February 2021 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”
Fibrosis in the bulge area of hair follicles can cause hair thinning in male pattern baldness, and drugs that inhibit fibrosis might help reverse this.
Pirfenidone is suggested to treat fibrosis and baldness by blocking inflammation markers and reducing collagen. It is also available as a gel for scar removal.
Dutasteride may not be effective for everyone due to underlying issues, suggesting scalp biopsies for further diagnosis. Users discuss using higher doses of dutasteride, topical treatments, minoxidil, and pyrilutamide for hair loss management.
The conversation is about the debate over the existence of Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS) and its symptoms, with some users skeptical about PFS and others discussing side effects like erectile dysfunction and gynecomastia from hair loss treatments like finasteride. Specific treatments mentioned include finasteride, viagra, and a joke about using a popsicle stick for erectile support.
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.