I started using Rogaine and Finasteride <dosages not allowed> at the end of november. The rogaine I was using twice a day; my routine being starting at the crown and working my way down the middle part to the front of my hairline, then parting and applying at the vertex on each side, and then at nights I would add in a third step where I would apply on each side between the middle part and the vertex part.

I experienced the major shed which now seems to have slowed down, but I'm still noticing miniturization along the front part of my hairline which seems to have receded a bit more. I have now been on spiro and estrogen for about three weeks and have recently been scripted FIN <dosages not allowed>.

I'm wondering if it is safe to either scale back my rogaine routine or stop it all together. I know stopping rogaine will supposedly result in hair loss, but will the medication Im on cover that? Im worried by using the rogain at the front of my hairline that I am causing the increased hairloss I am now experiencing and that if I stop then those front hairs will never return, but I'm also worried that they may not return through the use of the rogaine anyway.

Any relatable experiences?

Moderator edit: It is against the site's policies to post dosages of prescriptions.

Speaking from personal experience, I've been on minoxidil on and off for years. On its own, it has minimal effects, might grow thin 'whispy' hair but it's primary use will be to slow further recession. Whenever I went off it I would start losing all of those thin hairs that it grew and I would feel like my hair loss would speed up a little bit. That being said, it takes a good 3-6 months before you see any results on minoxidil. The same goes for Finasteride as far as time frame for results. They definitely have better results of used together. At this point it's hard to say if the minoxidil would really be useful when paired with the estrogen and Spiro, but it couldnt't hurt. It surprises me that you would have Spiro as well as a full <dosage not allowed> of fin, that seems like it's really double dipping on the anit-androgens, but I won't pretend to know enough about all of that and I'm sure your doctor knows what they are doing.

I know some have reported shedding on Finasteride, since starting it I can't say I've noticed any significant shedding, but it usually stops after a few weeks based on my research. I've never heard of or experienced shedding from minoxidil at all. You say you began the two around the same time, is it possible you are just experiencing the FIN shed? I use the rogain toward the front of my hairline as well. I don't know if it's making any difference, but haven't had any loss additional loss. The only thing to be worried about applying toward the front t of the scalp should be seeing some increased growth from your facial hair, I've been told.

Also, are you growing out your hair presently? As it gets longer hair can have a tendency to look thinner because of the way the strands fall.

Moderator edit: It is against the site's policies to post prescription dosages.

MissSalutations,

Welcome to the site.

I am sorry I don't have experience to help you out. However, there are a lot of members here. Perhaps you will get a few good posts to guide you.

I also had to edit the two above posts because we do not allow dosages to be posted on the site. It is not a huge issue, you were not aware and it is your first post. So I am including links that will help you with those rules and policies.
They are mostly welcome information and the rules that govern the site. If you have not had a chance to look through them, please take a moment to:

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Once again, welcome to Susan's. Look around, ask questions and join in.

With warmth,

Joanna

Fin prevents 80 to 86% of the conversion of T to DHT (bad waxy stuff that strangles the hair root blood supply ). Topical Rogain causes the minute blood hair supply to open up. Spiro tells the brain there is too much T and to reduce production. Each of the three do something different. Sufficient levels if E will  act as an anti-androgen. E pills have SHBG which binds to free T.

I used them all with some success.

Quote from: Rachel Lynn on February 07, 2017, 06:15:47 PM
Fin prevents 80 to 86% of the conversion of T to DHT (bad waxy stuff that strangles the hair root blood supply )

The studies I came across showed around a 70% reduction in DHT levels in the blood with finasteride. Dutasteride, on the other hand, in the mid to upper 90%, if I recall correctly, depending on the dose.

QuoteSpiro tells the brain there is too much T and to reduce production.

Actually, this is not how Spiro seems to work because its antigonadotropic effects are weak due to weak progestogenic effects and it actually blocks T so that gonads would actually sense there isn't enough T in the body and increase its production. The reason T is reduced on Spiro is because it inhibits enzymes that allow for conversion to androgens, increases metabolic clearance of T and peripheral conversion of T to E.

