December 2022 in “Clinical and experimental dermatology and therapies”
In this study, the addition of a topical gel containing growth-factor mimicking oligopeptides and other ingredients showed improved efficacy in subjects with androgenic alopecia using minoxidil or finasteride compared to drug treatment alone.
This meta-analysis found that the combination of topical minoxidil-finasteride was more effective than minoxidil alone in improving hair density, hair diameter, and globalphotographicassessment for male androgenetic alopecia, though larger standardized trials are needed to confirm long-term outcomes.
April 2025 in “Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy”
This study found that QR678 Neo® significantly enhanced hair regrowth, density, and shaft diameter in males with advanced androgenetic alopecia undergoing hair transplant surgery, compared to a conventional method, making it a promising adjunct treatment option.
The user feels their hair growth has stagnated after 10 months on finasteride and 8 months on minoxidil, considering transitioning to dutasteride. They plan to continue their current regimen, which includes finasteride, minoxidil, derma stamping, and ketoconazole shampoo, while contemplating adding topical dutasteride.
Oral dutasteride 0.5 mg combined with oral minoxidil 2.5 mg is highly effective for male androgenetic alopecia, showing over 60% improvement and 98% stabilization at 6 months, with low adverse event rates. Patients with severe baseline conditions respond better and faster to this treatment.
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.
The user switched from finasteride to dutasteride for hair loss but faced increased shedding and anxiety, regretting not staying with finasteride longer. Other users shared mixed experiences, advising patience with dutasteride, as it may take up to a year to show results.
Creatine supplementation may increase DHT levels, potentially affecting hair loss. A study is examining this effect, with participants taking 5 grams of creatine daily for six months.