Hi All,
Photos under similar lighting; reference:
Photos 1-2: Before Any Treatment started. Started Topical Minox treatment in Feb 2025.
Photos 3-5: During Topical Minoxodil + Added SMP (June 2025 - here switched to oral fin + minox)
Photos 6-7: 1 month into oral combo therapy fin and minox (shed a lot after this)
Photos 8-10: 10.5 months into oral combo therapy fin + minox (have ranged from 3-6mg but currently on 4.5mg)
I’m 23M with strong family history of hair loss, started to lose hair with diffuse thinning pattern, when i was around 14-15, and it has been a slow but constant process - but has been so long so my situation is quite advanced. Was not aware of the protocols to maintain or regrow at such a young age and only looked into and decided to do something about it last year.
Started on just topical minoxodil Feb 2025 - June 2025 and saw some decent progress in terms of length of the hair at least (hair used to never grow past a certain point).
However after meeting with the dermatologist he started me on 1mg Fin and 3mg Oral Minox - but later at the 4 month mark he increased to 6mg - however I noticed fluid retention at such a high dose and wasn’t seeing much in terms of regrowth anyway so came down to 4.5mg (my original dermatologist left the state so was assigned to another who doesn’t seem to know much) - considering lowering down to 3mg as soon as tom as multiple ppl have suggested 2.5 is the dose they would give someone my age. also with fin, i feel i am still losing hair regularly, every time I touch my scalp, hair falls out, but photos may show i have maintained at least - definitely back/donor has improved but not much improvement at the top.
I’m at the 10.5 month mark on a regimen of Fin 1mg Minox 4.5mg Keto Shampoo 2x weekly currently, have also done some dermastamping in the past but haven’t been consistent lately and don’t rly see the point while being on a oral version - not much to gain.
Don’t want to spend thousands on DUT mesotherapy or a HT just to be in a similar position as i am currently. Still really thin on top, if hair is messy or not brushed down. Sides and back have improved, was concerned about DUPA at one point but seems like MPB. Bloods done & normal - Vit D was low but got injection, also taking iron to top up iron stores.
Not sure what to do next as not seeing results and getting effected by sides such as fluid retention, not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel - considering all options including hair systems, transplant but in the future, staying on meds etc, but unsure. I’ve done SMP and honesty don’t mind the shaved look - but would prefer if I rocked that in the future rather than my 20s.