Finasteride

[RhinoP]

Okay, so basically, I'm well under age 30, yet I'm going bald rapidly. (Six months ago, I had a head full of hair, and now I have bald spots reaching to back behind my ears - it looks sick and very horrid, there's also bumps and dry skin with the baldness.)

So I'm thinking about asking my doctor for finasteride, because appearantly it's supposed to reverse baldness, if the baldness is caused by androgens. However, I personally wonder if there's benefits beyond that? If androgens are also causing me problems like oily skin, too-dense facial hair growth, too much body hair, too much body odor, ect ect, could finasteride potentially "reverse" those problems as well?

Luckily, my physician has no idea that I'm trans and I've simply told him that I work in the media industry where healthy looks are key, especially for a young adult. However, he's super conservative and stubborn (Ex-military doctor, Christian), so I may have to find a different doctor for it.

[Annah]

1. I would find a different doctor. If I had a doctor who differed in moral objectivity than me, I would never walk through his or her office. So I would start finding one yesterday!

(.......and not all Christians are stubborn conservatives    )

2. Finasteride was ok for me, but yielded little results. My doctor switched me to Avadort and my hair growth more than quintripled...and in lower doses.

Everyone is different so you may get different results, but for me, Finasteride was a waste of money. Avadort was a God send.

Hope this helps.

[RhinoP]

With my general blood test, I have a 500 free testosterone level (the paper says that's exactly half of the normal "range", though this "range" really includes anyone from age 8 to 95, it's not really a referrence to what my testosterone levels should be at 5'4 and 115lbs), and the only other thing that stuck out to me was my Estradiol levels, which were exactly at the reference point's breaking point. With Estradiol, male bodies, if high in Estradiol, tend to actually "fight" the Estradiol (if I read correctly on Wiki) and thus produce more male androgens as a response, which could be causing my sudden spike in very negative physical health defects. Either that, or Estradiol may be what is directly causing it, as I thought I also read that Estradiol is a broad term for a whole bunch of male/female hormones. Not sure, me and Wiki may be wrong about all that, I just know my blood results didn't look right to my eyes.

Either way, the testosterone and Estradiol were the only two things on my blood list that seemed very high, everything else was generally in the middle, or I didn't know what the chemical innitials stood for...Sadly, my physician seems to know about as much about blood work as a raccoon....I can't ask him any of this stuff without a hateful response!

[Adabelle]

Dutasteride > Finasteride for sure.

[JessicaH]

T levels are measured in nanograms per milliliter so it doesn't matter what your height or weight is. Your T level is right within normal range but finasteride or avodart only block the T from being aromatized into DHT which is far more potent and causes more masculinization and hair loss.  From how you have described your hairloss, I'd be looking at other isssues including hyperthyroidism but checking thyroid levels should be normal in a bloodtest. Look to see what or if you had TSH levels checked along with T3 and T4. Is your hairloss normal male pattern hairloss? Have you had other issues with your hair like brittleness or slow growing or anything else strange?

With my general blood test, I have a 500 free testosterone level (the paper says that's exactly half of the normal "range", though this "range" really includes anyone from age 8 to 95, it's not really a referrence to what my testosterone levels should be at 5'4 and 115lbs), and the only other thing that stuck out to me was my Estradiol levels, which were exactly at the reference point's breaking point. With Estradiol, male bodies, if high in Estradiol, tend to actually "fight" the Estradiol (if I read correctly on Wiki) and thus produce more male androgens as a response, which could be causing my sudden spike in very negative physical health defects. Either that, or Estradiol may be what is directly causing it, as I thought I also read that Estradiol is a broad term for a whole bunch of male/female hormones. Not sure, me and Wiki may be wrong about all that, I just know my blood results didn't look right to my eyes.

Either way, the testosterone and Estradiol were the only two things on my blood list that seemed very high, everything else was generally in the middle, or I didn't know what the chemical innitials stood for...Sadly, my physician seems to know about as much about blood work as a raccoon....I can't ask him any of this stuff without a hateful response!

[barbie]

I have taken finasteride for the purpose of preemptive hair-loss treatment during the past 1 year. So far, no detectable effect.

