Female Hormone effect on hair?

[techcrunch]

Hey there

I'm a 22 year old female to male transsexual who has briefly invaded your space for a moment. I have a question for transsexual women about female hormones.

I started transitioning into male when i was 19 and i have been taking testosterone for over 3 years now. From the moment i took testosterone i had problems with it. Testosterone has given me an autoimmune condition where my own immune system attacks my skin cells resulting in extreme hive attacks everyday, they are very painful and very difficult to cope with. I stayed on testosterone hoping my body would get used to it and i also tried every other available source of testosterone in a vain effort to cure the problem, but no such luck. I came off testosterone for a couple of months and my immune system returned back to normal and i no longer had outbreaks of extreme hives. So then it would appear my body really does not like testosterone.  The other problem i am experiencing is the earlier signs of male pattern baldness in that my hairline has receded and the top is thinner.

Due to my problems with testosterone i am considering stopping treatment altogether. Combined with the autoimmune condition and the fact i may go bald is really quite a blow to me and I'm really tired of being stuck in a body which stings and burns my skin everyday.

So my question is, if i stop taking testosterone will the female hormones have any effect on my hair? I know i won't re grow the hair that has fallen out, but will the existing hairs thicken up again?

Any advice appreciated.

[Ellieka]

I can't speak with authority on the subject but I know from personal experience that at just over eleven months on HRT My hair has stopped coming out. I don't find nearly as many in the brush any more and it looks to me as if my receded hair line is actually filling back in some.

I hope things improve for you soon.

-Cami

[MaggieB]

Testosterone is converted to Dihydrotestosterone which causes male pattern baldness.
When I began to go on estrogen and anti-androgens at 50, my family pattern of baldness did not happen for me.  My mother's father was bald and I was heading that way.  After HRT, My receding hairline reversed course. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydrotestosterone

Consider taking anti-androgens, perhaps Saw Palmetto. I took that for years and it also had a positive effect on my hair growth.

Maggie

[Michelle.]

Check out the hair care aisle of thr supermarket or Walgreens/CVS type stores. Theres a whole of products dedicated to "male-pattern baldness."

On a selfish note.... HRT just might reverse my receeding hairline. Yeah, cartwheel, yippee, backflip, handstand... ok I've settled down.