SO My hair is getting almost to my shoulder and still no filling in enough where I had male pattern balding.  I know wigs are an option one I do not like. and surgery to relocate my hairline, and moving hair around.  Has anyone had a great result with those, or with Rogaine or Propecia (Finesteride)?

Love and Hugs Marcie

I had a similar thread a while back.  There were some ladies there with excellent results.  Here's the link, but I'm sure they will pipe in also.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,228370.msg2025883.html#msg2025883

Bari Jo

 It is my understanding that finesteride will slow down or actually stop male pattern hair loss.  It has definitely helped mine.  I don't believe that it alone will facilitate regrowth.

I started going thin on top in my very early 20's.  It has been really hard on me.  I'm now almost 37 years old, and am completely bald on the top.  So finally last year, I decided to just start keeping my entire head completely shaved.  Which of course does wonders for my dysphoria  but atleast it is better than having the old man look of totally bald on top and only hair around the sides.  I have tried Rogaine in the past, with absolutely zero noticeable results.  I think mine is just too far gone.  It would take a LOT of RE-growth and most things only stop the loss, not help regrow.  And I don't think I have enough hair to work with even if I were to go the route of surgeries.  So I am currently in the market for a good wig that I actually like.  So far all of the wigs I have tried, make me feel like I look really weird.  But I think I just need to get used to it.

Quote from: Bari Jo on November 01, 2017, 09:26:11 AM
I had a similar thread a while back.  There were some ladies there with excellent results.  Here's the link, but I'm sure they will pipe in also.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,228370.msg2025883.html#msg2025883

Bari Jo

THANK YOU!  I had also heard that there can be some initial shedding of hair that scares me?  I did not see that yet in the other thread...do you know?

love and hugs, Marcie!

Initial shedding is very common with most hair treatments or surgeries.

I've mentioned what I've been doing in a few threads now (I think in the one Bari Jo linked in particular), but no harm going over it again.

I've seen solid results so far from minoxidill + finasteride + ketoconazole. I have only been on them a few months, but I have a lot of wispy hairs that are darkening everyday. I use the generic and cheapest versions of everything, such as buying the costco brand Minox off of Amazon for 20 bucks for 6 months. Finasteride I get Proscar and quarter it (a few bucks a month versus 100 bucks a month for Propecia, and its the same exact thing, Proscar is actually the original they spun off into propecia after recognizing the hair effects). Ketoconazole shampoos have been clinically shown to help with stopping dht bonding to follicles, though in theory if you are on HRT this is not needed. However, it also helps to sooth the scalp from the irritation/dryness that repeated minox use can cause. (And it's cheap, so you know, why not? The non prescription 1% brand is Nizoral, but there is a 2% prescription solution too that is supposed to be more effective.)

My results: I began with seemingly barren crown (MPB) and thin hair on top due to genetics (not MPB) as well as severe damage from scalp psoriasis, all hair lost or damaged mostly within the 2-7 year window that is often cited as the upper limit on "reviving" follicles. My front hair line was fine, so can't speak to effect on it. 2 Months of minox led to a ton of near invisible wispy growth, particularly on the crown and on top. Seeing this, I ran out and got the other two. Now, about two months later my hair is notably thicker on top with a lot of stray hairs on crown and even more of the translucent hairs (just touching my head it doesn't feel bald at all, you just can't really see it). Nowhere near full coverage by any means, and doubt it ever will be, but still a major improvement in just 2 months while you aren't even really supposed to be seeing effects for at least 4-6, and not full effects for a year to two. I add the caveat that much of this hair may been the follicles that were impacted by psoriasis and not actually regrowing of hair lost to MPB, which would explain the uncommon speed of some of the results.

My goal is not full coverage, that's a pipe dream unless hair loss is extremely minor when starting, but to make transplants more feasible/effective (and cheaper).

I have used both finasteride and Rogaine (actually generic 2% Minoxidil) for years. They did stop my hair loss thankfully but I don't really think I have had much regrowth of lost hair. Luckily I started with mostly full hair, just thinned on top a bit. After a few months of Rogaine you can reduce to only 3 or 4 times a week (my doctor told me this), not twice a day as recommended on the label. I can't use the 5% because of itching and irritation, so I get the women's version (Walgreens) which is always 2% (same price, same ingredients).

does finesteride require a prescription?

Quote from: Becca Kay on November 15, 2017, 06:22:06 PM
does finesteride require a prescription?

Yes.

Quote from: Roll on November 01, 2017, 10:46:11 AM
Initial shedding is very common with most hair treatments or surgeries.

I've mentioned what I've been doing in a few threads now (I think in the one Bari Jo linked in particular), but no harm going over it again.

I've seen solid results so far from minoxidill + finasteride + ketoconazole. I have only been on them a few months, but I have a lot of wispy hairs that are darkening everyday. I use the generic and cheapest versions of everything, such as buying the costco brand Minox off of Amazon for 20 bucks for 6 months. Finasteride I get Proscar and quarter it (a few bucks a month versus 100 bucks a month for Propecia, and its the same exact thing, Proscar is actually the original they spun off into propecia after recognizing the hair effects). Ketoconazole shampoos have been clinically shown to help with stopping dht bonding to follicles, though in theory if you are on HRT this is not needed. However, it also helps to sooth the scalp from the irritation/dryness that repeated minox use can cause. (And it's cheap, so you know, why not? The non prescription 1% brand is Nizoral, but there is a 2% prescription solution too that is supposed to be more effective.)

