js1283

I think they said the hair loss stabilized after switching to topical from oral, but only after some loss. i.e., there was some net loss immediately after switching to 0.1% topical.

0.25% topical finasteride is probably more effective though.

According to this trial, switching from 1mg finasteride pills to 0.1% topical finasteride led to a slight hair loss: http://www.idoj.in/article.asp?issn=2229-5178;year=2015;volume=6;issue=1;spage=17;epage=20;aulast=Chandrashekar

@CosmoKramer the flaking occurs because minoxidil dries out your scalp. If you apply a moisturizer like castor oil once a week this should help alleviate the dryness. I soak rosemary leaves in my castor oil. On a side note, rosemary oil can be as effective as 2% minoxidil: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25842469

Mine is being made at a pharamacy. My only concern is the amount of absorption of finasteride into the bloodstream. Since microneedling dramatically increases the absorption of topical solutions into the bloodstream, I wonder if this would result in the topically applied finasteride becoming too potent and unsafe.

@CosmoKramer I've been advised to switch to a topical finasteride / minoxidil mix, replacing finasteride pills. Do you apply topical finasteride while microneedling? I wonder if I should stop microneedling while applying topical finasteride.

I'm about one month into microneedling and have experienced a lot of shedding. On my comb alone I counted 150 hairs after three combings this morning. I guess this is normal and expected.

@CosmoKramer have you considered using 10% minoxidil? 5% has been clinically proven to be superior to 2% so it would make sense that 10% is even more effective.

Is it okay to dye your hair while microneedling?

@CosmoKramer are you sure you are giving your scalp enough time to heal if you are performing microneedling it 3 times a week? It may also help to take collagen supplement powder. I use this one: https://www.amazon.com/Grass-Fed-Hydrolyzed-Collagen-Peptides-Unflavored/dp/B071VGJTBH In clinical trials, it looks like microneedling + minoxidil resulted in significantly more hair growth compared to just minoxidil: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5556180/

@CosmoKramer I just read this thread. Very encouraging results! I am going to buy the A6 pen on Amazon. There is a 12 pin and 36 pin option. I have a low pain threshold so I am leaning towards the 12 pin. What is your preference? Thanks!

A 2006 study produced the following results in 24 weeks for men: Placebo -32.3 hairs Finasteride 5mg 75.6 hairs Dutasteride 0.1 mg 78.5 hairs Dutasteride 0.5 mg 94.6 hairs Dutasteride 2.5 mg 109.6 hairs

Has anyone tried taking finasteride and low-dose dutasteride simultaneously? Given that finasteride's effectiveness can diminish over time for some people (like me), I am wondering whether either supplementing it or replacing it with a 0.5mg dutasteride dose would be a good idea. I have had zero side effects on finasteride. Propecia has dramatically slowed down my hair loss rate but it is not growing my hair. Here is an Australian case with very positive results on a dutasteride + finasteride combo: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22686691 Thanks! _______________________________ 1mg finasteride daily, last 10 years (with a disastrous 6 month break) 5% minoxidil last 12 years

I visited 2 very well known US surgeons. Neither thought I had DUPA. One said if I had it, I would have lost a lot more hair at this age. I'm 38. One recommends FUE, the other FUT. They both said 1500 to 2000 grafts should do it. The surgeon who recommends FUT warned that FUE may result in patchiness in future. What are peoples' thoughts on this? should I be wary?

Is a body hair transplant viable? I have plenty of unwanted body hair.