Propecia and Rogaine for hairline ? Does it work? Any problems? Pros or Cons ?

[Rachel4now]

Hello,

Just Starting HRT 1 month +.

Have a slight hairline issue widows peek to be exact not horrible but not desirable/feminine.
Doctor has me trying daily Rogaine and 1/4 of a propecia pill daily\
(one pill cut up into 4 pieces)
Started the Propecia 2 weeks ago and the Rogaine yesterday.

Just thought of something ?  Should i be using women rogaine or mens rogaine??

Has anybody had success or problems with this sort of regimen ? 

And yes I'm going to address this with the doc. next time i see him. Just wanting to hear from the Trans Gals out there.   

Thanks in advance
Rachel 

[realAlexaD]

Personally, I decided not to use rogaine. I've read so many horror stories that it accelerates hair loss if you stop using it for a period of time.
I was self-conscious about my temples, but I'd rather not end up with a bald top.


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[Rachel4now]

really???


wow hadn't heard that?!!?!  scary  but the doctor said to try it until all the HRT kicks in at about / around the  6 month marks then stop....

does that make a difference from your experience as far as what you heard?

what about propecia??

[realAlexaD]

Well, reading up on it again, says it's not common, but some people don't recover from the initial shed and are worse off.

I am a worst scenario kinda gal and wouldn't risk it.

https://www.realself.com/question/aurora-users-minoxidil-claim-recover-initial-minoxidil-damage-aid


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[Maybebaby56]

I don't see any advantage to using finasteride at less than the full Propecia dose. 

I had a significant widow's peak, and I was prescribed finasteride at the Proscar dose (5x more), along with spiro and estradiol, and it did result in the significant development of vellus hair in the temporal region of my scalp which matured and got about one inch long. It took almost a year to see visible results, but it was definitely there. Ironically, when I went for FFS I had a scalp advance, the part of my scalp that was cut away was all the new hair.

I am not sure what the difference is between men's and women Rogaine is.  Surprisingly, the mechanism of action of Rogaine is still unknown, although it is thought to lengthen the anagen phase of hair growth, and may increase blood supply to the follicles through opening of potassium channels.  In other words, it has completely different pharmacological action than finastride, which is good. The hair growth that minoxidil produces often disappears once the regimen is stopped, hence the stories of drastic hair loss.

Hope that helps,

Terri

[realAlexaD]

My doctor recommended against finasteride. My T levels are nonexistent (less than 1 ng/dL) from Spiro and estradiol alone, so evidently, there's no benefit in introducing another anti-androgen into my hormone regimen.

Is this true or should I look for a second opinion?


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[Rachel4now]

I don't see any advantage to using finasteride at less than the full Propecia dose. 

I had a significant widow's peak, and I was prescribed finasteride at the Proscar dose (5x more), along with spiro and estradiol, and it did result in the significant development of vellus hair in the temporal region of my scalp which matured and got about one inch long. It took almost a year to see visible results, but it was definitely there. Ironically, when I went for FFS I had a scalp advance, the part of my scalp that was cut away was all the new hair.

I am not sure what the difference is between men's and women Rogaine is.  Surprisingly, the mechanism of action of Rogaine is still unknown, although it is thought to lengthen the anagen phase of hair growth, and may increase blood supply to the follicles through opening of potassium channels.  In other words, it has completely different pharmacological action than finastride, which is good. The hair growth that minoxidil produces often disappears once the regimen is stopped, hence the stories of drastic hair loss.

Hope that helps,

Terri

Thanks I want to mention to my Doctor your experience.

In you opinion ...... and Again we're not Doctors ..... But you experience is / was Propecia.  and no Rogaine ....... but there is the irony of the Scalp advancement that made it all unnecessary anyway , Right?

[Maybebaby56]

My doctor recommended against finasteride. My T levels are nonexistent (less than 1 ng/dL) from Spiro and estradiol alone, so evidently, there's no benefit in introducing another anti-androgen into my hormone regimen.

Is this true or should I look for a second opinion?

Yes, I would agree. Finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the principle agent responsible for hair loss in androgen-sensitive follicles. If you have very low level of T to begin with, I would think there would be little or no advantage to taking it.  Women aren't prescribed finasteride for this reason, except for pathologies such as PCOS, which result in abnormally high testosterone levels.

Finasteride has its own risks. It blocks 5-alpha-reductase everywhere, including the brain, so there can be side-effects completely unrelated to hair loss, such as loss of sexual function, depression, and in my case, chronic insomnia.

~Terri

[Maybebaby56]

Thanks I want to mention to my Doctor your experience.

In you opinion ...... and Again we're not Doctors ..... But you experience is / was Propecia at [5x Propecia dose],  and no Rogaine ....... but there is the irony of the Scalp advancement that made it all unnecessary anyway , Right?

