Hi,

I'm sorry to start another thread about hair loss, but I wanted to ask this question.  I have small bald spot on my crown and I've been taking propecia and using minoxidil for the past five months.  The size of the spot had not increased but I'm not seeing much regrowth.  From what I've read about propecia and what my doctor said I know I shouldn't expect much before six months.  I also know that propecia doesn't work for everyone.  My question is how long did it take for regrowth to begin if propecia worked for you?

Thanks,
Bree

PS- I'm thinking about asking my therapist about starting hormones in the spring.  Has anyone noticed if taking estrogens has boosted the effect of propecia or minoxidil?

I can't say that I've had much luck on either, unfortunately.
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Propecia (Finasteride) even taken at the greater dosage intended for an enlarged prostate didn't effect my hair much.  (I've been on it for about a year and a half) If anything, I'm still losing hair gradually.    6 months should be enough to know if it's working for you though.
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I've been on Minoxidil for years, but decided to stop last Spring.  I was never really sure that it was working, and considering that I didn't really lose anything after stopping it, it probably wasn't.
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All in all, it's the luck of the draw.  If potassium channels are your problem, Minoxidil might help.  If T is the problem, Propecia might.  Otherwise, could be diet...could be stress...could be exercise...could be something else.  I'm still trying to find out what my solution might be.
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I don't know about whether HRT will have any effect, but I am curious as well.

I am also interested in it, as I have taken it during the past 2 months. I see a lot of hairs (about 30??) on the floor of the shower room after I finish rinsing my hair. Still I look fine, and my wife and friends make fun of me when I mention some possibility of my baldhead 

Barbie~~

I'm taking Propecia, I think it's been around six months now. When I saw Dr. Osterhoudt at the IFGE last Feb, he said that if you're over 53, take it for a year, and if it doesn't do anything, quit.

I've seen others say it takes a year to 18 mos to start working....YMMV.

All I can report is that I have two long black hairs on the front edge of my hairline, which is really funny, as I went gray a long time ago, and am a blonde now.

I have been on both for three months now and I have some thickening on the bad spots, but I am afraid that I am struck dealing with it for the rest of my life.


Janet

Thank you for you responses.  I'll keep it up for a year and hope for the best. 

Bree

Hi, I do not know about Propecia but I have been using Minoxidil for a bit over 6 months and while the result is not what I wanted, I do have very fine, white, curly hair growing everywhere I use it so I will continue to use it. I can't wait until I can get rid of Testosterone altogether and see if there is much of a difference then.

Randi

I've been taking finesteride and slathering on Minoxidil for about 18 months, and I can feel the area slowly filling in. It feels "fuzzy" to me now, and I think that the affected area is shrinking too, with hair growing in around the edges.

I'm on it for 3mos. nothing noticeable yet.
Sarah

I ussed to take porpecia for my balding pre transition and I had to discontinue its use. It gave me nasty oily diarhea the entire time I was on it.
just sayin'

I just switched to dutasteride this week. It will be interesting to see if that is better than finesteride, and in what ways.

Good luck. Keep me informed on progress
Sarah

Is propecia the same product as Finesteride? if so it didn't work for me. I have a very slight widows peak area at the side of my temples which is very minor compared with many people's hair problems. I thought finesteride my help with but it didn't have any effect what so ever.

Quote from: Naturally Blonde on November 02, 2009, 08:48:33 AM
Is propecia the same product as Finesteride? if so it didn't work for me. I have a very slight widows peak area at the side of my temples which is very minor compared with many people's hair problems. I thought finesteride my help with but it didn't have any effect what so ever.

How long did you use it for?

Quote from: NikkiJ on November 02, 2009, 09:27:52 AM
How long did you use it for?

A couple of years on and off. It was a complete waste of time.

Quote from: Naturally Blonde on November 02, 2009, 08:48:33 AM
Is propecia the same product as Finesteride? if so it didn't work for me. I have a very slight widows peak area at the side of my temples which is very minor compared with many people's hair problems. I thought finesteride my help with but it didn't have any effect what so ever.

Yes. Propecia = finasteride.

Proof of whether or not propecia works for the widows peak is sketchy. You might look into the minoxidil 12.5% cream to see progress there.

Quote from: riven_one on November 03, 2009, 01:23:11 AM
Yes. Propecia = finasteride.

Proof of whether or not propecia works for the widows peak is sketchy. You might look into the minoxidil 12.5% cream to see progress there.

My problem is pretty a minor one but I still thought about surgery on the hairline area. It is a very small area but I still want more of a straight hairline and not a slight M shape.. I've never tried minoxidil which I think men use for balding areas. But I'm skeptical of all these products.

Quote from: Naturally Blonde on November 03, 2009, 07:41:29 AM
My problem is pretty a minor one but I still thought about surgery on the hairline area. It is a very small area but I still want more of a straight hairline and not a slight M shape.. I've never tried minoxidil which I think men use for balding areas. But I'm skeptical of all these products.

Minoxidil is only effective on hair loss on the central top of the head, what they call the "vertex", it's not going to affect any widow's peaks in the front. I've tried. 

Quote from: NikkiJ on November 03, 2009, 09:54:49 AM
Minoxidil is only effective on hair loss on the central top of the head, what they call the "vertex", it's not going to affect any widow's peaks in the front. I've tried.

ok, so what do we do for the widows peak area? you say Minoxidil is effective on hair loss which is a much harder task to surely erradicate than a centermeter at the side of your hairline.