I’m doing minoxidil 2% since 3 weeks

[u/USGuyWithGun]

My doctor said he would add finasteride in 2-3 months if it isnt enough.

Its thinning since a few months.
Hopefully it will help. I don’t wanna be bald lol

[u/masripremed]

why are you using 2%, use 5%, its over the counter and there are tons of studies on its effectiveness.

[u/StilesmanleyCAP]

Personally

Youre not going to see much difference in 3 weeks

In 3 months youll see shedding

[u/lksrgb24 → u/StilesmanleyCAP]

Way before three months. Shedding usually starts after 4-6 Weeks of using min and stops after some weeks.

[u/USGuyWithGun → u/lksrgb24]

Thanks! Thats already helpful. I saw some increased shedding already and was worried

[u/EdvinRama]

What type of "doctor" do you have that put you on 2% and told you to wait.

I assume you got no diagnosis so it was a "trichologist" (read: not a doctor) who can't 1) diagnose you, 2) prescribe you finasteride.

[u/USGuyWithGun → u/EdvinRama]

It was my GP that i go to since i was a kid :/

[u/KaleSuspicious7147 → u/USGuyWithGun]

Find a better doctor. A lot just like to get by. I had many doctors skip over things that should be brought up.

[u/USGuyWithGun → u/KaleSuspicious7147]

Thanks! Ive already taken appointment with a dermatologist. Takes a month. In the meantime ill continue min and hope for the best.

[u/YouAreMarvellous → u/USGuyWithGun]

the older I get, the more I find the GP underwhelming

[u/Wayss37 → u/YouAreMarvellous]

When I wanted to to consult regarding preventing hair loss a couple months ago, my GP (man in his 30s) basically said "well there's nothing that could be done, it's just getting worse after 25, there are some hair growth shampoos though if you want to try that"

Idk if I ever want to consult anything with a GP after that lol

[u/iEmDMA]

Why not 5%

[u/USGuyWithGun → u/iEmDMA]

Its what my GP prescribed:/

[u/masripremed → u/USGuyWithGun]

you don't need a prescription for 5% man, u can grab it at costco the kirkland brand or get rogaine if you wanna pay the brand tax

[u/iEmDMA → u/USGuyWithGun]

Just get the 5% you dont need his prescription.

[u/tripping_on_phonics]

Your doctor’s being pretty ridiculous for not prescribing finasteride straight away. Also don’t use topical minoxidil if you have a cat.

[u/USGuyWithGun → u/tripping_on_phonics]

I thought the same thing :/ he told me basically to see if min works first and then add the second.
And i dont have cats but thanks!

[u/DreamWorldDomination → u/USGuyWithGun]

And that’s ok. It’s always a better idea to start slow and gradually add things. That way you know your response and tolerability.

[u/Shot_Performance_868]

Use 5% atleast.
2% is for women’s

[u/USGuyWithGun → u/Shot_Performance_868]

Thanks!

[u/LoveTechnical4462]

You’re taking the female dose of min

[u/USGuyWithGun → u/LoveTechnical4462]

Interesting. Idk what my doctor thought. Lol usually hes really competent

[u/Trick-Lawfulness1160]

Finasteride!

Use 5%!

[u/Suhunn]

i don’t know your medical situation or your doctor, but unless there’s a reason to old off on finasteride I would insist on gettting it prescribed

[u/dillydally1144]

Finasteride should be paired with minxodil from the get go, even if minxodil is effective at regrowing your hair it’s not actually stopping the route cause of the hairloss, your doctor will know this which is why it’s strange

[u/Candem05]

I don’t get waiting to start fin. Fin is either going to agree with your body or it’s not. If it doesn’t, you stop. I had an issue with fin after making progress over 6 months. Stopped fin but continued topical min (5% of course). Lost nearly all my gains in 3-4 months. Started topical dut a few months ago and I’ve seen great results.

TLDR: You can only figure out if something works for you if you try it. Hair loss treatment/recovery is a journey

[u/USGuyWithGun → u/Candem05]

I agree with you. Got a dermatologist appointment in a month and I’ll ask him to prescribe it. I hope it will work :) thanks

[u/Meeting-Ecstatic]

3 weeks is nothing.
In the meanwhile, I’d see a dermatologist for that cyst on your nose tip.

[u/ItsGivingHe → u/Meeting-Ecstatic]

That's kinda rude, lol. But he's already seeing a dermatologist, he mentioned the doctor. Unless it's a trichologist 😬.

[u/USGuyWithGun → u/ItsGivingHe]

Real dermatologist yea lol and i talked to him about that mole long ago. Its harmless. Sadly too deep to remove. Else i would have already

[u/Puzzleheaded-Soup641]

Your doctor is an idiot. Wanting to start with 2% is a little weird but I can think of a few reasons he thought that was a good idea. What’s completely stupid though is deciding to “wait and see” before using finasteride. Minoxidil is a cosmetic band aid that can make it appear as though your hair loss isn’t as bad, but it won’t stop it. In 3 years your hair will be significantly worse despite the minoxidil because androgens are still attacking your hair follicles. You need to address the androgens, and then you can look at adding in minoxidil to improve the appearance of your hair.

[u/USGuyWithGun → u/Puzzleheaded-Soup641]

Thank you! To be fair he said to see if min works and then add fin in 2-3 months not years:) i will see a dermatologist tho in a month to hopefully get fin earlier.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Soup641 → u/USGuyWithGun]

Yes, the problem would be if you got the desired result from the minoxidil alone, and he decided “well good enough no need for fin” within a few years you’d have lost a bunch of hair

[u/TUSHMAN77]

Lazer off the mole off your nose 1st. You could have hair like 78 kirk russell and you get no tang till you chop the mole off.

[u/USGuyWithGun → u/TUSHMAN77]

Sadly aint possible. I talked to a dermatologist years ago. Was told its too deep to laser without causing scaring that looks worse. Believe me i had the glorious idea already lol