There are zillions of causes of hair loss, and it is difficult to pinpoint it.

I still see about 20 hairs fall out after shampooing every morning. Even I am not quite sure whether loss of 20 hairs everyday is in the normal range, or a symptom of serious hair loss. Anyway I got another prescription form the doctor, which is not related with hormone.

Barbie~~

[RhinoP]

Alright, I pulled out the tests, and here's to clear up some confusing things:

I'm 5'4, 115lbs, and well below Age 30.

Estradiol: 42
FSH: 1.9
LH: 2.0
Prolactin 7.4
Total Testosterone: 519
Free Testosterone: 108.5

Now, this list doesn't seem to be useful at all.

My symptoms, stemming from age 12, are extremely dense body hair, gradual and sudden spurts of baldness severe for my age, very short height, very low weight, oddly proportioned body, extremely large craniofacial growth disproportional to my body, body odor, extremely oily and red facial skin, fuzzy hair opposite to race and heritage, coarse facial hair, eyebrow balding, ect ect.

Basically, I can't find where my hormone levels really "match up" to the health issues, but then again, the blood test seemed to focus on my metabolism and blood cell count than anything to do with hormones (though the doctor was told to check hormones for signs of acromegaly and overproduction of male hormones.) However, with futher research, I've concluded that my symptoms may not be as straightfoward as I thought:

For one, Estradiol causes the body to stop growing, I believe, specifically causing the bones in the body to prematurely "close". Also, in patients who've taken estradiol for medical reasons, many have wound up loosing  large amounts of scalp hair, though producing thick body hair in conjunction. My Estradiol levels according to my test are on the very high side; the low side reference is 13, where my count is 42. My FSH and LH levels (around level 2 for both) are both at the exact low end, with the high end reference being around 9 for the both of them.

So far, I figure that my Estradiol levels have been whack and high for a very, very long time, and while the name sounds like it means Estrogen, I believe Estradiol is a broad term that encompasses things that also have to do with male production. It seems that somewhere under the term, it can cause Hirsutism (extreme body hair), Baldness, and such. But then again, I'd love to have a blood test that seemed to answer more questions, checking things that have more to do with the development of the body.

[Annah]

My testosterone lvls were around 650 before HRT, so yours is already lower than mine!!

[RhinoP]

And heaven forbid, I just woke up this morning and for the first time in my entire life, I smelled like a big sour jug of rotten milk (aka a sweaty 54 year old man). WTF is happening to my body! This is causing me so much pain, no one has any idea how much I cling to to stay alive, and previously, the fact that I never had one ounce of male body odor (despite how I only shower once a week; it saves water and my hair type can't tolerate water too well) was something I was extremely proud of.

Now I f****** stink, I'm balder than men triple my age, I'm hairier than a gorilla, I look like a sweat hog because my face produces so much oil, my face is as red as rudolph's nose, my craniofacial x-rays shpw deformities only found on Acromegaly patients, and wether male or female, I've always hated beinf so short. I absolutely hate everything to do with my body, and theres no way I can start transitioning looking like this. I need a doctot who's at least willing to get my hormones back to what they were a year ago, back when I indeed from all corners seemed healthier...

I just don't get why doctors want to waste my money when this is something I'm always on the brink of suicide about. Who gives a god dang hell wether I'm right in the head or not, what I'm wanting actually follows the modern scientific conclusion that too much male androgens is a sign of BAD HEATH, no man in today's world wants to die at 40 being 7X more prone to cancers of various types. The day of the unhealthy caveman is OVER, and it matters less wether I'm trans or not. If I want a certian cure, I don't see why these doctors think they have the right (which legally, they do not) to refuse to care for me based on their jaded and unscientific views on what's "right" for a man. Sure, some men may like looking like gorillas, but tbe chemicals that cause that type of appearance cause PREMATURE DEATH. I wish these goofball doctors would get that through their heads!!!

[Annah]

Rhino, I'm no therapist, but I really think you should seek help concerning your self image first before you do anything else.

Many people who has a passionate dislike for their own bodies (similar to your passionate dislike to your own body) who transitions thinks that when they transition, their bodies were alter so dramatically that their mental well being will improve.

