If I Start Using Propecia on the Day I See My Hairline Start Receding at All…

Dr. Rassman,

I am in my early 20s with no signs of hair loss. My father has a receded hairline with somewhat thin hair at the top at the age of 55. My mother’s father died at a young age (say 33) but was losing his hair at the time. My mother has 3 brothers, one of which has lost his hair at an early age with the other 2 retaining full thick heads of hair well into their 40s. My mother, however, has shown some signs of female pattern hair loss. At what age should I expect (if ever) to see signs of hair loss?

Also, what kind of results can someone expect from Propecia if they begin using it literally the first day they see their harline recede even the slightest bit.

Kind Regards

Propecia is not a magic pill. It does not completely stop balding. So if you use it on the first day of hair loss, that does not mean it will stop it completely. It may slow down the rate of hair loss and in patients who have lost hair in the past 2-3 years, it may reverse it. Furthermore, Propecia is more effective on the top and crown areas of your scalp. Propecia does not seem to work as well for preventing hairline recession.