People on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) with aggressive androgenetic alopecia (AGA) discuss using Dutasteride or Finasteride, sometimes combined with topical treatments like RU58841 or CB-03-01 (Breezula), to prevent hair loss. Concerns about side effects and costs of certain treatments are mentioned, with one individual sharing their experience of slowed hair loss using Finasteride alone.
Reducing scalp DHT doesn't directly correlate with preventing hair miniaturization, as different follicles have varying sensitivity levels. Dutasteride at 0.5 mg and 2.5 mg shows minimal visual difference in hair regrowth, with side effects being a consideration for higher doses.
A user shared their 5-month hair regrowth progress using 0.5mg Dutasteride daily and 5% Minoxidil foam twice daily, reporting significant improvement despite initial shedding. Other users discussed their experiences with similar treatments, noting varied results and side effects, with some emphasizing the need for long-term commitment to maintain hair growth.
Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.
User applied topical Minoxidil 5% and Finasteride 0.1% daily, with rosemary oil weekly, and saw initial baby hair growth. They plan to add derma stamping and Redensyl serum.
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.
OP experienced diffuse thinning for 11 years and used Minoxidil and Finasteride previously. They now use Pyrilutamide 0.5% and Alfatradiol 0.1%, resulting in significantly reduced hair loss.
The conversation discusses natural DHT blockers like rice bran oil, which may reduce 5α-reductase activity similarly to Minoxidil and Dutasteride. One user argues that finasteride is more reliable and effective than natural alternatives.
Finasteride's impact on fertility is discussed, with users sharing experiences of conceiving while on the medication. Concerns about long-term safety are also mentioned.
A doctor advised against using finasteride or dutasteride during pregnancy. The user continues with oral and topical minoxidil, microneedling, tretinoin, Nizoral, and pyrilutamide.
Spironolactone and finasteride are not recommended for women planning pregnancy due to birth defect risks. Both need to be stopped months before conception, and finasteride is generally not advised for women.
The user added 0.5mg dutasteride to their regimen of topical finasteride and minoxidil but experienced rapid hairline recession despite reduced hair fall. Suggestions included increasing the dutasteride dosage to 1mg daily to better suppress DHT and potentially adding oral minoxidil.
RU58841 5% is theoretically equivalent to 2mg of dutasteride for hair loss treatment, with RU58841 offering higher potential but more variability due to absorption issues. Users discuss the effectiveness of RU58841 and dutasteride, with some preferring dutasteride for consistent results and others finding success with RU58841.
Oleic acid and microneedling are being explored for hair regrowth, but results are mixed. Addressing DHT and fibrosis is crucial, with treatments like finasteride, minoxidil, and scalp massage also discussed.
A user shared their 5-month progress using a topical treatment with finasteride, minoxidil, and retinoic acid, noting some hair growth but also shedding. Another user encouraged them, sharing their own experience of gradual improvement over 12 months and advising patience.
A 27-year-old male experiencing hair loss at Norwood 3 level has tried minoxidil and finasteride but stopped finasteride due to side effects. He is exploring alternatives like Dermapen, Regenepure DR Shampoo, saw palmetto, and considering aromatase inhibitors for managing side effects, while also seeking advice on DHT blockers.
PP405 may promote short-term hair growth by pushing follicles into the growth phase, but concerns exist about long-term effects due to lack of rest phases. Users discuss various treatments like finasteride, minoxidil, spironolactone, alfatradiol, and investigational drugs like KX-826 and GT20029 for hair maintenance and regrowth.
GT20029 is discussed as a potential treatment for androgenetic hair loss by targeting androgen receptors, unlike finasteride which reduces DHT broadly. Concerns include its effectiveness, genetic variations in androgen receptors, and availability, with some skepticism about its potential as a true alternative.
The user is experiencing significant hair loss after switching from finasteride to dutasteride for five months. Suggestions include that the hair loss might be a normal shedding phase, with some recommending continuing the treatment for up to 24 months or considering alternatives like RU58841.
Hair loss treatments, specifically 5AR inhibitors, can impact neurosteroids and sexual health. The effects of topical fin/dut on tissue-specific DHT levels are unclear.
A user reported a significant reduction in DHT levels after 3 months of taking 1mg/day oral finasteride, along with using minoxidil foam, microneedling, and Nutrafol vitamins. They hope this will lead to hair growth and less shedding.
Balding scalps have more androgen receptors, leading to increased TGF-beta, which causes blood vessel loss and hair follicle miniaturization. Blocking androgen signaling and TGF-beta may help prevent hair loss.
The conversation discusses the idea of naturally lowering testosterone levels to potentially reduce DHT and help with hair loss, though it is speculative and not tested by the original poster. Participants suggest using treatments like finasteride, dutasteride, or RU58841 instead, as they directly target DHT without reducing testosterone.
PP405 is a potential hair loss treatment that inhibits mitochondrial pyruvate carriers, increasing lactate dehydrogenase activity and stimulating hair follicle stem cells. In a phase 1 trial, 31% of participants showed over 20% hair density increase with PP405 treatment.
The conversation discusses hair loss treatments, mentioning minoxidil, finasteride, RU58841, VDPHL, GT20029, and follicle cloning as potential solutions. It also reveals that the discussion about PP405 was an April Fool's joke.
A user applied the 8T3 product for hair loss, targeting LPP and AGA, and plans to update on its effectiveness. The product uses a saline buffered phosphate vehicle, suitable for those intolerant to ethanolic vehicles.