Manual of Primary Care Dermatology

Hair loss may be linked to blood flow issues, but DHT is considered the main cause. Treatments used include finasteride, RU58841, minoxidil, vitamin D3, microneedling, and dutasteride, but hair loss persists.

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 user is happy with hair regrowth after 60 days using topical minoxidil 5% and finasteride 0.1%, along with a dermaroller. They report no significant side effects and plan to continue treatment for a year.

A user experienced severe side effects, including heart-related symptoms, after increasing their oral minoxidil dosage to 5 mg, leading them to stop the medication and seek medical advice. Many users advised against high doses of oral minoxidil, suggesting anxiety as a possible cause, and recommended consulting a doctor or switching to topical treatments.

A 49-year-old male has been using finasteride for over two years, experiencing slow but steady hair regrowth without side effects, and is considering a hair transplant. He is hesitant to add minoxidil due to potential side effects and application hassle.

Oral minoxidil can cause severe side effects, including cardiac issues like shortness of breath and fluid retention, leading some users to stop its use. Many prefer topical minoxidil due to fewer systemic side effects, and there is anticipation for new formulations to minimize risks.