282 citations,
October 2006 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism”
The Endocrine Society advised against routine testosterone therapy for women, citing a need for more research on long-term safety and a clear definition of androgen deficiency.
The mechanism of Androgenic Alopecia and practical applications of treatments like Minoxidil, Finasteride, RU58841, dermarolling, scalp massages, anti-fungals, progesterone, estrogen, PPAR-γ activators, reducing oxidative stress, and scalp exercises. It explains why DHT is important in AA and how other factors might be involved such as hypoxia, increased DKK-1 expression, morphological changes to the scalp, skull growth during childhood/puberty, and blood flow.
Finasteride is believed to slow down hair loss significantly, but may not completely stop it for everyone. Effectiveness and duration vary by individual, with some users experiencing positive results for over 10 years, while others see less benefit.
The post and conversation are about the role of the enzyme 3alpha-hydroxysteroid reductase in hair loss and the potential of compounds like procyanidin B2 and sulforaphane to boost its activity for hair regrowth. Further research is needed to develop effective treatments based on this theory.
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.
A 22-year-old male is experiencing hair loss due to seborrheic dermatitis, not male pattern baldness, and is seeking advice. Suggestions include using Nizoral, sulfate-free and ketoconazole shampoos, cutting hair short, using cold water, avoiding picking scabs, and trying selenium sulfide shampoo or finasteride.