The user discusses using compounded oral minoxidil due to the ineffectiveness and inconvenience of topical minoxidil for diffuse thinning. They question the efficacy of compounded minoxidil compared to original tablet forms and express concerns about the importance of excipients and binders.
The conversation discusses making a topical melatonin solution for hair loss treatment, questioning if isopropyl alcohol can dissolve melatonin. Melatonin is soluble in lipids and alcohol, but it's unstable and should be mixed fresh regularly; it may help hair growth by affecting certain cellular signaling pathways and has anti-androgenic effects.
Dutasteride caused persistent hair shedding and no improvement for 18 months, leading to a switch back to finasteride. The user also uses oral minoxidil and plans to focus on better scalp health.
A user shared their 4.5-month hair transformation using a homemade topical solution with 5% minoxidil and crushed finasteride pills, applied twice daily with weekly microneedling. They plan to switch to once-daily application with tretinoin gel to enhance absorption.
The user reported significant improvement in hair quality and stability using topical finasteride for two years, without side effects. They later added minoxidil, which may have further enhanced hair quality.