Natural vitamins like pumpkin seed oil, saw palmetto, and ecklonia cava are discussed for their potential to lower DHT levels. They may work similarly to finasteride but are significantly weaker.
The conversation discusses the difficulty in distinguishing between side effects of finasteride (like brain fog and loss of libido) and depression caused by hair loss. Users share experiences of severe depression while on finasteride, leading some to stop the treatment despite anxiety over hair loss.
An 18-year-old male has been using finasteride, minoxidil, and tretinoin to combat hair loss, experiencing side effects like higher libido and watery semen. He advises others to start with finasteride, avoid natural remedies, and maintain a healthy lifestyle for better hair health.
A 20-year-old male is unsure how to interpret his bloodwork results and whether he should take finasteride for hair loss. His bloodwork shows borderline high levels of albumin and testosterone, and high progesterone, but normal levels of other hormones.
Woman uses antiandrogens for hair thinning prevention, experiences severe dry eye with finasteride. Asks if dutasteride could be better despite potential for worse dry eye.
User encourages taking finasteride for hair loss, stating rare permanent side effects. Replies discuss experiences with finasteride, side effects, effectiveness, and alternative treatments.
A user shared that adding Dutasteride to Finasteride worsened their hair loss, despite initial improvements with Finasteride alone. Others in the conversation debated the effectiveness of Dutasteride, with some suggesting individual responses vary and others defending its proven efficacy for hair loss.
User "mo_movic" shared 4-month progress using finasteride, minoxidil, ketoconazole, and dermaroller for hair loss. Others congratulated and discussed their own experiences, with "mo_movic" reducing finasteride dose and using ketoconazole twice a week.
Hair loss treatment using 1mg Fin daily and Nizoral shampoo twice a week for 10 months showed improvement after 6-10 months. No significant side effects experienced, except slightly watery semen.
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.
Breezula (clascoterone) initially performed better than finasteride for hair loss but then effectiveness decreased almost back to baseline after 6 months, raising questions about its strength.
Finasteride worked well for over a year, but hair started falling out again despite positive lifestyle changes. The user is unsure if it's due to stress, vitamins, or finasteride losing effectiveness.
A user reports experiencing insomnia as a side effect of taking finasteride for hair loss, which takes 1 to 2 hours to fall asleep and results in only about 5 hours of sleep per night. They suspect the cause is related to the downregulation of neurosteroids due to finasteride.
User took Fin for 3 years, Dut for 7 months, and oral Min for 2 months without side effects. Fin stopped hair loss for 2 years, Dut maintained hair, and oral Min regrew thinning hair.
The conversation is about a 20-year-old male considering a topical gel combining finasteride, minoxidil, and tretinoin for hair loss, looking to replace his daily minoxidil with this new treatment. He has seen good regrowth with minoxidil but is nervous about starting finasteride.
The user is using topical finasteride and is considering adding minoxidil despite concerns about dependency and side effects. Another user suggests that finasteride alone can reverse hair loss, but adding minoxidil and microneedling may improve results.
A 22-year-old experienced significant hair loss due to high stress, SSRI side effects, and Androgenic Alopecia, and has seen some regrowth after starting finasteride and using ketoconazole shampoo. They are inquiring if continued use of finasteride and stress reduction alone can lead to further hair regrowth.
User reports using 0.5mg finasteride, 12.5mg zinc daily, and keto shampoo weekly for hair loss. After one month, there's a slight reduction in hair shedding and no side effects.
Finasteride can affect hormone levels, potentially causing symptoms like puffy nipples and testicular pain, and may result in elevated prolactin and high testosterone. The user is seeking interpretation of these changes after taking finasteride.
User considers trying Fin for hair thinning, asks if stopping Fin makes hair return to original condition or worsens it. Replies suggest Fin acts like a pause button, stopping it resumes hair loss at regular pace.
User started hair loss treatment in November 2020 using Finasteride, Minoxidil, Dermaroller, castor oil, Nizoral, and supplements. They experienced improvements but had a second shed in February and seek feedback on their routine.
The user seeks alternatives to Propylene Glycol (PG) for delivering topical finasteride due to scalp irritation. They consider using Propanediol 1,3 and ask for other suggestions.
Hair loss treatments discussed include Minoxidil, Finasteride, and RU58841. User HanSolo100 asks if hair quality can improve in the second year of Finasteride use, sharing their experience with no noticeable difference in hairline but having long, wispy hairs.
A user's success in treating his diffuse and crown hair loss with finasteride and minoxidil; other users sharing their experiences, both successful and unsuccessful, and the importance of research and listening to one's body when deciding on treatments.
An 18-year-old decided to start taking finasteride for hair loss, justifying it by stating that finasteride is the most effective treatment available and that the risk of side effects is low, with clinical trials showing it stops hair loss in 80% of men. The user encourages others not to be deterred by negative forum posts and to consider their own experience and clinical data.
The user is seeking natural hair loss treatments, avoiding finasteride due to side effects. They mention considering a $1,000 LLT helmet, Nutrafol supplements, and various unproven remedies.
The potential health risks associated with long-term use of finasteride and dutasteride, with some responses pointing out the low quality of the journal that published the review article as well as highlighting other alternatives such as keto or minoxidil, and RU58841.
The conversation discusses the variability in effectiveness and safety of generic finasteride from different manufacturers, with some generics potentially containing impurities. Users shared their experiences with various brands, questioning if different brands affect hair loss treatment outcomes.
User spent 23 years on Finasteride with side effects like weight gain and reduced libido. Switched to topical Finasteride, side effects reduced and waiting for results.
A 19-year-old male shared his negative experience with finasteride, including side effects like vision issues, genital changes, pain, swollen lymph nodes, and mood alterations, which resolved after stopping the medication. He suggests alternative hair loss treatments like exercise, diet, possibly avoiding masturbation, topical anti-androgens, and dermarolling, emphasizing mental health over aesthetics.