Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Ok.  This a major hang up point for me at this point in my life.  I have slowly been losing hair for a few years now.  I ignored it, much like I did with my transsexuality.  Now that I'm seriously looking at transition at some point, I am very concerned about where I am at after years of neglect.  I just stated taking 5mg finasteride a week ago to halt progression and possible regain some ground.  Right now, I have some pretty deep recession with some thinning on top and at the crown.  Have any of you dealt withis difficult hurdle?  What results did you see from medications, transplants, procedures (flap?), etc?  Any insight might ease my mind a bit.  Also, will HRT play a role in this at all?  Thanks in advance, girlz!  I'm totally freaking out over this!!!!

I can't speak for anything else but HRT, and I never really had any problem with hair loss. But on E + Spiro + Fin, my hair density went from medium to thick in about 8 months. I've read Fin works best on the crown area but many see at least minor results with their hairline. However, on Fin there is an initial shedding phase that lasts a couple months. They say you should wait at least a year after Finasteride to gauge your results. Transplants work too, but they're extremely expensive. They told my brother (who is COMPLETELY bald) that it would cost $50k to give him a full head of hair again.

As a kid I went from baby hair to balding. My grandfather on my dad's side was as bald as a Que ball. Mom's side had a great head of hair. From her I got hips and I can't complain now flabby chest  :D

When I did HRT in my 20's, estrogen alone didn't do much to help out my hair after 6 months or so that I was on it for. Back in the 70's there weren't the modern miracles like we now have.

I have tried everything under the sun.  I guess mine it to far gone.  I stuck using toppers to cover the bad areas.

I would love to have my own hair back, like when I was younger.

Testes removal can totally stop Hair loss in its tracks..

The choice is yours.

surgical Hair advancements can pull it together to remove any signs of recession or bald spots.

Transplants can fill in where it has been long gone

i was 41 when i started and this is what i did and i have all my hair since then and am very happy

HRT should most definitely have a positive impact on it, although, I would assume your age is an important factor.. I have been on hrt for a little over a year now. I'm 29, and had serious thinning all over as well as had a small bald spot on the crown of my head that was so  noticeable that it couldn't be missed, before starting hrt. Everything that I have been taking for my hair this entire time includes finasteride, minoxidil 5%, silica complex, alfalfa, biotin, and nioxin hair treatment in the beginning to help clean off the buildup of dht on my scalp. I also take other vitamins everyday that weren't specifically for my hair, but may have played a part also. Those include a multivitamin, fish oil, B complex, B12, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin D, and green tea. I also use olive oil as a leave in conditioner overnight as often as possible too. If I could have had the luxury of being able to afford it, I would have used the nioxin the whole time. Another thing you need to do is make sure your eating lots of protien also. Your hair is made of protien, and if your not getting enough, I can assure you that your body won't be using what little you do consume for your hair. since I've started my HRT and this regime, the difference between then and now is like night and day. I'd say I've seen about 50% - 60% of the bald spot's hair come back so far, and the rest has become much, much thicker. Now, when my hair is dry and styled, it's getting harder to even tell that spot's a little thinner than the rest back there now. I hope this helps.

Quote from: ~Nikki59~ on June 16, 2012, 11:12:47 PM
HRT should most definitely have a positive impact on it, although, I would assume your age is an important factor.. I have been on hrt for a little over a year now. I'm 29, and had serious thinning all over as well as had a small bald spot on the crown of my head that was so  noticeable that it couldn't be missed, before starting hrt. Everything that I have been taking for my hair this entire time includes finasteride, minoxidil 5%, silica complex, alfalfa, biotin, and nioxin hair treatment in the beginning to help clean off the buildup of dht on my scalp. I also take other vitamins everyday that weren't specifically for my hair, but may have played a part also. Those include a multivitamin, fish oil, B complex, B12, calcium, vitamin C, and green tea. I also use olive oil as a leave in conditioner overnight as often as possible too. If I could have had the luxury of being able to afford it, I would have used the nioxin the whole time. Another thing you need to do is make sure your eating lots of protien also. Your hair is made of protien, and if your not getting enough, I can assure you that your body won't be using what little you do consume for your hair. since I've started my HRT and this regime, the difference between then and now is like night and day. I'd say I've seen about 50% - 60% of the bald spot's hair come back so far, and the rest has become much, much thicker. Now, when my hair is dry and styled, it's getting harder to even tell that spot's a little thinner than the rest back there now. I hope this helps.

And you need to eat the right proteins to get the right amino acids for rebuilding cells.

