Thank you! I couldn't tell if I had improved or not.
How long were you using Rogaine and what %?
I didn't know the hair loss would continue without a blocker! I thought Rogaine would take care of making my strands stronger? Can you elaborate on why DHT blocker is a necessity? Based on yr own experience
IF you have androgenic hair loss
that means your skin is sensitive to DHT OR your body is making too much DHT (this is why you have to see a DR)
Either way medication is needed in order to decrease the amount of DHT.
The DHT is what attacks the hair follicles and it miniaturizes the follicles and over time shrinks the hair and also slows down the growth phase...so this is the cause/effect of baldness over time.
Women rarely go bald but we can think dramatically over time especially around menopause or after menopause.
some women who are young get aggressive hair loss due to a syndrome PCOS which effects hormones in the body and you have other symptoms (that is what syndrome means in a way) You can google PCOS and see if that seems like something you might have but you will also want to speak to a Dr.
The DHT blocker that is best known for women is spironolactone and it lowers testosterone levels..Testosterone is what produces the DHT that attacks the hair...lower you T the DHT goes down (in theory)..The oral med is effective supposedly in 30% of women for hair regrowth and 30% of women for stopping/slowing the hair loss..so I think that means 40% chance it wont work...
The spironolactone can cause birth defects in male babies so it is important if you go on the medicine you do not get pregnant while on it and if you want to get pregnant check with your Gyno how long is safe to be off it before getting pregnant
The other caveat is it can mess with your period cycle (skip months or get period 2x a month) so it is usually paired with a birth control pill for comfort with this and to also eliminate the risk of accidental pregnancy..
The caveat with this is SOME birth control pills will INCREASE hair loss...SOme women never have hair loss until they are on birth control pills (if you are on them now this may be a trigger for you so check the type of hormones they are) OTHER birth control pills are actually GOOD for hair growth in some people..its just unpredictable to a degree...unfortunatly the ones that are GOOD for hair growth are also the higher risk birth control pills....I think it increase potentially dangerous side effects (blood clots, strokes) 3x more than other birth control....when you look at the studies its actually NOT a huge number (sounds like it but relatively speaking its not) but if you already have risk factors (family history, obesity, smoke) you have to discuss this with you GYNO.
I know that is A LOT of information to take in so sorry in advance.
There are topical anti DHT you can get depending where you live. I am on a topical spironolactone..I dont know how effective it is to be honest. I might be adding a topical finasteride which is another Anit DHT that mostly men take because I think its even more risky for birth defects (not 100% sure).
I am on 5% foam rogaine i just follow directions 1//2 cap at night
I have a topical anti DHT blend from my Dr but it works 'meh'.
I was also ferritin anemic and I have to take a lot of iron and have it checked--this helped my shedding.
I am on treatments since like October.
i have slowed down the loss and i have some regrowth but I am debating adding another topical and/or going on oral meds.
I am also following obsessively the research threads of the forum about Brotuz, histogen, folica, Tsugi--replicel these are all 'possible' treatments in trials at various stages.
