Zinc and Copper Levels in Rat Hair Following Nickel Administration

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.

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 supplements may slightly increase DHT by affecting testosterone conversion, but are generally beneficial for health. A 15mg Zinc to 1mg Copper ratio is recommended.

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.

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.