For many years, I’ve been one of the quiet lurkers here on this sub and never really had the courage to start taking Finasteride. However, I’ve now reached a point in my life where I can no longer avoid this decision if I want to keep any hair on my head next year. The reason is that my hair loss has recently become very aggressive and seems to be accelerating exponentially.
That’s why I’ve decided to finally begin my treatment and would like to share my therapy plan with you. I’d really appreciate your opinions, experiences, and suggestions for improvement.
Hopefully, this overview, structured into:
-
Progression of Hair Loss
-
Biological Background / Lifestyle
-
Therapy Preparation
-
Therapy Plan (12 Months)
-
Monitoring
might also help others who are currently in a similar situation.
1)Progression of Hair Los
From age 18: First signs of hair loss (just a suspicion at that point).
From age 18 to 23: Slow hair loss, limited to the temples (barely noticeable to others).
From age 24: Hair loss started to accelerate (faster rate compared to before); additional areas began thinning (frontal hairline). Also developed symptoms such as tingling, itching, and burning sensations in the affected areas.
From age 27 to today: Extreme acceleration of hair loss (exponential shedding). The crown and surrounding areas are now affected as well. Itching and burning have become more intense, occasionally accompanied by a sensation of scalp inflammation.
2) Biological Background / Lifestyle
-
Always had thick, dense, and strong hair.
-
Family history: Father experienced significant hair loss early (around age 28); grandparents not affected.
-
Health conditions: Mild hypothyroidism, no medication (regularly monitored).
-
Lifestyle: Generally athletic (with some periods of reduced activity); occasional cannabis and cigarette use; currently studying.
-
Supplements: Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Zinc, Omega, Biotin, Creatine, Whey Protein, L-Arginine, Magnesium, Fenugreek.
3) Therapy Preparation
Goal: To measure progress and monitor overall health in order to detect or prevent potential side effects.
-
Record blood values:
-
Thyroid levels
-
Testosterone, DHT
-
Liver enzymes (AST, ALT, γ-GT)
-
-
Take photos for documentation
-
Your Opionion: Should I measure any other blood values or prepare anything else?
4) Therapy Plan (12 Months)
Doctor:
-
Thyroid levels – every 3 months
-
Testosterone, DHT – every 6 months
-
Liver enzymes (AST, ALT, γ-GT) – every 6 months
-
PSA (prostate-specific antigen) – every 6 months
-
Iron levels
At home:
Photos for documentation: front / top / sides / crown – every 3 months
Your Opionion: What else should be monitored? (Blood values, anything else)
Final Words:
I really appreciate any support and experiences you can share, and I’d like to thank in advance everyone who helps me optimize my therapy plan. My goal is to achieve the best balance between maximum possible results and minimal side effects, while monitoring and measuring everything as effectively as possible