QuoteSufficient levels if E will  act as an anti-androgen. E pills have SHBG which binds to free T.

E pills don't have SHBG. Rather, E stimulates production of SHBG through passage in the portal vein to the liver whereas T reduces it. SHBG binds T strongly, with the result of less T being free to float around and bind to receptors. E also reduces production of testes' production of T because if the body senses there is either enough estrogen, progesterone or testosterone or a combination of either of these hormones, it stops sending signals to the gonads telling them to produce testosterone (or estrogen in ciswomen).

I still use Rogaine.  It's cheap enough for me for to not "risk it".  I've read that you can stop, but I don't know when is the stopping point (roughly 4 ~ 6 months seems to be a common recommendation from what I have seen online)...  I think it's just one of those things that are different for each person though.  Finasteride alone seems to have stopped the balding for me, but I noticed much better results while using Rogaine in adjunct to it.

Thanks for all the feedback. And also thanks for not banning me for the rookie mistake lol.

I've started reducing the amount of rogaine I use. I'm now only applying it to the part down the middle of my scalp and the sides, and in not as massive quantities.

I am growing my hair out long for almost a year now (I wear my hoodie up at work all day as I was getting trash talked when I tried wearing a hair band) I feel that the long hair helps mask what I've been naturally losing and what has been shedding from the medication use.

My thinning is not that bad to be honest although I've NEVER liked my hairline, but the shock of noticing the thinning parts over the summer was enough to keep me glued to the mirror everyday. As my hairline is not that bad for now I'm going to keep using the rogaine until the four month mark, and will talk more about it with my GP in April. I keep forgetting that I have a medical professional just an email away. Never had a GP before.

I do really appreciate the feedback, thanks!

No problem about the "rookie mistake." That is one of the most common things mods end up doing. It is also why we give out links to newly posting members.

Good luck with your goals.

With warmth,

Joanna

Do you need finasteride if your T levels are low?

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It seems a few people may be especially sensitive to DHT (male pattern baldness) so that even low levels of T convert to enough DHT in tissues and can cause problems. Finasteride may help in that case. As always, discuss this issue with your doctor.

So, my $64K question is this:
If you used fin and women's rogaine before GRS and noticed regrowth in your peaks, then had GRS and no longer produce T at any appreciable level and stopped the fin and rogaine what will/could happen?  I mean, is DHT a real possibility without gonads and decent E levels?  Also, does the new growth or regrowth still depend on the rogaine to stay?

I can only tell you that based on a study in men who underwent castration, blood testosterone levels reduced to 95 % post-op BUT DHT levels only reduced by 50-60% in tissues (from conversion of adrenal androgens in tissues) so that if you are genetically susceptible and very sensitive to the effect of DHT, finasteride may be necessary. Your doctor should help you determine what the best course of action is.

Yeah I brought all this up with my Doc at my first session as I had been googling endlessly before I moved forward with this whole thing. When I asked about the redundancy of Fin with Spiro she sort of shrugged her shoulders and said it couldn't hurt, she has prescribed Fin to her transitioning patients in the past. As I am adamant to hold on to my hairline I opted for the additional treatment.

Quote from: MissSalutations on February 10, 2017, 11:38:45 AM
Yeah I brought all this up with my Doc at my first session as I had been googling endlessly before I moved forward with this whole thing. When I asked about the redundancy of Fin with Spiro she sort of shrugged her shoulders and said it couldn't hurt, she has prescribed Fin to her transitioning patients in the past. As I am adamant to hold on to my hairline I opted for the additional treatment.

