Analysis of Serum Zinc and Copper Concentrations in Hair Loss Patients

A 36-year-old man with androgenetic alopecia suspects copper and zinc deficiencies may be accelerating hair loss and is supplementing copper to address this. He is also monitoring blood sugar levels due to previous prediabetes concerns and plans to test for insulin resistance.

Zinc supplementation caused significant hair shedding for the user, who had been successfully managing hair loss with finasteride, minoxidil, RU58841, and microneedling. The user discontinued zinc after noticing no libido increase and believes the hair loss was due to zinc's interaction with other minerals or hormonal changes.

The conversation discusses hair loss and bloodwork results, focusing on zinc, vitamin D, and ferritin levels. The user is experiencing telogen effluvium after surgery and seeks advice on supplementation.

Low ferritin levels may contribute to hair loss, and raising ferritin above 40 or 70 ng/mL might help with hair regrowth. Some users also consider zinc deficiency and absorption issues as potential factors.

Taking zinc and copper may offset copper depletion and potentially aid hair health when used with finasteride. The user is considering whether to use these supplements alongside finasteride or wait until switching to dutasteride.

Oral copper supplementation significantly improved hair regrowth for someone who experienced severe hair loss after stopping minoxidil, suggesting copper deficiency might hinder minoxidil's effectiveness. The user now only takes copper and occasionally uses microneedling, recommending others to try copper if minoxidil alone isn't effective.