21m- first noticed my hairline was beginning to recede around May of this year. I was put on oral Finasteride 1mg daily by my doctor on 5/26. I had initially asked about doing fin/min, like i hear a lot of people in online spaces talk about, but she had said that my MCC doesn’t want doctors prescribing both until either a) one has proved ineffective or b) one year has passed since beginning treatment. I’ve been loosely keeping track with photos for the last few months, and I don’t think my hair has gotten noticeably worse (and if it has, it’s by a very small amount). However, there’s still this nagging voice in the back of my head everytime I comb my hair and lose a few thick hairs that is telling me to get on oral min (can’t do topical for skin condition reasons) via a third party service or something like that. What do y’all think? Am I just being overly paranoid? Should I wait until next May like my health plan wants, or should I get oral min elsewhere to supplement the fin I’m already taking?
If you’re on oral fin, it’s working on reducing DHT, which is key for hormonal-related hair loss. Oral min can boost hair growth more than topical, but waiting until your provider gives the go-ahead might be wise if they’re concerned about mixing both. It’s common to still lose some hair while on treatment, but that doesn’t mean it’s not working. Regular photos can help track progress. For now, consider sticking with fin and exploring other treatments, like microneedling or ketoconazole, but check in with your doctor’s plan too. If interested, learn more about treatment options in the beginner’s guide.