Yea, I am not willing to risk my hairline to find out, either.  I am only on fin now; stopped spiro after GRS.  But the fin+rogaine is staying until I find some conclusive evidence that I can stop and not lose a single hair! LOL

I am post op and have noticed my hair looks better which is subjective. I am taking a very low T cream now and I stopped taking finasteride 6 or so months ago. I may go back (I have a script) but break the pill apart and take it over 3 or 4 days. I see my doctor on the 28th and will review it with him. Dutasteride is not on my prescription formulary unless I win an appeal or the trans care pharmacy where I get the federal trans pricing and it is expensive without coverage.



Kay-XO, I stand corrected.

The effects of finasteride on scalp skin and serum androgen levels in men with androgenetic alopecia.

Drake L1, Hordinsky M, Fiedler V, Swinehart J, Unger WP, Cotterill PC, Thiboutot DM, Lowe N, Jacobson C, Whiting D, Stieglitz S, Kraus SJ, Griffin EI, Weiss D, Carrington P, Gencheff C, Cole GW, Pariser DM, Epstein ES, Tanaka W, Dallob A, Vandormael K, Geissler L, Waldstreicher J.



Author information



Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Data suggest that androgenetic alopecia is a process dependent on dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and type 2 5alpha-reductase. Finasteride is a type 2 5alpha-reductase inhibitor that has been shown to slow further hair loss and improve hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia.

OBJECTIVE:

We attempted to determine the effect of finasteride on scalp skin and serum androgens.

METHODS:

Men with androgenetic alopecia (N = 249) underwent scalp biopsies before and after receiving 0.01, 0.05, 0.2, 1, or 5 mg daily of finasteride or placebo for 42 days.

RESULTS:

Scalp skin DHT levels declined significantly by 13.0% with placebo and by 14.9%, 61.6%, 56. 5%, 64.1%, and 69.4% with 0.01, 0.05, 0.2, 1, and 5 mg doses of finasteride, respectively. Serum DHT levels declined significantly (P <.001) by 49.5%, 68.6%, 71.4%, and 72.2% in the 0.05, 0.2, 1, and 5 mg finasteride treatment groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

In this study, doses of finasteride as low as 0.2 mg per day maximally decreased both scalp skin and serum DHT levels. These data support the rationale used to conduct clinical trials in men with male pattern hair loss at doses of finasteride between 0.2 and 5 mg.

I am also interested in this thread. I have a pretty thin area on the top and receded some in the front. DHT is a devil for certain. My T levels dropped off hard a few months after I had a vesectomy some 7 years ago. Despite the complete loss of sex drive and lethargy, I seemed to have plenty of DHT to maintain muscle mass and continue slow hair loss. While waiting to get to see an HRT doctor I have been taking normal amounts of supplements. Saw palmetto is supposed to be a mild alfa5 reductase inhibitor. For me it along with a couple of tablespoons of flaxseed in my cereal has had profound effects on muscle loss. Hope to see no further hair loss but only time will tell.

whaat are the side effects of Fin and spiro?  Hate to be a 'constancy' person but I have taken some pharmaceuticals and stopped and found my situation worse than before.  Also, has any one seen breast reduction after stopping spiro?

Thanx josie76 for the info.

I used to use Rogaine, but it messed up my scalp pretty badly. I have really bad psoriasis, and the chemicals caused it to get really bad on my scalp, I could shower at noon and by 1, my head looked like I was just covered in white confetti. It was really bad and caused a lot of stress because I always looked like I never washed my hair. I stopped using the rogaine and have since gotten the psoriasis issue well under control. My hair is thinner then ever, so now I just buzz it down short and wear a wig when I'm en femme.

I should just note that I use the topical foam Rogaine for men. From what I've read the liquid solution contains an alcohol in it which causes scalp irritation in some users. Since I'm growing my hair out I go through a month's supply (one can) in like two weeks. I buy the three pack of cans at the walgreens I get my other scripts, sometimes its on sale if I have my walgreens card.

A bit off topic here but does anybody else here avoid looking into dark storefront windows as you pass by them? Specifically dark store front windows. Are they cursed?! Because geez oh man I went for a run over the weekend and ruined my whole saturday with one glimpse.