SEE BELOW

http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/food3.htm (http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/food3.htm)
Proteins

A protein is any chain of amino acids. An amino acid is a small molecule that acts as the building block of any cell. Carbohydrates provide cells with energy, while amino acids provide cells with the building material they need to grow and maintain their structure. Your body is about 20-percent protein by weight. It is about 60-percent water. Most of the rest of your body is composed of minerals (for example, calcium in your bones). Amino acids are called "amino acids" because they all contain an amino group (NH2) and a carboxyl group (COOH), which is acidic. Below you can see the chemical structure of two of the amino acids.

You can see that the top part of each is identical to the other. That is true of all amino acids -- the little chain at the bottom (the H or the CH3 in these two amino acids) is the only thing varying from one amino acid to the next. In some amino acids, the variable part can be quite large. The human body is constructed of 20 different amino acids (there are perhaps 100 different amino acids available in nature).

As far as your body is concerned, there are two different types of amino acids: essential and non-essential. Non-essential amino acids are amino acids that your body can create out of other chemicals found in your body. Essential amino acids cannot be created, and therefore the only way to get them is through food. Here are the different amino acids:

Non-essential
•Alanine (synthesized from pyruvic acid)
•Arginine (synthesized from glutamic acid)
•Asparagine (synthesized from aspartic acid)
•Aspartic Acid (synthesized from oxaloacetic acid)
•Cysteine
•Glutamic Acid (synthesized from oxoglutaric acid)
•Glutamine (synthesized from glutamic acid)
•Glycine (synthesized from serine and threonine)
•Proline (synthesized from glutamic acid)
•Serine (synthesized from glucose)
•Tryosine (synthesized from phenylalanine)

Essential
•Histidine
•Isoleucine
•Leucine
•Lysine
•Methionine
•Phenylalanine
•Threonine
•Tryptophan
•Valine

Protein in our diets comes from both animal and vegetable sources. Most animal sources (meat, milk, eggs) provide what's called "complete protein," meaning that they contain all of the essential amino acids. Vegetable sources usually are low on or missing certain essential amino acids. For example, rice is low in isoleucine and lysine. However, different vegetable sources are deficient in different amino acids, and by combining different foods you can get all of the essential amino acids throughout the course of the day. Some vegetable sources contain quite a bit of protein -- things like nuts, beans, soybeans, etc. are all high in protein. By combining them you can get complete coverage of all essential amino acids.

The digestive system breaks all proteins down into their amino acids so that they can enter the bloodstream. Cells then use the amino acids as building blocks.

From this discussion you can see that your body cannot survive strictly on carbohydrates. You must have protein. According to this article, the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for protein is 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight. So a 150-pound person needs 54 grams of protein per day. The photo above is the Nutritional Facts label from a can of tuna. You can see that a can of tuna contains about 32 grams of protein (this can has 13 grams per serving and there are 2.5 servings in the can). A glass of milk contains about 8 grams of protein. A slice of bread might contain 2 or 3 grams of protein. You can see that it is not that hard to meet the RDA for protein with a normal diet.

Excellent point and resource, Amazon. Thank you.

Thanks for all the useful information!  It's hard to imagine my hair getting better, but I have seen people worse of than with great results with meds and transplants!  Until then, I'll eat fin and protien!

Well 42 months on HRT - and the Fenisteride as one of the blockers.  I never had male pattern hair loss but I did have a bit of thinning.  After one year that thinning filled out.  My avatar shows my real hair.  I am age 65 - but also 1/4 Native American which may have something to do with it.  I think genetics has a lot to do with how well  you keep your hair.

I was always blessed with a good head of hair, and with the 'mones i have kept it as my brothers has been receading  >:-) he he he

I've read something along the lines of 95% of those who take Finasteride ALONE experience at least a dramatic slowing of MPB. Also, if you get an orchiectomy (testes removal), you will NOT lose any more hair due to male pattern baldness, unless somehow you have a bunch of testosterone being produced elsewhere in your body (This is an addon of sorts to what Amazon said). DHT is what causes male pattern baldness (it blocks the dermal papilla from being able to feed the follicle with nutrients).

DHT = evil hormone :P

Make sure you look into the vitamins and nioxin too! They're all pieces to the puzzle..

Needed to start taking vitamins anyway!  Aren't Nioxin products pricey?  I've no experience with Nioxin whatsoever!

Well when testing before starting HRT I was in the woman's range for testosterone.  So maybe that is a reason I never had male pattern hair loss.