Now, for those who dislikes their gender presentation and transitions, their transition really does help their mental well being; however, I think you have a deeper hatred for your own body than a typical transgender person does. I am not discounting you being trans at all. All I am saying is you need to seek help about your self image first and foremost.

For example, you have called yourself names such as ogre, monster, freak, old man, etc etc. You mentioned how children scream and cower away from you and a lot of other things.

I think if you can get help with your poor self image, the other issues you are facing will be a lot easier to overcome.

[JennX]

T levels are measured in nanograms per milliliter so it doesn't matter what your height or weight is.

Actually testosterone is usually measured in ng/dl which is nanograms per deciliter.

[JennX]

Alright, I pulled out the tests, and here's to clear up some confusing things:

I'm 5'4, 115lbs, and well below Age 30.

Estradiol: 42
FSH: 1.9
LH: 2.0
Prolactin 7.4
Total Testosterone: 519
Free Testosterone: 108.5

Compared to me... you are superman. My Total T level was around 210 ng/dl pre HRT... and my Estradiol (E2) level was around 75 pg/ml. 

Oh... and Avodart (dutasteride) is the bomb for hair regrowth. I totally concur with Annah's experience. It's great stuff. 

[RhinoP]

That's the thing Anna, literally all these issues I have with my body directly prevent me from looking female. I'm not sure if you've realized (surely you have, with your own transition...) that baldness, acne, odor, oil, ect ect are MALE secondary traits (that still are indeed health defects, by no way is a male 'supposed' to have these traits either, according to modern science.) I simply cannot look female looking like this, I don't care how many Farrah Fawcett wigs I put on or how deeply I have to cake my face with make-up, I simply do not feel pretty in a female sense because I don't have the natural traits of a female (and it directly causes me to have a low confidence.) I really do not look handsome in a male context either, males my age are supposed to look bright, alert, healthy, generally androgynous, and active. I'm neither here nor there in terms of attractiveness. I have no chance at leading a successful career and social life in my current health state, male or female.

And it indeed matters that I actually do have these health issues (and am not suffering from BDD); it's only natural for a person to dislike a disease, if they didn't have a natural hate toward a disease, they're either a religious nutjob who takes a religious pride in a certain disease, or they're so far out in left field with absolutely no medical education that they bumble through life not giving a care. It just so happens that my career depends entirely on my presentation and appearance (what few careers in the world don't? Maybe I should work at a garbage dump with the other redneck men?) and I cannot receive a paycheck while I have hormonal imbalances and skin diseases.

And yeah, Susanwiki says that testosterone doesn't really matter, that high levels of testosterone preserve scalp hair more than low levels do. Specifically, when you combine low levels of certain testosterone hormones, with high levels of others, it causes baldness and acne and all that. I've said forever that a balance in hormones is what's the body's true form; every number on every test should generally come back in the middle of two ranges.

https://www.susans.org/wiki/Hair_loss

If I could just get rid of baldness, redness, acne, and oil, I'd at least be able to quickly get out of the house! As it is, I have to spend HOURS covering up my baldspots using Donald Trump techniques, I have to apply cakes of make-up to cover up acne and rosacea, I have to use oil-pads and certain oil-lotions literally every 15 minutes to keep my face from looking like it's literally sweating because it's so greasy, and it creates so much stress. No one my age suffers from this problem, male or female. I personally feel like getting rid of these problems would help out my immediate confidence more than anything. These are indeed health conditions, Susan'sWiki (and every other medical source on earth) says so, and they should be fixed, doesn't matter if I'm looney or not.

[Annah]

That's the thing Anna, literally all these issues I have with my body directly prevent me from looking female. I'm not sure if you've realized (surely you have, with your own transition...) that baldness, acne, odor, oil, ect ect are MALE secondary traits (that still are indeed health defects, by no way is a male 'supposed' to have these traits either, according to modern science.) I simply cannot look female looking like this, I don't care how many Farrah Fawcett wigs I put on or how deeply I have to cake my face with make-up, I simply do not feel pretty in a female sense because I don't have the natural traits of a female (and it directly causes me to have a low confidence.) I really do not look handsome in a male context either, males my age are supposed to look bright, alert, healthy, generally androgynous, and active. I'm neither here nor there in terms of attractiveness. I have no chance at leading a successful career and social life in my current health state, male or female.

