December 5 2006, 3:31 pm PT | Posted in: Age + Hair Loss Causes
Dear Dr,
Great website. I had a question. You have stated in the past that the balding process tends to end at the age of 30. Can you elaborate on this? It has been my experience that most men lose more hair in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
The very bald person loses most of his hair in his 20s, although this is just a general rule. There are different patterns of balding and these patterns often slow their progression as a person ages. But of course, the older you are, the more balding you will see in the overall male population. That means that the 20 year old with early signs of advanced balding may be that Class 7 pattern man by their late 20s. Some of the patterns of balding do start later in life, but these men rarely get very advanced hair loss patterns. The key to good control of the balding process is early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment. The earlier the treatment for genetic male pattern balding, the better the medication works (like Propecia).
I often see men in their 30s start thinning and then progressing slowly to a balding pattern like the 3V pattern shown below. Over time, the crown balding in these men may expand to a larger area as they get into their 40s and 50s. Propecia works very well at slowing, stopping and possibly reversing the hair loss in those men who have this 3V pattern appear in their 30s or 40s.
For your reference, here is the Norwood Chart that shows the different patterns of male genetic hair loss. One rarely sees the Class 7 pattern start appearing in men past 30 years pf age.
Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):
“The key to good control of the balding process is early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment. The earlier the treatment for genetic male pattern balding, the better the medication works (like Propecia).”
I would add make sure the treatment is the correct treatment, and make sure you see a competent doctor. I thought I caught my balding early, as I had some minor frontal and crown thinning, but nothing substantial. I saw what i now know was an incompetent dermatologist, who recommended Rogaine and/or Propecia. I used Rogaine to try and help the problem, thinking it had fewer side effects, and it completely destroyed my hair, despite having used it only 6 times. I would recommend propecia or nothing in the early stages, because rogaine can accelerate the balding process, in my experience.
Thanks, Dan. I think the “do nothing” stratergy is an excellent idea. Perhaps meditation or a PMA is the key to reversing the balding process. If I have clogged arteries and wish hard enough do you think they’ll clear?
Regardless of what you continue to purport, minoxidil does not cause balding. Have a great day!
The point that I was trying to make is that doing nothing can be better than doing the wrong thing. For the rest of my life, I will regret having decided to use Rogaine.
Minoxidil can have a negative effect on hair, at least it did on mine. My entire balding zone has miniaturized. I have small, coarse hairs in the balding area, and my entire scalp and hair have become dry. All I had was some slight frontal and crown thinning, which was only visible when wet or under lights. The effect was immediate. I appeared to shed good hairs within days of using the minoxidil, and was left with only thin weak hairs. My hair also receded several cm in the front center and at the temples. Over time, the hairs have been replaced with short, coarse hairs. This was all due to only 7 applications of rogaine. I stopped as soon as I realized what it was doing, but it was too late.
These are my observations and experiences with Rogaine. So you can continue to claim that minoxidil doesn’t cause balding, but it can exacerbate a situation.
What are your sources and credentials, Jim?
Sources and credentials? My sources are the marketing staff at Upjohn, makers of Rogaine. Credentials are long and involved study of bitter bald men such as yourself.
I’m not surprised that you’re taking your cues from the marketing staff at Upjohn, considering your staunch support.
My only stake in this is to provide info from my own experience. I’m the one sitting here with regrets and anger, mostly at myself for not researching the matter thoroughly, and believing the claims of those such as yourself who blindly promote the product. Yes, I am bitter, I screwed up my hair by doing something I thought could help, because I was told it could. Nobody warned me of the risks involved.
I only wish I could have found Dr. Rassman’s site earlier and consulted him, or read a post of someone like myself
so that I would know that Rogaine does carry a risk of increasing your hairloss and is not the preferred treatment.
I must say that I have used Rogaine for about 3 years and I have had good results. I used Rogaine before starting Propecia, however the Rogaine alone was enough to fill in my crown very nicely, however, I am fully aware that some people will experience diffrent results.
I have used propecia and have started rogaine about a 3 weeks ago with no side effects. I find it hard to believe that Dan ruined his hair from only 6 or 7 applications of rogaine. That means he used it for 3 days and ruined his hair for life? Is he sure he didn’t mistake his rogaine bottle for a jar of paint thinner? ( even then I’d be skeptical ).
The very topic being argued is clearly answered in the instructions for Rogaine. Hair loss (shedding) will occur for the first few weeks. It takes 3+ months to see hair growth.