Right Hairline Improved with Propecia, Left Hairline Has Gotten Worse

Hey doc, I’m a 19 yrs old male and I’ve been on Propecia for about 8 months. I’m happy to say that my right hairline has improved beyond my expectations. Unfortunately, I haven’t any improvement on the left side of my hairline, in fact it has gotten worse. I have shoulder length hair and I’m considering shaving my head (which would throw 8 months of Propecia use down the drain), for my hairline from the front appears akwardly unbalanced (one side its thick while the other is see-through). Before I make such a hasty decision, I was wondering if I should try 5% minoxodil or anything else you’d recommend? And the comb over at my age is not an option. Thanks.

What you are telling me is that the left hairline probably showed more balding than the right, so that the right side’s loss was easier to reverse (being more recent). In men of your age, Propecia works well to reverse ‘early’ hair loss. By all means, shave your head if that is what you want to do, but for your own sake, do not stop taking Propecia. If you are balding at 19, chances are that it will progress more rapidly than on those not starting as early as you, so staying on the Propecia will slow or stop it from progressing. Stopping it will just get you where you would have balded had you never started taking it and as your genetic code has planned for you.

Many young men tell me that they are losing frontal hair when they are just developing a mature hairline. The normal child’s hairline moves up about 1/2 inch in the middle and 1 inch on the corners. One side is often faster than the other side, making the hair loss appear out of balance (symmetry). Could this be what is happening to you?