Lizzy

Yeah, they are a bit pricey, which is why I said I would have used it the whole time if I could have had the luxury to afford it.. Lol. Transition is expensive, but we all already know that. At least try to use it in the beginning. It will really help with removing the buildup of dht on your scalp, while conditioning it, which, is essential. Think of it as skin care for your scalp. I have talked to a few different people that have tried it, and they all swear by it, which is why I decided to try it. Now, I'm a believer also.

Omg are you guys saying that HRT isn't enough to stop it? I'm 18 and it's already starting!

Quote from: ~RoadToTrista~ on June 18, 2012, 08:36:39 PM
Omg are you guys saying that HRT isn't enough to stop it? I'm 18 and it's already starting!

Depends on your genes.  And if you get rid of those nasty "T" factories, or get on Spironolactone or equivalent, you should be fine.

I agree with Ms. OBrien.. However, I was just getting into some ways to help reverse the hair loss that has done wonders for me.. Hopefully, it will do wonders for someone else also.

Quote from: ~RoadToTrista~ on June 18, 2012, 08:36:39 PM
Omg are you guys saying that HRT isn't enough to stop it? I'm 18 and it's already starting!

18?  Hell, I was 12 when mine started receeding  >:(  That was the start of stopping thoughts of transition.

Estrogen as well as an AA used for treating MPB will alter the process. As always in the case with medical science and hormones, YMMV

Quote from: ~RoadToTrista~ on June 18, 2012, 08:36:39 PM
Omg are you guys saying that HRT isn't enough to stop it? I'm 18 and it's already starting!

If your testosterone levels are suppressed to female levels you will stop MPB. Throw on some Finasteride on top of that to absolutely kill MPB in it's tracks. Also, estrogen stimulates anagen (growth) phase in hair follicles, along with extending the length of time hair is in that phase. HRT should stop it, if not then it's because your body is resistant to the effects of either Spiro, Fin, or both. Or it's not MPB, it's another form of alopecia.

Quote from: ConfusedCJ on June 15, 2012, 05:35:24 PM
I just stated taking 5mg finasteride a week ago to halt progression and possible regain some ground.

5mg is a very hefty dose ... but fine for a TS, since you probably won't be bothered by the possible side-effects (loss of libido, impotence, itchy nipple, possible breast growth/gynecomastia) that would freak out 'normal' males.

By way of comparison, Propecia - the proprietary hair-growth tablet that is basically finasteride - is just a 1mg dose.

FWIW I've found satisfactory regrowth (by no means total but A LOT better than it was) with a combination of 12.5% Minoxidil cream and a quarter of a 5mg tablet daily.

That said, when I've taken larger doses of Finasteride, tho it had the side-effects I've mentioned above - not so good since I was still in male-mode - it also calmed my GID a lot, which was a terrific, unexpected bonus ... but logical, really, since it was blocking a lot of the effect of my testosterone ...

As Carlita say really, i was on Dutas for a long time, i still am to maintain a DHT blocker in what little T i have but dure to the level of regression i had, i was obviously sensitive to DHT.

My experience was good regrowth and increased hair growth speed. However if you have that male M pattern only transplants will cure that. I had some a week after my srs and i could not be happier, i went form what is it a 3-4 on that hair pattern they use for men to a full head infact my brother often remarks is like i am wearing a wig now.

All my hair :) i do feel though i got some good infill off Dutas and ofc coupled with HRT and back then a T blocker(androcur) i know you take fin but if you are fortuane enough to get good results off it then there is no reason it will slow and stop the regression until you can look into alternatives and even get some regrowth back.

It will never replace a full head though ofc but good luck with results :)

I sure wish that i still had the head of long hair that I used to sport at 19 LOL..... especially now that i've figured out that i'm transgender.

In my mid 40's i saw a picture of the back of my dads head at a party and said "I don't remember dad being at that party", and then a few minutes later with shock i realized that it was me! I was following my dad right down the trail of MPB on the crown of my head.

All of my grandparents died at advanced ages with full heads of hair, and my mom is in her 70's now.... with a full head of hair. Dad and I are the freaks in the family with the billiard ball thing going on.

So I started on finesteride and later switched to dutas. I'm pushing 50 now and sadly i've realized that it ain't coming back, but I did get some wispy regrowth on the crown area, and the progression of the MPB seems to have stopped.

Oh well, at least there is always a wig :P

So, I'm nearly one month on Finasteride and I just bought Nioxin system 2 cleanser, scalp treatment, and scalp therapy yesterday ($75, pricey!!!).  I used the shampoo and conditioner this morning for the first time.  It really did make my scalp feel fresh and made my hair very soft.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll see some great results in the next few months!