Advice for Fighting Receding Hair Line

[popa910]

Hey everybody!  I've just noticed that my hairline has started receding.    I'm only a 22 year old AMAB, but I can already notice it's retreating a bit.  Thankfully, it's not noticeable unless I pull my bangs up.

I've read on Susan's and elsewhere that the anti-androgens finasteride and dutasteride are both relatively common prescriptions, with dutasteride being the more effective and costlier option.  The issue is, I've not yet come out to my family or anybody else (I have yet to figure what I'd come out as).  I figure that I could use this as an excellent opportunity to try some anti-androgens and see what happens without raising any suspicion, and whether or not I like any "side effects" that may occur.

Anyways, I'm just looking for advice on how to proceed in preventing this hair loss.  Things like:

• Do these require a prescription to purchase in the USA?
• Do doctors often tell people my age, who are only in the very early stages of hair loss, to wait, saying that "you're just imagining this"?  (I do have childhood school pictures that clearly show that my hairline used to be lower)
• Is this often covered by insurance?
• Do doctors typically proscribe these to men, or do they tend to avoid them because of the potential side effects?
• If they do tend to avoid them, how could I subtly persuade my doctor to prescribe them to me without raising any suspicion?
• Any other information or advice you may have?

Thanks!

[V]

I can't answer your questions, but I can say what my experience has been with fighting a receding hairline.
My hairline began to recede when I was 11 years old. By the time I was 12, my nickname at school was Dracula 
I started on hrt in my late 20's, but didn't have enough hair at the time I transitioned, so I wore wigs.
Hrt helped stop the recession and undo some of the damage. I was going bald on the top of my head too, and this also slowed once I was on hrt. I took Oestrogen, Progesterone and an Anti-androgen.
After my srs, I moved to just a low dose of Oestrogen. But to try to reverse the hair loss and promote growth, I took Finasteride (Fincar). It wasn't available for hair loss on prescription in my country, so I self-medicate (yep, bad, I know).
Over time, my hair improved to the point where I didn't need to wear wigs any longer.
That was 12 years ago. But I still had the receded hairline, so I had fue hair transplant 10 years ago. This helped, but I found I was still very slowly losing hair, so I tried one of those "light combs" (the one I use is called 'Hair Max').
It has taken a year, but it is finally having a positive effect. My boyfriend and hairdresser have both commented that I have more hair.
I am still looking at one more round of hair transplants, but I'm so close to getting a reasonable hairline.
It's just taken a long time!

[Dena]

All of the HRT drugs are prescription and Spiro wouldn't be used for hair loss. It's a blood pressure medication and even when used in transgender treatment, it's off label. Finasteride likewise is not prescribed for loss of hair with CIS men and I have been reading some very disturbing post about the side effects that occurs in a small number of people.  Blocking testosterone will stop hair loss and regrowth will occur if the hair is newly lost. Hair that has been missing for a long time will not regrow.

The best advice I can give you is to come out as transgender because it's very unlikely a blocker would be prescribed for hair loss however dutasteride might be prescribed with out detail questioning at your age.

[StillAnonymous]

I started on finasteride and it worked out really well for me.  You just talk to your physician and you don't even have to tell them you're transgender if you don't want to... they'll tell you the associated risks and will probably take a blood test to check your liver, and they'll probably ask to follow up in a month or two to make sure you are taking to it well.

[KarynMcD]

Finasteride likewise is not prescribed for loss of hair with CIS men

Yes it is. In it's lower dose form of Propecia.

Propecia is used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss on the vertex and the anterior mid-scalp area. Male pattern hair loss is a common condition in which men experience thinning of the hair on the scalp. Often, this results in a receding hairline and/or balding on the top of the head. Propecia is for use by men only and should not be used by women or children.

https://www.drugs.com/propecia.html

[popa910]

Thanks for all the information everybody, this should help me begin to figure out how to proceed.

I started on finasteride and it worked out really well for me.  You just talk to your physician and you don't even have to tell them you're transgender if you don't want to... they'll tell you the associated risks and will probably take a blood test to check your liver, and they'll probably ask to follow up in a month or two to make sure you are taking to it well.

That makes it sound pretty easy!   Except for the blood tests; I've had a history of passing out sometimes after getting blood drawn.  But, if it saves my hair, it should be worth it!

[KarynMcD]

If you ever start HRT, you'll be getting blood test every few months when you start out.
Just warn the technician that you've been known to pass out afterwards.

I uses to pass out after a blood draw, but I haven't in many years.

[LucyNewport]

I have similar hair issues - receding at the temples and slight thinning on top. When I started to realize I really was going to go ahead with transition the first thing I did was get a prescription for finasteride. My hope was to stop any further loss. I have been on it for a year and change. It seems to have worked. It also had the side benefit of thinning my arm hair a bit - I only noticed that after many months of daily use.

The other big cosmetic thing for me was a hair transplant (2700 unit FUT), which was back in April of this year. If you can, I'd recommend to avoid going that route. Its easier to keep what you have than to replace it. For me it was the only option. It was co$$$$$tly but seems to have had the desired effect - its still in the early regrowth phase.

good luck!

[popa910]

So since I needed to request my usual prescription (online) anyway, I just asked if there was anything I could do to prevent my hairline from receding.  My doctor responded by saying that a receding hairline is natural in guys and that medications generally aren't that effective. :/

Presumably he just doesn't prescribe things to guys because of the possible side effects.  And unfortunately, my doctor is sort of a family friend and a really nice guy, so I don't really want to tell him that there are in fact medications that do help.  Not to mention the fact that it might raise some suspicions in him.

I guess that when I finally get a job and move away from home, I'll just try getting a new doctor and convincing them to prescribe me something for this.  Thanks for all the advice so far!

[Dena]

If your doctor is ethical, you should tell him you want this to be kept between the two of you. If he can't promise that then you really need another doctor because he isn't serving your needs.

[Lady_Oracle]

What little I lost. like you mentioned in your OP, I got it all back but it took about 4 years. However this was on a full hrt regimen of E, P and AA..no fin or dust. So it is possible to get it all back but you need to start some kind of regimen soon before it gets worst.

[galaxy]

I had HRT since 4 years. Thanks CPA a bit hair come back. But since SRS i lost a lot of hair, about 1/3. After different tries i find a way stop major hairloss with bicalutamide. And i know that ive to wait another 2-3 years to reach my preop level. Very dissapointing.