This is why I think you need to seek help first to improve any sense of self image. Because females deal with baldness, acne, odor, and oil too. These just aren't masculine traits (except for male pattern balding). Ive met just as many girls that had an odor/acne problem as men do.

I think if you seek help with a counselor for your self image, you can get your poor self image up to a manageable level.

You stated that people your age is a lot more brighter, etc. Well, depression and other mental ailments can drastically change your appearance or what you perceive your appearance to be.

[RhinoP]

Maybe 79 year old women deal with baldness but I don't know any girls my age that do. But with girls, if girls experience these problems, they march up to the clinic like there's no tomorrow and the doctor automatically gives them a whole slew of pills because they're a girl.

And I do not see what "getting my self image under control" is going to do. I've never known anyone to hire a balding, acne-filled actress for a distributed-across-the-nation film because she had a "high confidence". I'd love to see a scientific example of an instance where a ugly, balding, acne-filled girl got a major lead role in a high-standard film. If that has not happened in the past, then I cannot receive a paycheck, which directly causes me to be without money and healthcare and food and all that.

Also, "being an actor/actress" is not a mental condition defined in the DSM, so I do not want to hear it.

[xxUltraModLadyxx]

Maybe 79 year old women deal with baldness but I don't know any girls my age that do. But with girls, if girls experience these problems, they march up to the clinic like there's no tomorrow and the doctor automatically gives them a whole slew of pills because they're a girl.

And I do not see what "getting my self image under control" is going to do. I've never known anyone to hire a balding, acne-filled actress for a distributed-across-the-nation film because she had a "high confidence". I'd love to see a scientific example of an instance where a ugly, balding, acne-filled girl got a major lead role in a high-standard film. If that has not happened in the past, then I cannot receive a paycheck, which directly causes me to be without money and healthcare and food and all that.

Also, "being an actor/actress" is not a mental condition defined in the DSM, so I do not want to hear it.

you're much better off getting treatment as an mtf transsexual, and not as a "man working in the media industry." you should get a gender therapist. you should be able to find one from the wiki.

[Annah]

Also, "being an actor/actress" is not a mental condition defined in the DSM, so I do not want to hear it.

No of course not. But your self image needs a lot of help....and not just through physical pills or treatments.

[Cirnobyl]

I've been exactly where you are at Rhino. When I was 16-17 I started losing hair. I've also lost most of my upper teeth. As for body hair, I was a absolute BEAR by the 9th grade and spent most of my time desperately trying to shave it off. I was also developing a sleeping disorder. Since puberty my self hatred had thrown me into a depression and lethargy that cost me my education and my teeth. I trully and utterly detested myself and have for a long time. I totally sympathize with that "I look like a old man, a monster" I told myself those SAME exact things for YEARS.

And you know Nobody noticed. I had no one to turn to. My family kept telling me I was 'very handsome'. Strange how they felt the need to keep telling me that and not my cousins of the same age...Also My mother was schizophrenic so I had to be careful what I said lest I be accused of "crazy talk". I didn't even have a doctor to turn to, me and dad were dirt poor and Florida HATES the poor (like all scumbag conservative states).

Early this year, now living on my own, I cracked completely. STILL without medical insurance, a job or very much money, I used a portion of my college loan to purchase meds. I've been self medding while consuming as much medical knowledge as I can since. I'm STILL fighting off the body hair 4 months later but the fights easier now. I have to wear a hat and I can't do anything but tight lipped smiles. The idea of kissing someone or being loved is still a distant dream. My parents are dead, my family hates me. I'm still trudging along...

So what am I saying...Don't give up, and don't listen to other people telling you what you should or shouldn't do. I like myself A LOT more simply because I've gotten the body hair growth to slow down and I have noticed a bit of scalp hair regrowth. I'm GLAD I'm taking risks and doing what I gotta do. Whatever you do, don't give yourself regrets. I already have a bunch on my shoulders. Neither time nor your body is going to wait for you.