Is There An Autoimmune Connection To Male Pattern Baldness?

[MKP05]

nizoral 2-3X a week,
minoxidil twice a day (was sometimes just once a day)
1mg finasteride
derma rolling twice a week.

Am I sure the results of temple follicle regeneration (as well as vertex) is due to micro needling as opposed to the other parts of my approach? No. But I'm extremely skeptical that Id be seeing temple regrowth without derma rolling. I do believe this is the key to recovering from slick bald areas.

Can you provide more information on derma rolling? What type of roller do you use? This is something I’d be interested in adding to my regimen.

 

[Faizan Ali]

Why don’t you try treating your AA? Steroid Injections can be very effective and can result in positive regrowth in a matter of a few months. I’ve attatched a couple of before and after photos. The regrowth picture was taken about a month ago so it’s even more filled in now. Worth a shot.

I think steroid injections work for alopecia areata only

 

[alekgn]

I generally believe that there is an autoimmune connection to MBP. However, I doubt that accounts for the entirety of it. Hair loss has been mapped to over 200 different genes, including the X and Y chromosomes.

 

[Dehydrotestostewronged]

What's the length of the needles you are using?

1.5mm

 

[Dehydrotestostewronged]

Can you provide more information on derma rolling? What type of roller do you use? This is something I’d be interested in adding to my regimen.

Sweet Dream Skin Care Titanium Microneedle 540 Micro Needles Derma Roller Needle-1.5mm

I also bought:

1.5mm 140-Pin Derma Stamp Pen

But I havent received it yet cuz the fuckers shipped it from china.

 

[MKP05]

I think steroid injections work for alopecia areata only

Right. He said he had no regrowth for his alopecia areata but also had not been treating it. Everyone’s case is different but steroid injections are can typically produce a good result for alopecia areata so that’s why I’ve suggested it.

 

[Retinoid]

I think steroid injections work for alopecia areata only

Corticosteroids are actually used for male pattern baldness as well. They were used more often in the pre Finasteride and Minoxidil days but they were still used and have some efficacy. An immune system role obviously plays a part which is why PGD2 inhibitors and JAK inhibitors are being looked at. Corticosteroids would do similar things but are more broad spectrum so are most likely not as efficacious and carry more side effects.

The current understanding is:

X unknown factor (perhaps many) leads to hormonal dysregulation in the follicle/scalp leading to immune dysregulation which leads to shorter lives for the hair and eventually smaller output and baldness.

Currently treatments target the hormonal issues but are imperfect because they affect many tissues in the body, such as Finasteride. Also we have things that help regulate and promote growth to overpower the negative growth inhibition that most men have in the scalp, such as Minoxidil and PRP. Immune system modulators would help inhibit those negative growth inhibitors WITHOUT affecting hormones.

 

[MKP05]

Corticosteroids are actually used for male pattern baldness as well. They were used more often in the pre Finasteride and Minoxidil days but they were still used and have some efficacy. An immune system role obviously plays a part which is why PGD2 inhibitors and JAK inhibitors are being looked at. Corticosteroids would do similar things but are more broad spectrum so are most likely not as efficacious and carry more side effects.

The current understanding is:

X unknown factor (perhaps many) leads to hormonal dysregulation in the follicle/scalp leading to immune dysregulation which leads to shorter lives for the hair and eventually smaller output and baldness.

Currently treatments target the hormonal issues but are imperfect because they affect many tissues in the body, such as Finasteride. Also we have things that help regulate and promote growth to overpower the negative growth inhibition that most men have in the scalp, such as Minoxidil and PRP. Immune system modulators would help inhibit those negative growth inhibitors WITHOUT affecting hormones.

Great response. So if my thinning is due to my immune system does that mean finasteride will not work for me? I’ve been taking it for 2 months and plan to give it 8-12 months to determine whether it’s working. My forelock and temples are taking the brunt of the hit and are thinning out rapidly...noticeable changes week to week and even daily. So whatever is causing my hair loss it’s been really aggressive. Should I get a scalp biopsy and/or attempt to treat it with corticosteroids? I’m still getting injections for my alopecia patch so maybe I have them inject the front too?

 

[Faizan Ali]

Great response. So if my thinning is due to my immune system does that mean finasteride will not work for me? I’ve been taking it for 2 months and plan to give it 8-12 months to determine whether it’s working. My forelock and temples are taking the brunt of the hit and are thinning out rapidly...noticeable changes week to week and even daily. So whatever is causing my hair loss it’s been really aggressive. Should I get a scalp biopsy and/or attempt to treat it with corticosteroids? I’m still getting injections for my alopecia patch so maybe I have them inject the front too?

Consult a hair transplant surgeon for thorough analysis of your scalp, and he might prescribe you some blood tests too

 

[MKP05]

Consult a hair transplant surgeon for thorough analysis of your scalp, and he might prescribe you some blood tests too

I think I might do that. I’ve had blood work done already to test for iron, thyroid, celiac and other potential causes but everything is normal. I’ve had 2 different dermatologist PAs tell me this is Androgenetic Alopecia but I can’t shake my gut feeling that there is an autoimmune component due to the fact that 1) this didn’t start until I had an AA flare up in Feb and 2) the speed at which I’m thinning. This is not a gradual loss/thinning. It’s been a couple of inches in a few short months. I’m curious to know that if this is an immune response does that mean a DHT blocker (finasteride) may not help? Or was my DHT sensitivity simply increased suddenly due to my immune system being out of whack? In which case finasteride could help slow this down.

 

[Faizan Ali]

I think I might do that. I’ve had blood work done already to test for iron, thyroid, celiac and other potential causes but everything is normal. I’ve had 2 different dermatologist PAs tell me this is Androgenetic Alopecia but I can’t shake my gut feeling that there is an autoimmune component due to the fact that 1) this didn’t start until I had an AA flare up in Feb and 2) the speed at which I’m thinning. This is not a gradual loss/thinning. It’s been a couple of inches in a few short months. I’m curious to know that if this is an immune response does that mean a DHT blocker (finasteride) may not help? Or was my DHT sensitivity simply increased suddenly due to my immune system being out of whack? In which case finasteride could help slow this down.

It is probably androgenic aloepecia which is the case among 90% of hair loss sufferers, you should start with finasteride for atleast 6 months along with keeping track of the progress made

 

[Retinoid]

Great response. So if my thinning is due to my immune system does that mean finasteride will not work for me? I’ve been taking it for 2 months and plan to give it 8-12 months to determine whether it’s working. My forelock and temples are taking the brunt of the hit and are thinning out rapidly...noticeable changes week to week and even daily. So whatever is causing my hair loss it’s been really aggressive. Should I get a scalp biopsy and/or attempt to treat it with corticosteroids? I’m still getting injections for my alopecia patch so maybe I have them inject the front too?

Finasteride stops the immune system response by inhibiting DHT. So if you have male pattern baldness, then Finasteride will help. If you do not, then it will not do much.