31 citations,
January 2017 in “Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology”
Low testosterone and 5α-reductase inhibitors can harm men's metabolic and sexual health; testosterone therapy may help, but discussing 5α-RIs' side effects is important.
The conversation discusses using finasteride topically for hair loss and concerns about potential side effects like feminization and impact on muscle growth. One person shared their experience with finasteride, indicating it increased testosterone and did not prevent them from gaining muscle or strength.
A 27-year-old man shared his hormonal panel results after one year of taking finasteride 1mg/day for hair loss, showing his DHT levels nearly doubled. He reported stabilized hair loss with mild side effects that resolved, and he is considering a hair transplant but is concerned about the increased DHT levels and potential treatment options.
A 27-year-old woman with androgenic alopecia is losing hair despite using oral minoxidil and spironolactone, and is considering dutasteride. She is exploring causes like stress and medication side effects, planning tests, and considering treatment changes.
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 conversation discusses various treatments for hair loss, including finasteride, minoxidil, dutasteride, microneedling, and checking for nutrient deficiencies. Some users suggest adding hydrocortisone butyrate, low-dose progesterone, or tretinoin to treatment regimens, while others recommend cosmetic solutions like Toppik hair fibers or shaving the head.