As I think I mentioned in a previous thread, I recently started losing my hair. Like, a LOT of hair ~ 66% so far.
Keeping in mind that I may be the vainest person on the planet, I promptly scheduled a meeting with my dermatologist, which happened today.
He checked out my melon, agreed that my hair is falling out and prescribed…
ROGAINE! WooHoo!
Apparently, you have to be careful when you apply it, because it will grow hair anywhere. Of course, being told this, I immediately decided that I should put a perfectly round dot of the stuff in the middle of my forehead to test this theory out. Of course, then I would have a perfectly round patch of hair growing out of the middle of my forehead - sort of like a third eye - or more precisely, a third eyebrow.
So far I’ve managed to resist, but the temptation is strong.
Anyhoo - does anyone want to tell me how great this stuff worked for them, 'cus that would make me feel better about paying a boat load of $$ for it (it’s not covered by insurance), and rubbing a bingo dauber across my head twice a day.
Oh my gawd. Are you me? Because that’s exactly what my first impulse would be.
I have no experience with the stuff, but let me know if it works. I have a bingo dauber sized spot right up on top of my head that has gone bald. I lost a ton of hair due to stress when I was a teenager, but for the last 20-odd years it has been OK, and now I’ve got a spot. Which is weird, because I don’t think I’m under any particular stress.
How much is this running you? Because if my genetics remain uncooperative, this may be the last resort. (I’m not particularly vain, but I *am a largely bottom-ish gay man and I *would like to get laid again this lifetime.)
matt honey, at least you have the option of doing Michael Stipe chic - I’ve got Sinead O’Connor, and I just don’t have her bone structure.
Anyhoo - it’s $35 a bottle, which will last between 2 weeks and a month, depending on how liberally you apply it, how large an area you put it on, and how big you want to make your forehead patch. I would budget $70/month, just to be safe.
You should definitely get your thyroid checked. Hair loss was what got me to the doctor and I’ve been on a low dose of synthroid ever since. There are other more serious things that can be associated with thyroid problems, though, so treating the symptoms isn’t always enough.
My hair came back after about a year of treatment. It’s not as full as it was originally, but that’s partly age, pregnancies, etc.
Propecia is a pill instead of a lotion or cream. The active ingredient is finasteride (and they’re looking at dutasteride (sp?), but I don’t know what’s happened with that).
Of course you should consult a physician and research any medicine that you might take.
I’ve been dealing with hair loss since I was probably 18. I had alopecia areata that has progressed to alopecia universalis (total hair loss). I don’t mean to scare you with that, just trying to establish that I know (kinda) what I’m talking about here. My hair loss is related to thyroid, too. Unfortunately, there’s nothing that can be done for mine. Rogaine is pretty useless in treating alopecia areata, from what my derm has told me.
Coupla questions: Is your hair loss diffuse (all over) or patchy? Did your derm do a biopsy?
And again, get that thyroid checked! Also, if you need to talk, my e-mail is in my profile.
I’m still trying to find an inconspicuous spot to start cultivating my third brow. I guess it would be pretty odd in the middle of my left butt cheek, huh?
OOh, hubby has AU also=) Do you have the nail yuckies? His are terrible…his doctor has AA herself, and he mentioned several conversations with her and she sounds great, but is a millitary doc so doesnt handle civillians.
It’s not currently the fashion, but you could use the stuff to grow the most luxurious patch of pubic hair ever. Then when you get bored with that you can carve it into all sorts of amusing shapes.
Seriously, my older brother used/uses Minoxidol, and I think it all runs down the back of his head because suddenly he looks like Sasquatch from behind. I don’t think that was the look he was going for…
