The user experienced subtle hair growth improvements using finasteride, dutasteride, and minoxidil over nearly three years, with notable progress at the temples. The front hairline shows quicker regrowth cycles, but the vertex and crown remain unchanged.
Tretinoin may enhance minoxidil's effectiveness for those not responding to minoxidil alone, but it could reduce efficacy for some who are already responding to minoxidil. Tretinoin requires careful use, including skin moisturizing and sun protection due to increased sensitivity.
The conclusion of this conversation is that the user "DuckSeasonCamelSeasn" found that consuming grapefruit juice prior to taking finasteride or dutasteride helped them become a responder to the medications and regain hair growth. However, there are warnings about potential risks and interactions with other medications, so caution should be exercised.
The user had high DHT levels after 8 months on dutasteride, questioning the drug's authenticity. They got dutasteride from a legitimate source and will update on progress.