Men with hair loss might have lichen planopilaris (LPP), which can mimic androgenetic alopecia, leading to misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment with finasteride or dutasteride. Proper diagnosis, including biopsies, is crucial to distinguish between androgenetic alopecia and conditions like LPP.
Dutasteride may not be effective for everyone due to underlying issues, suggesting scalp biopsies for further diagnosis. Users discuss using higher doses of dutasteride, topical treatments, minoxidil, and pyrilutamide for hair loss management.
A user reported no improvement in hair loss after nearly a year of using 1mg oral finasteride, topical minoxidil twice daily, and weekly microneedling. Other users suggested the possibility of DUPA or retrograde alopecia and mentioned that treatments might only slow down hair loss rather than regrow hair.
The individual has experienced a sore, stiff, and itchy scalp with hair loss for 4.5 years, and has noticed increased thinning and miniaturized hairs, especially at the temples. They have tried ketoconazole shampoo without success and are considering finasteride for treatment.
The user "ajsr8" shared their story of hair loss despite being on treatments. They started using finasteride in 2019 and later tried topical minoxidil, but it didn't seem to work. They also experienced side effects from other treatments. They are considering cutting off their hair and stopping the medications if there is no improvement in three months. Other users suggested trying different treatments and getting a blood test to check for underlying conditions.