Minoxidil's effectiveness is limited by the need for sulfation and proper transport to hair follicles, with tretinoin potentially enhancing its effects by promoting enzyme activity and keratinocyte differentiation. Tretinoin may improve minoxidil's response by boosting the expression of necessary enzymes and transporters.
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.
ET-02, a new hair loss treatment, shows promising results with a 6-fold increase in hair count, potentially outperforming minoxidil by activating stem cells in hair follicles. Further trials are ongoing to confirm its efficacy and safety, with potential market release in the future.
The user plans to switch from dutasteride back to finasteride due to worsening hair loss, possibly due to increased scalp testosterone. Others report mixed results with both treatments, showing individual variability.
Low-dose oral minoxidil is a safe and effective hair loss treatment with fewer side effects than previously feared. Users often prefer it over topical minoxidil for better results, though some experience side effects like increased body hair and cardiovascular issues.