April 2023 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”
Psoriasis patients did not show more brain atrophy or small vessel disease than controls, but longer psoriasis duration was linked to more brain atrophy.
A 31-year-old male with low normal-range testosterone and DHT is experiencing significant hair loss from the front scalp. He has tried Minoxidil, vitamin D3 and B12 supplements, and exercises regularly but is still seeking the root cause and effective treatment.
A 32-year-old male started taking 0.5mg of finasteride daily for hair thinning and, after 8 weeks, experienced a 70% reduction in DHT and an increase in estradiol; he is currently in the shedding phase of treatment and questioning if the dosage is correct based on his DHT levels. He began with a lower dose due to already low normal testosterone and DHT levels.
Finasteride was intentionally developed to treat BPH and later approved for male pattern baldness (MPB) due to its 5AR inhibition effects. The delay in MPB approval was due to concerns about off-label use for female hirsutism and the prioritization of treating a more debilitating condition.
A user reported better hair regrowth with 5 mg oral minoxidil and 1 mg dutasteride than with finasteride and topical minoxidil, calling topical minoxidil a scam. Replies varied, with some defending topical minoxidil, questioning the user's application method, and suggesting that previous treatments might be contributing to the observed results.