The conversation discusses using finasteride topically for hair loss and concerns about potential side effects like feminization and impact on muscle growth. One person shared their experience with finasteride, indicating it increased testosterone and did not prevent them from gaining muscle or strength.
A 27-year-old man shared his hormonal panel results after one year of taking finasteride 1mg/day for hair loss, showing his DHT levels nearly doubled. He reported stabilized hair loss with mild side effects that resolved, and he is considering a hair transplant but is concerned about the increased DHT levels and potential treatment options.
After suffering from hair loss and Seborrheic Dermatitis for three years with no improvement from various treatments, the individual found success with COQ10 and PQQ supplements, which led to new hair growth and a healthy scalp without flare-ups. They also plan to start additional supplements recommended by a dermatologist.
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.