Finasteride and dutasteride are essential for stopping hair loss, while natural remedies are ineffective. Minoxidil can be added if needed, but blockingDHT is crucial.
A user is concerned about taking 1mg/day of finasteride due to potential gynecomastia, given their blood results. They seek advice on how their hormone levels might be affected by blockingDHT.
Hair loss discussion includes potential HMI-115 treatment. Topical mucuna pruriens shows good results, blocking prolactin possibly more important than blockingDHT.
The conversation discusses a hair loss treatment regimen involving finasteride, dutasteride, spironolactone, bicalutamide, oral estradiol, microneedling, and minoxidil. The regimen aims to reduce androgenic alopecia by blockingDHT and androgens, with a caution about potential feminizing effects.
A user shared that after quitting caffeine and restarting oral minoxidil, they experienced significant hair regrowth, suggesting that caffeine might interfere with minoxidil's effectiveness by blocking adenosine receptors. They also mentioned side effects like water retention and dizziness, which subsided after a few weeks, and are not using any DHT blockers.
A user with thinning, curly, dry hair is seeking affordable shampoo and conditioner recommendations. They are using oral minoxidil and apply argan oil, but dislike products with keratin and biotin, and another user suggests ketoconazole shampoo for added density and DHTblocking.
A 21-year-old used minoxidil, finasteride, avocado oil, peppermint oil, and a derma stamp to treat hair loss and saw significant improvement in 9 weeks. He also used a DHTblocking shampoo and got a haircut to enhance the appearance of hair growth.
A user reported thickening their hairline using a nightly mixture of castor oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and sandalore, without using minoxidil due to side effects. They also continued using alfatriodol for DHTblocking and saw modest improvements after 6 months.
A 17-year-old is using oral dutasteride, finasteride, and topical minoxidil for hair loss, with plans to increase dutasteride and consider surgery. They report significant regrowth but are worried about side effects and the effects of blockingDHT at a young age.
Minoxidil and finasteride work through different mechanisms; minoxidil-dependent hair requires continued use to maintain growth, while finasteride prevents further hair loss but cannot sustain minoxidil gains alone. Current treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, and others need indefinite use, as no permanent solution exists yet.
Oral DHT blockers like finasteride are preferred for their ease of use, effectiveness, and long-term safety data, while topical treatments like RU58841 lack extensive safety data and can be more cumbersome to apply. Oral treatments are generally considered more effective and convenient despite potential side effects.
The conversation discusses whether to use finasteride for hair loss, considering its role in inhibiting DHT and 5AR, which can affect brain function and mood. Some users report anxiety and depression from finasteride, while others do not experience these side effects and emphasize the importance of DHT for brain and prostate health.
Finasteride reduces scalp DHT significantly even at low doses, with 0.2 mg reducing it by about 55%, but higher doses like 1 mg and 5 mg offer only marginally more reduction. Users discuss side effects, with some experiencing none and others reporting issues like low libido, and they also mention using other treatments like minoxidil and dutasteride.
A user experienced negative side effects, including low libido and lack of motivation, after using finasteride for hair loss and felt better after stopping it. Others shared similar experiences with finasteride and dutasteride, while some reported no side effects, showing varied individual responses.
The conversation discusses challenges in obtaining finasteride in the Netherlands and explores alternatives like natural DHT blockers and topical finasteride. Suggestions include consulting different doctors or dermatologists and considering cost-effective options like cutting higher-dose tablets.
Topical finasteride can be as effective as oral finasteride for hair regrowth with fewer systemic side effects, but precise dosing is essential. Combining oral dutasteride with topical finasteride is not recommended due to dutasteride's stronger inhibition.
A user increased their dutasteride dosage from 0.5mg to 1mg daily, resulting in a rise in DHT levels from 148 pg/mL to 281 pg/mL, and is considering switching back to finasteride due to continued hair loss. Replies suggest retesting and emphasize the importance of bloodwork before starting treatments.
The user had high DHT levels after 8 months on dutasteride, questioning the drug's authenticity. They got dutasteride from a legitimate source and will update on progress.
DHT Itch and its link to balding, with various treatments such as finasteride being discussed. Members shared their experiences of scalp itch before and after taking 5AR inhibitors, and potential underlying causes such as seborrheic dermatitis were discussed.
The conversation discusses using gartanin from mangosteen mixed with castor oil to degrade the androgen receptor for hair loss treatment. Alternatives like setipiprant, minoxidil, and dermastamping are also mentioned, with concerns about cost and potential side effects.
Hair loss treatments, specifically, discussing the effectiveness and side effects of finasteride, minoxidil, and RU58841 in various microdoses. It also includes an updated graph which provides information on how different doses affect DHT levels, scalp skin and serum androgen levels, as well as hair count.
The conversation discusses the potential for developing a biologic "DHT sponge" to neutralize DHT in the bloodstream as a treatment for hair loss, suggesting it could be more targeted and have fewer side effects than current treatments like finasteride and dutasteride. Concerns include the complexity, cost, and potential side effects of such a treatment, as well as skepticism about its feasibility and market interest.
The user is taking 2.5 mg dutasteride and 5% minoxidil but is not seeing hair regrowth, and is considering adding RU58841. They are experiencing fatigue and low MCV/MCH, possibly related to dutasteride, and are advised to be patient, consider microneedling, and check for iron deficiency.
Topical androgen receptor antagonists may not be necessary if 5-AR inhibitors like finasteride or dutasteride effectively reduce DHT levels. Combining a 5-AR inhibitor with a topical androgen antagonist could potentially enhance treatment, but oral use of androgen antagonists is too risky due to severe side effects.
A user is experiencing hair thinning and is using a peptide with oleanic acid as a DHT blocker, along with minoxidil, while waiting for topical finasteride. They plan to use a combination of minoxidil, finasteride, dermastamp, ketoconazole, and scalp massages, but are advised to stick to proven treatments like finasteride and minoxidil.
Tretinoin's effectiveness for hair regrowth alone is questioned, with interest in its use with oral minoxidil. The discussion also considers whether finasteride or dutasteride is the better DHT blocker and if switching to dutasteride is advisable for those without side effects from finasteride.
Focus on scalp health, not just DHT suppression, is crucial for hair regrowth. Effective treatments include Hair Restoration shampoo, LLLT laser cap, microneedling, and topical finasteride.
Dutasteride significantly reduces DHT levels, potentially more effectively than finasteride, and is used to treat hair loss. Some users report side effects like reduced libido and mood changes, while others experience hair regrowth and increased testosterone.
Saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil are generally considered ineffective for hair regrowth compared to finasteride and minoxidil. Users report that finasteride, minoxidil, and sometimes dutasteride are more reliable for maintaining and regrowing hair.
Topical finasteride is believed to reduce scalp DHT more than oral forms, but its effectiveness is questioned due to inconsistent application and absorption. Oral finasteride is considered more effective because it consistently reduces systemic DHT, ensuring more reliable results.