Yes, that is correct.  BTW, we are not allowed to post dosages here, even though anybody can look them up online.

With kindness,

Terri

[realAlexaD]

Thank you Terri.

That's helpful to know.


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[CrystalMatthews0426]

I used rogaine a few years ago because I have very thinning hair, however had a bad reaction due to a history of psoriasis, which I've had on my elbows and knees prior, but started getting for the first time on my scalp after a few months of use... I highly suggest doing research and taking any possible skin conditions before using.

[Rachel4now]

Yes, that is correct.  BTW, we are not allowed to post dosages here, even though anybody can look them up online.

With kindness,

Terri

well if thats you in the avatar window and you had a severe widows peak ....

you just gave me something to feel good about..... I'm really worried about my hair at my age and just starting everything now.....

[Maybebaby56]

well if thats you in the avatar window and you had a severe widows peak ....

you just gave me something to feel good about..... I'm really worried about my hair at my age and just starting everything now.....

Hi Rachel,

Yes, that's me in my avatar, but I am wearing a hairpiece.  Most of the hair you see is mine, but the hair on top of my head is very thin, so I invested in a good human hair topper.  It's not that big - if I carefully fold it up it will fit in my hand - but it makes a huge difference.  Most people are very surprised when I tell them I am wearing a hairpiece. It will have to do until I can afford a hair transplant.

With kindness,

Terri

[Nuuni]

I have heard rumors that topical progesterone on the scalp is better than anything made for cis guys, but I can't personally confirm or deny it.

[Rachel_Christina]

My corners filled way in with HRT and castor/coconut oil mix, they are almost fully filled in now, so nice to see :3

[Rachel4now]

My corners filled way in with HRT and castor/coconut oil mix, they are almost fully filled in now, so nice to see :3

REALLY!!!!!!!! could you provide a little more detail about "castor/coconut oil mix" and/or application.

And timeline as far as when you started as stated by the of above comments??? Pretty Please     

BTW---- YOUR giving me hope !!!!   

Thanks in Advance

Rachel

[Rachel_Christina]

Yep really X3
Castor oil and coconut oil are mixed 50/50 a table spoon of each. This is mostly to thin out the castor oil because it is very thick. I also hear the two together in a plastic tub in a saucer of water to get the coconut oil to melt as it is solid at room temperature, also the heat is good on the scalp and the coconut oil to is beneficial.
After it's all melt and warm, not to warm now it is oil and skin D:
I massage it into my scalp and hair, the masseging itself stimulates blood flow as well, helping them roots and baby new hairs <3
I do this once a week, some people do it twice, but it is a big job and takes effort.
You have to wait like two hours with it in your hair, and it is tough to wash out. Make sure you get it all out in the first run, lol I remember my first time I had to go back to the shower lol
But no I do believe it does work and with the HRT it's a win win.
Within a month of HRT and this I had started to notice hairs,
Read into it abit. And here is a few pics of my regrowth, ignore what you can see of my face :@ I am rotten going to work wher I am not out.



And here is a shot a while ago.


And here is the length gains I have made :3


Now I hope you can have similar results. Maybe my body just responded better to HRT and the oils, I dunno.
But stay positive and hopeful.
Goodluck :3

[Rachel4now]

Hay thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haven't been; on the internet in awhile........ you're awesome........

gonna try tonite for sure!!!!!!!!  you look great BTW  :-)

any particular brands your keen on ?

btw can i ask your age ?   I'm in my mid 40s  and wondering if it makes a difference  and been hrt coming up on 2 months

thanks in advance...........

[Rachel_Christina]

Thanks
Oh I just use any brand atall, organic Cold pressed castor oil.
I actually need to order more.
Have fun with it lol. Hopefully you get it all out in one go, especially first time lol, it can be a torture.
I am 26 almost 27. I'm sure age matters, but genetics matter more, don't worry I had friends of mine bald at 15 back in college lol
I think with hair, we real must not stress about it, this can have a real negative effect on out hair health and can hinder everything, and is one of those vicious circle sorta things.
You just gotta keep up a good regime for your hair and scalp and forget about it for a while

[VeronicaLynn]

I came close to trying Rogaine awhile back, but the side effect that concerns me the most is possible more body hair.

I always had a high hairline to begin with, I don't think it's really receded much from looking at pictures of me when I was younger, though I'm definitely much thinner than when it was twenty years ago, by number of times I have to loop a rubber band when I wear a ponytail.

Not wanting more body hair at all though, possibly bothers me more than my thinning head hair. At least with head hair, I can wear a hat or wig, and instantly problem solved, but with body hair, I got to worry that I missed a spot, and I often do.