April 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”
Low-cost videomicroscopes may not be reliable for diagnosing scalp disorders, smartphones could be reasonable for teledermatology, and U.S. residency programs need more teledermatology training.
High sugar diets may worsen hair loss by increasing 5α-reductase activity and androgen levels, especially in women with PCOS. A low sugar diet might reduce scalp DHT levels, similar to finasteride, but genetics also significantly influence hair loss.
Higher doses of dutasteride reduce scalp DHT more effectively than finasteride, but have diminishing returns after 3mg daily and may cause more side effects. Combining dutasteride with topical minoxidil can enhance results, but using both finasteride and dutasteride together is unnecessary.
Increased Malassezia and Cutibacterium in the scalp microbiome are linked to higher sebum production and inflammation in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Treatments include ciclopirox shampoo, benzoyl peroxide shampoo, clobetasol propionate, calcipotriol, minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride.
Using a combination of topical minoxidil and finasteride, plus microneedling, to treat hair loss; the progress made by the original poster over 6 months; the potential for further results with longer use; and the possibility of seeking alternatives such as a hair transplant or system.
Why androgenic alopecia affects the scalp rather than other body parts, potential explanations for this phenomenon, treatments available to combat hair loss, and the implications of male attractiveness in modern society.