Male Pattern Baldness, and identifying early signs of it. The treatments discussed to combat and slow balding include finasteride, dutasteride and minoxidil.
Alcohol-based minoxidil absorbs better but can cause irritation; non-alcohol-based is gentler. Topical dutasteride shows promise but needs more research; low-dose oral minoxidil (0.25 mg/day) is effective with fewer side effects. Ingredients like Procapil, Redensyl, caffeine, and Anagain in shampoos have limited evidence; ketoconazole shampoo can help when used 2-3 times a week with other treatments.
Minoxidil should be left on the scalp for at least 4-6 hours for effective absorption, even if it feels dry after 30 minutes. The skin's interaction with the chemical continues regardless of the solution's evaporation.
User switched from Finasteride to Dutasteride and oral Minoxidil after dermatologist's recommendation. Others in conversation express interest and support for the new treatment.
The user is trying to maximize minoxidil's effectiveness by applying it for only one hour to avoid spreading it to furniture and pets, especially cats. They experience side effects when combining minoxidil with dermarolling and are considering alternatives like oral minoxidil or microneedling.
User shares 8-month progress on oral finasteride and minoxidil, noting initial success followed by a second shed. They seek advice on drug resistance and pill efficacy, with responses suggesting to push through the shed and consider the impact of cycling off minoxidil.
The conversation discusses concerns about starting finasteride with low testosterone levels, with one person suggesting finasteride might increase testosterone and decrease DHT, and another advising to pay attention to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.
The conversation discusses natural ways to reduce cortisol, such as avoiding caffeine, getting proper sleep, syncing with the sun, walking in nature, breathing exercises, increasing calories, and not doing keto. Magnesium supplements are recommended for stress reduction.
A 23-year-old experienced severe depression and suicidal thoughts from oral finasteride and is considering trying topical finasteride but is worried about similar side effects. They are currently using RU58841 and Minoxidil and are seeking advice on the lowest effective dose of topical finasteride.
A user shared a beard growth protocol involving hydration toner, azelaic acid, tretinoin, moisturizer, 5% topical minoxidil, and SPF 30+ sunscreen. The regimen spans a year to a year and a half, with specific application schedules for different phases.
Hope Medicine received a $28M investment for HMI-115, a monoclonal antibody in phase II trials for treating androgenetic alopecia. Some users are skeptical about its effectiveness, while others find the investment and trial results encouraging.
User "cheekykevin" shared 15-week progress using minoxidil and dermarolling, with positive results. Others suggested using ketoconazole for dandruff side effect.
A study that outlines the full model for androgenic alopecia (AGA) which links DHT to cellular senescence in dermal papilla cells, and suggests black chokeberry as a source of cyanidin 3-O-arabinoside polyphenol with potential anti-oxidant properties that could reverse this process. The post encourages reaching out to experts in anti-aging and longevity to research treatments involving the polyphenol.
The post and conversation are about microneedling as a treatment for alopecia. It provides a comprehensive review of scientific literature on the technique and its application.
A dutasteride simulator predicts that daily 0.5 mg dosing results in higher DHT suppression compared to less frequent dosing. Twice-weekly dutasteride may be as effective as finasteride 5 mg, providing a balance between efficacy and ease of use.
The conversation discusses using very low dose topical finasteride to achieve specific serum DHT reduction percentages. It concludes that finasteride dosage increases linearly between 5-30% DHT reduction but requires exponential increases for reductions up to 70%.
Some users of RU-58841 report cardiovascular symptoms like heart palpitations and chest tightness, which may be linked to its metabolites causing lung disease. The safety of RU-58841 is uncertain due to lack of long-term data and concerns about product purity, especially from gray market sources.
A user on finasteride for 7+ months shared bloodwork results, questioning if high DHT levels and testosterone could affect cholesterol. Replies suggest consulting a doctor and question the high testosterone levels.
A 30-year-old female with PCOS and male pattern baldness is frustrated with her endocrinologist's recommendation of only Spironolactone and minoxidil, feeling that dutasteride, finasteride, and progesterone would be more effective. Other users suggest various online sources for treatments, warn against self-medicating due to potential risks, and recommend seeking a specialized endocrinologist or considering additional treatments like Inositol, Berberine, and dermaneedling.
A user who had FUT surgery for 2877 grafts with Dr Jerry Wong of Hasson & Wong that resulted in low growth and an abnormally wide scar, suggesting negligence by the doctor and possibly illegal behaviour by an unqualified technician. The post sparked discussion about seeking legal action, as well as criticism of the clinic's high cost.
The user experiences heavy shedding after one year of using 1mg oral finasteride and twice-daily topical minoxidil, recently adding microneedling and daily Nizoral. They also take supplements like vitamin D and biotin.