My results: I began with seemingly barren crown (MPB) and thin hair on top due to genetics (not MPB) as well as severe damage from scalp psoriasis, all hair lost or damaged mostly within the 2-7 year window that is often cited as the upper limit on "reviving" follicles. My front hair line was fine, so can't speak to effect on it. 2 Months of minox led to a ton of near invisible wispy growth, particularly on the crown and on top. Seeing this, I ran out and got the other two. Now, about two months later my hair is notably thicker on top with a lot of stray hairs on crown and even more of the translucent hairs (just touching my head it doesn't feel bald at all, you just can't really see it). Nowhere near full coverage by any means, and doubt it ever will be, but still a major improvement in just 2 months while you aren't even really supposed to be seeing effects for at least 4-6, and not full effects for a year to two. I add the caveat that much of this hair may been the follicles that were impacted by psoriasis and not actually regrowing of hair lost to MPB, which would explain the uncommon speed of some of the results.

My goal is not full coverage, that's a pipe dream unless hair loss is extremely minor when starting, but to make transplants more feasible/effective (and cheaper).

Thank You SO MUCH for sharing.  I am thin on top to just over the top - heading toward MPB but I have wispy hair and some left all over.  As I have been growing it long and on HRT - only 6weeks -I have been seeing more hair.  The propecia I am taking is I am sure the lowest dose so I do not know if that can or will be increased.  I have not added Rogaine - is that really an addition? 

I also so far have not had noticeable shedding although only on this for short while! How inevitable is shedding?

Thanks  Love and Hugs Marcie

washing your scalp with a strong brew of coffee or green tea or both will reverse hair loss....the folks at rogaine don't want you to know about that lol.

also a plum blossom hammer, an acupuncture tool works miracles, but it's not for the faint of heart

Quote from: Marcieelizabeth on November 17, 2017, 08:09:54 AM
Thank You SO MUCH for sharing.  I am thin on top to just over the top - heading toward MPB but I have wispy hair and some left all over.  As I have been growing it long and on HRT - only 6weeks -I have been seeing more hair.  The propecia I am taking is I am sure the lowest dose so I do not know if that can or will be increased.  I have not added Rogaine - is that really an addition? 

I also so far have not had noticeable shedding although only on this for short while! How inevitable is shedding?

Thanks  Love and Hugs Marcie

Rogaine/minox works in a different manner than Propecia/finast, so for maximum effect I'd say it's definitely worth adding if you don't mind the cost (which isn't bad at all for the cheap watery stuff, but the foam is about double the cost and may be required to actually get down into your scalp with longer hair at all). It's very hard to judge the effects without it acting in a void however, so you may not be able to see any change.

There is only one dosage of Propecia specifically(though Proscar, meant for swollen prostates, is five times the same exact medicine), but I don't know if that is because of the side effects or it just doesn't do anything past a certain point. We are in a unique position to not care, or even welcome, the side effects though.

With the meds you probably have seen the shedding you are going to have. That is more of an issue with the surgeries or anything that causes a major shock to the system (I saw reference to it regarding platelet rich plasma treatments for instance). I think it may also depend on exactly what is "wrong" with your hair, as if the actual hair is damaged it will probably shed where as if you just are creating growth in a bald patch obviously there is nothing to shed to begin with.

Ive had a receding hairline for a few years now. Its pretty noticeable when i pull my hair back [emoji17] what would be helpful to regrow the hair there?

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Quote from: dist123 on November 17, 2017, 08:50:07 AM
Ive had a receding hairline for a few years now. Its pretty noticeable when i pull my hair back [emoji17] what would be helpful to regrow the hair there?

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same as above.  apply strong green tea or strong coffee topically to the effected area, and get a plum blossom hammer and use it

Quote from: extraaction on November 17, 2017, 08:51:54 AM
same as above.  apply strong green tea or strong coffee topically to the effected area, and get a plum blossom hammer and use it

How? Does it have to be brewed?

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Quote from: dist123 on November 17, 2017, 10:54:21 AM
How? Does it have to be brewed?

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yes ma'am

paying a small fortune to have every hair below my eyebrows removed at the root... one electrode at a time.  would give pay a fortune more to have a few hairs added to the top of my head.

This is the ultimate irony - paying huge sums of money to move around hairs on the top of my head and zap hairs on my face.  I have a second hair transplant (unshaven FUT) in a few weeks to give a more rounded and female hairline and then a few weeks after that, a bulk 16 hour electrolysis session (split over 2 days).  Hopefully I won't need all those hours to get a full clearance.  Endgame for electrolysis should be in sight.

All in all, a very expensive process.

aren't Finasteride and Propecia both androgen blockers?  Like Spironolactone?  If you're on an HRT regime (spiro) what good would it be in taking additional androgen blockers?  Spiro already blocks the production of DHT.

Quote from: Becca Kay on November 19, 2017, 11:01:02 AM
aren't Finasteride and Propecia both androgen blockers?  Like Spironolactone?  If you're on an HRT regime (spiro) what good would it be in taking additional androgen blockers?  Spiro already blocks the production of DHT.

Propecia is finasteride just to be clear on that.

I asked about this during my HRT consult and I've seen it come up a few times here and there, but for whatever reason Spiro doesn't seem to cause regrowth whereas finast and dutasteride do, or at least hasn't been shown to clinically maybe. Their mechanism seems to be different, which makes sense since they are different chemicals I guess. I was told to stay on the finasteride for now, but that once it has reached maximum effect (1-2 years) and dht is suppressed, it won't be necessary.