Tretinoin can make minoxidil more effective for hair loss treatment, but some users did not see improved hair density with this combination and had better results with dutasteride.
A 22-year-old male experiencing diffuse hair thinning has been using finasteride, initially at 0.5mg and then 1mg daily, but sees no improvement. Despite correcting a vitamin D deficiency and noticing some new hair growth, he questions the effectiveness of finasteride.
A 24-year-old male experienced side effects like low libido and ED after starting finasteride post-hair transplant and is seeking alternatives to reduce scalp DHT. Suggestions include topical finasteride, Xpecia, DHT-reducing shampoos, and switching to dutasteride, with some users reporting fewer side effects with these alternatives.
Despite using dutasteride, RU58841, minoxidil, and ketoconazole for years, the user continues to experience severe hair loss and thinning. They seek advice after multiple dermatologists confirmed androgenetic alopecia (AGA) but offered no effective solutions.
A 31-year-old male switched from finasteride to oral dutasteride (0.5mg, 2x a week) and uses liquid minoxidil daily for hair loss. He experienced shedding and regrowth but is considering increasing dutasteride to 3x a week due to concerns about hair density and ongoing issues.
The user has seen positive results after over six months using 0.05% topical finasteride, 5% minoxidil, 50mg/ml RU58841, weekly needling, and twice-weekly ketoconazole shampoo for hair loss. They express gratitude for the support from an online community and are open to questions about their treatment.
Topical finasteride reduces scalp DHT effectively, with a suggested application of 1.5ml of 0.03% daily. It binds to scalp enzymes, potentially requiring daily or every other day application for sustained results.
Increasing the sult1a1 enzyme on the scalp may improve response to topical minoxidil. The user suggests using a baking soda solution, DMSO, and tretinoin to enhance enzyme activity and minoxidil effectiveness.
The user has been using 1.25 mg of finasteride daily since June 2024 to promote hair regrowth and thickness, considering switching to dutasteride if results are unsatisfactory. They are hesitant to add minoxidil due to cost and potential side effects but have seen some progress with finasteride alone.
A 30-year-old man experienced significant hair loss after starting testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), which did not improve with daily finasteride and minoxidil. He is considering restarting TRT and is seeking advice on using pyrilutamide or RU58841 to prevent further hair loss.
The user added RU58841 to their finasteride and minoxidil routine, noticing significant improvement in hairline after 52 days. Some users warn about potential side effects of RU58841, while others express curiosity and congratulate the progress.
The conversation discusses whether age affects the side effects and effectiveness of hair loss treatments like finasteride and dutasteride. Some believe early treatment yields better results, while others mention varied outcomes across ages and personal regrowth experiences without a clear consensus on age impact.
A user shared their experience using 5% topical Minoxidil for 18 months and recently added 1 mg oral Finasteride daily, noting minimal results so far but expecting improvement. They mentioned challenges with application consistency and technique, and are hopeful for increased hair density.
A transgender individual is starting spironolactone and estradiol for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and is considering adding finasteride to help with hair loss. They are also planning to use minoxidil and microneedle, but are unsure if they need to use another anti-androgen or more aggressive treatments. A respondent advises against using pyri and suggests waiting to see if the HRT alone is sufficient before becoming dependent on minoxidil.
Fluridil, an antiandrogen that is not widely used or known about due to its expense and lack of availability in the US. It is suggested as a potential alternative for people who don't want to lower their DHT through treatments such as Minoxidil, Finasteride, Nizoral shampoo, and Dermarolling.
Switching from finasteride to dutasteride can improve hair regrowth with fewer side effects for some users. Concerns about shedding, lack of improvement, and the long-term safety of oral minoxidil remain.
A 35-year-old transgender woman experienced hair regrowth with feminizing HRT, adding dutasteride and bicalutamide, and plans a hair transplant for further improvement. Estrogen also improved skin appearance, and the user advises against cisgender men using feminizing HRT for hair regrowth.
A woman with androgenic alopecia has been using birth control, spironolactone, finasteride, and oral minoxidil for hair loss. She sought to change her medications to dutasteride and bicalutamide, but her new dermatologist refused to prescribe them for off-label use.
The user is considering using 0.5 mg dutasteride once every 5 or 7 days due to side effects from finasteride and is also looking into topical liposomal dutasteride and pyrilutamide to stop hair loss. The goal is to stop hair loss, not regrow hair.
A 25-year-old is experiencing hair thinning despite using 0.5mg oral dutasteride, 0.3% topical finasteride, and 6% topical minoxidil daily for a year. They are considering increasing dutasteride dosage and exploring other treatments like microneedling and KX 826, while seeking further medical opinions on their condition.
The user resumed taking 5mg oral minoxidil and 0.5mg dutasteride daily, with vitamins, and noticed hair regrowth. They switched from finasteride to dutasteride due to side effects and prefer oral minoxidil over topical for convenience and effectiveness.
The user experienced improved libido and erections after reducing DHT levels with 0.5mg of dutasteride once a week, despite previous side effects from finasteride. They are also on testosterone replacement therapy and have not noticed major personality changes.
Using topical finasteride with creatine might help reduce hair loss by targeting local DHT while maintaining normal systemic levels, but results are uncertain without testing. Users report mixed experiences with topical treatments like finasteride, dutasteride, RU58841, and minoxidil, with some seeing regrowth and others experiencing side effects.
The conversation discusses why there are no FDA-approved NSAAs like RU58841 on the market, despite their potential superiority to 5AR inhibitors like finasteride. It explores the effectiveness of treatments like Minoxidil, finasteride, and RU58841 for hair loss.
PP405 shows promising results for hair growth, potentially outperforming finasteride without side effects like erectile dysfunction. Users discuss using treatments like minoxidil, pyrilutamide, nizoral, and alfatradiol while waiting for PP405's availability.
A 34-year-old man plans to reduce his finasteride dose from 1 mg to 0.5 mg due to negative side effects like hormonal imbalances and seeks advice on managing these effects and potential alternatives. Suggestions include considering dutasteride as an alternative and noting that a new equilibrium with a reduced dose may take about two weeks.
A user reported worsening hair shedding and thinning after 6 months of daily dutasteride, despite also using minoxidil, bicalutamide, and recently adding RU58841. They are considering stopping dutasteride due to lack of improvement.
The user experienced significant hair thickening after using topical minoxidil and oral finasteride for about 5 months and is considering switching from finasteride to RU58841. Other users encourage the original poster to continue the current treatment due to the positive results.