

The IMB have decided that a prescription is required for that drug and that it should only be administered under the supervision of a medical professional. It is downright stupid to self-medicate.

I do not know what the legal ramifications are for you if the package is intercepted by customs.

Overheal

If your GP wouldnt prescribe it to you Im sure he has a good reason!

And for that matter have you any idea how ludicrous most US drug products are? Half of them arent even FDA approved. Not that the FDA has incredibly high standards mind you..