Finasteride won’t make all your problems go away

Finasteride/Dutasteride 12/6/2023

A user has been using dutasteride and oral minoxidil for hair loss with no change and is considering a hair transplant at age 22. Replies suggest that a transplant is possible if DHT blockers like finasteride are continued, and another user shared a positive personal experience with a transplant at age 20.

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.

The conversation is about someone considering a hair transplant due to ineffective hair loss treatments, with suggestions ranging from trying a hairpiece to continuing with medications like finasteride and minoxidil, and waiting for new treatments. Some advise against a transplant due to the extent of hair loss and the cost, while others share different views on the effectiveness of transplants and non-surgical options.

The conversation discusses whether finasteride's reduction of DHT and increase in scalp testosterone contribute to hair follicle miniaturization. Some participants argue testosterone does not cause miniaturization, while others suggest that even with reduced DHT, other androgens like testosterone may still contribute to hair loss.

Dutasteride is less commonly prescribed for hair loss because it is not FDA-approved for this purpose, unlike finasteride, which is more accessible and preferred due to fewer side effects. Dutasteride may be more effective in reducing DHT but has a longer half-life and potentially more significant side effects.

Increasing finasteride dosage can cause significant hair shedding initially. Users suggest adding minoxidil or switching to dutasteride for better results.