I'm 28 and about to start HRT. I didn't realise that I had lost any hair at all until last year and most of it must have happened in the last 3 years or so. I still have most of my hair, but it's thinner (the thinning is only noticeable when I have long hair, affecting the shape of the hair) and recedes in the temples. It's also noticeably miniaturized around the temples. I started on finasteride recently, and plan to continue using finasteride as well as spiro (together with estradiol).
Is this likely to reverse the thinning and how effectively? Will it be possible to regain the hair I had 4 years ago or so completely (except the temples, which i want to correct surgically in connection with ffs). I read that finasteride alone is more effective in the vertex than temple area. Will a HRT regimen like described above be as effective in the temples?
A lot of your hair loss is permanent. HRT will reverse some of the hair loss as well as some changes in the hair texture. This depends on the person and the results vary. Any reversal takes time.
Joelene
It will come back to an extent, but it does take time. At the rate mine is growing back I will probably be able to give away the half-wig I use to cover the thin spot at the front in a year or two.
Karen.
While mine is still slightly receded at the temples, its not so bad. The rest of my hair did thicken up and a big bald spot filled in at the back. I used finesturide, estrogen, spiro and minoxidil. Before I came out to my brothers, they asked me what I was doing to make my bald spot go away and I told them they likely wouldn't like it, lol.
It depends were the loss is. A bald spot at the crown filled in in about 18 months though I never noticed any improvement at the temples there's enough left for a fringe and bangs
If you just started with finas, you may thin even more at first, until the shedding stage is finished and the new hair starts growing. It may last several months with a rate of up to 100 hairs lost per day. You will need to give it some time. You will start growing thin vellus-like hairs, and with a bit of luck they should turn into real hairs. The most important thing is that you must never stop, even if the initial loss discourages you.
Legend says that you could regrow up to the last five years if the follicles are still dormant, but YMMV. Better if you add minoxidil / rogaine to the combo. After applying it correctly I started getting regrowth with tiny hairs on the temples (after two years of doing nothing!), and Finas should contribute in stopping the DHT from damaging the hair. At the worst case, it should slow the hair loss until you can start HRT.
In my case, a Minoxidil formulated in a pharmacy did what the commercial versions could not. It is less aggresive with my scalp and cheaper.
PS: Avoid nizoral / ketakonazol.
Quote from: big kim on October 19, 2012, 05:49:06 AM
It depends were the loss is. A bald spot at the crown filled in in about 18 months though I never noticed any improvement at the temples there's enough left for a fringe and bangs
I don't really have any bald spots except the temples. There is just a general thinning at the crown, top and sides, but the thinning isn't that dramatic. The hair below the crown is very different from the rest of the hair, i.e. much thicker/stronger and fuller, and it appears that it grows faster too.
Quote from: Rotten Apple on October 19, 2012, 06:01:30 AM
If you just started with finas, you may thin even more at first, until the shedding stage is finished and the new hair starts growing. It may last several months with a rate of up to 100 hairs lost per day. You will need to give it some time. You will start growing thin vellus-like hairs, and with a bit of luck they should turn into real hairs. The most important thing is that you must never stop, even if the initial loss discourages you.
Legend says that you could regrow up to the last five years if the follicles are still dormant, but YMMV. Better if you add minoxidil / rogaine to the combo. After applying it correctly I started getting regrowth with tiny hairs on the temples (after two years of doing nothing!), and Finas should contribute in stopping the DHT from damaging the hair. At the worst case, it should slow the hair loss until you can start HRT.
In my case, a Minoxidil formulated in a pharmacy did what the commercial versions could not. It is less aggresive with my scalp and cheaper.
PS: Avoid nizoral / ketakonazol.
Will minoxidil still be helpful even after I've started HRT? (I expect to start in a month or so). I've read that one needs to use minoxidil indefinitely, does this also apply when testosterone levels have been reduced to a female level through HRT/castration?
I'm not on that stage, so I can't say for sure. The Minoxidil 2% is formulated for women, since they may also have to struggle with balance. Basically, Minoxidil is a vasodilator and can promote growth independently of the testosterone/estrogen/whatever, so it may be a good help if you still have problems after transition. You could keep using it at least until the transition stage is finished, just as an extra help, and ditch it after that.
I am using Dutas, bu not very happy about something that strong, and I hope there will be a time when I can move to finas or completely ditch it.
Quote from: big kim on October 19, 2012, 05:49:06 AM
It depends were the loss is. A bald spot at the crown filled in in about 18 months though I never noticed any improvement at the temples there's enough left for a fringe and bangs
How about the area around the temples? I.e. where there still is hair, but it's miniaturized. Is the miniaturization of existing hair around the temples (not areas where the hair is gone) likely to be reversed?
I have two photos that you may like about that, from before starting the treatment and one month after. It maybe be wishfull thinking, but I think the tiny hairs on my temples now look thicker and darker. It could also be the light, dunno...
Are you a Norwood Type II? And BTW, how long have you been on Finas?
PS: Regarding photos, try to keep a timeline of your scalp, it will help with avoiding going crazy about if it is working or not. I usually take about 5 photos: Hairline, THe two temples, middle of the head and Crown. I don't need the last one, but just to be on the safe side.
Quote from: Rotten Apple on October 19, 2012, 09:28:49 AM
I have two photos that you may like about that, from before starting the treatment and one month after. It maybe be wishfull thinking, but I think the tiny hairs on my temples now look thicker and darker. It could also be the light, dunno...
Are you a Norwood Type II? And BTW, how long have you been on Finas?
PS: Regarding photos, try to keep a timeline of your scalp, it will help with avoiding going crazy about if it is working or not. I usually take about 5 photos: Hairline, THe two temples, middle of the head and Crown. I don't need the last one, but just to be on the safe side.
Yes, I suppose Norwood II is the closest type. I started with finasteride less than 2 weeks ago.