A 21-year-old male experienced side effects from topical finasteride and is seeking alternative treatments to maintain hair until Breezula is available. He is considering using minoxidil, Nizoral, micro-needling, and vitamin D supplementation, and may try CB or RU58841 if necessary.
The mechanism of Androgenic Alopecia and practical applications of treatments like Minoxidil, Finasteride, RU58841, dermarolling, scalp massages, anti-fungals, progesterone, estrogen, PPAR-γ activators, reducing oxidative stress, and scalp exercises. It explains why DHT is important in AA and how other factors might be involved such as hypoxia, increased DKK-1 expression, morphological changes to the scalp, skull growth during childhood/puberty, and blood flow.
Minoxidil is not an anti-androgen; it is a growth stimulator and does not lower DHT like finasteride or dutasteride. Minoxidil can cause side effects like facial swelling and anxiety due to its vasodilator properties.
Hair loss is linked to cellular physiology and the IGF-1 to TGF-B1 ratio, not just androgen sensitivity. The theory lacks evidence, while finasteride and minoxidil are effective treatments.