Ray Peat: Testosterone Isn’t the Culprit, Prolactin and Cortisol Drive Hair Loss (2016)
    Research/Science 10/23/2025

    From the encyclopedia
    Finasteride →

    Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

    Minoxidil →

    An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

    At a glance
    In this research discussion post, the primary subjects mentioned are the tone is 😐 neutral with effective results.

    Other terms

    Prolactin and cortisol are identified as key factors in hair loss, with stress hormones impacting hair shedding. Finasteride and minoxidil are effective treatments, while DHT's role and individual sensitivity are significant factors.
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    5 / 5 results

      community Blood test results and alternatives to oral finasteride

      in Treatment  7 upvotes 1 year ago
      The user experienced erectile dysfunction from oral finasteride and is considering alternatives like topical high-dose finasteride, RU58841, topical Latanoprost, and oral Minoxidil. Blood tests showed changes in testosterone and DHT levels, and the endocrinologist advised stopping finasteride.

      community MY Hair Loss Treatment Summary

       9 upvotes 2 years ago
      The conversation is about various hair loss treatments, including finasteride, minoxidil, RU58841, and natural supplements like saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil. It also covers methods to improve blood circulation, nourish hair follicles, and address underlying health issues like vitamin D deficiency and high cortisol levels.

      community My Experience and a Discourse on "DUPA"

       8 upvotes 2 years ago
      The user discusses their hair loss experience, exploring various hypotheses including thyroid levels, vitamin D, DHEA, nutritional deficiency, diabetes, seborrheic dermatitis, lack of nutrition to hair follicles, chronic inflammation, female pattern hair loss causes, cortisol, and prolactin levels. They are currently using finasteride, beta-sitosterol, and have tried topical dutasteride and microneedling therapy.

      community Fin for 7 months and my sclap is now transparent

      in Progress Pictures  16 upvotes 6 months ago
      A 24-year-old male has been using finasteride for 7 months and noticed thinning hair, especially when wet, and is concerned about the effectiveness of the treatment. Suggestions include continuing finasteride, considering minoxidil, and possibly trying micro-needling.

      community Huberman tweet about finasteride

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  278 upvotes 2 years ago
      The conversation is about the side effects of finasteride, including Post Finasteride Syndrome, with varied personal experiences and differing views on the credibility of information sources. Some participants also discuss using minoxidil as a hair loss treatment.

    Related Research

    6 / 6 results

      research The Basic Science of Hair Biology

      29 citations , September 2012 in “Dermatologic Clinics”
      This article reviews the causal mechanisms of hair follicle disorders, focusing on inflammation, genetics, environment, and hormones, but it reports no new clinical results.

      research Sexual Hormones in Human Skin

      305 citations , February 2007 in “Hormone and metabolic research”
      This review discusses the roles of androgens and estrogens in skin functions and disorders, and highlights the use of estrogen-progestin treatments and anti-androgens in managing hirsutism and acne, without reporting new results.

      research The Hormonal Background of Hair Loss in Non-Scarring Alopecias

      February 2024 in “Biomedicines”
      This review examines the hormonal causes of hair loss, noting how androgen excess can lead to follicle miniaturization and linking estrogen deficiency and thyroid dysfunction to common alopecia types. It further discusses hormonal treatments such as finasteride, dutasteride, and spironolactone.

      research Finasteride

      125 citations , January 1999 in “Drugs”
      This study found that oral finasteride 1 mg/day promotes hair growth and prevents further hair loss in a significant proportion of men with male pattern hair loss over two years.