Any success without anti-androgens or minoxidil type products?

[hoople]

I can't use anti-androgens in any form, topical or systemic, as it reaches my face and damages it.
I won't use minoxidil as I suspect this too has had an impact on my face.
Also, anything with effects similiar to minoxidil such as Prox-N, Amnexil, etc
Am I screwed or is there a way I can save my hair without damaging my face?
Thanks

 

[mpbsux20]

Just let nature take its course then.The rest cant really help you that much and you have to be ready to embrace baldness at anytime.It all depends on your genes though as to how fast you will bald.Taking Biotin helps according to one study and using nizoral can also help your scalp health.

 

[Hoppi]

Here's the thing man..

If you can't use ANY antiandrogens (even ones like Eucapil with incredibly low systemic absorption) then... it becomes very tricky to actually treat the cause of male pattern baldness (androgenic stimulation of follicle androgen receptors).

If you're not using any of the major growth stimulants such as minoxidil or aminexil (ones like Spectral RS, copper peptides and Prox-N are probably totally safe) then..

What options do we have? lol


You could try going the natural route, with a regimen such as on IH (Google that).

That aside.. how old are you? (roughly)

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

Chances are slim to none that anything besides the big 3 will work.

 

[hoople]

Thanks for your replies.
I'm a woman (sorry for intruding on a male forum), 33 years old.
I'll have a google for IH.

Prox-N contains Nitric Oxide, Minoxdil is a nitric oxide imitator
minoxidil - C9H15N5O
Adenosine - C10H15N5O10P2
Prox N - NO, Arginine which converts to NO


Copper peptides might be ok: C14H24CuN6O4

I'm not a chemist though, alas.

I believe, from what i've read, that the NO or imitator is damaging to the face.
Heres an extreme example(!):
http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v114/ ... 0617a.html

 

[Hoppi]

I do know what you mean I believe that IH and this other forum called something like HerAlopecia.com would be good for you

Have you had a blood test to check sex hormone levels (free and bound)?

 

[kthxbi]

maybe dumb question, i was just wondering what you were talking about when you said it affected your face? is this a common thing?
if its a personal thing then i understand if you dont wanna go into it

 

[Bryan]

Chances are slim to none that anything besides the big 3 will work.

Sigh...

If people believed such an astonishing claim as that, it would put hairloss research and treatment back many many years.

 

[hoople]

Bryan, could you suggest anything I could use instead of antiandrogens and minoxidil type products?
Hoppi - I think my sex hormones are back to normal as being a woman means I can tell when my body sorts itself out - if you get what I mean.
kthxbi - I mean premature aging - wrinkling, sagging, skin thickening, skin pigmentation, change in skin texture, and a change in face shape due to lipodystrophy. There are men who report the same thing from having used Finasteride so it has to be the lack of androgens reaching the AR in the face.

Ps. I much prefer this board to Heralopecia, don't tell them though. Should I rename myself 'Butch'?

 

[Hoppi]

lol

Erm, Jacob manages to treat his male pattern baldness without antiandrogens but it looks a lil pricey hehe

The issue here is that most people's regimens are based on the exact same things you are trying to avoid, which are antiandrogens and growth stimulants.

Health-focused approaches I believe do have the potential of working in a significant number of individuals (indeed, I have heard many examples of claimed results) but.. it requires dedication, commitment, learning and.. also a bit of luck IMO ._.

I'll PM you something too

Hoppi

 

[hoople]

I can use growth stimulants, just not ones which have a similar/the same action as minoxidil.
I think i'll be venturing into snakeoil ground if i'm not careful...

 

[Defiance]

Really? I didnt think antiandrogens could have an effect on skin? I did hear one guy complain about his skin getting worse on finasteride awhile back but i thought he was just loopy.

My skin has got abnormally bad for my age since i started treatments (mainly under eyes) but i thought it was the minoxidil since it is often stated as a common side effect for some. So ive been using far less over the last month or so but havnt noticed any improvement. Dont tell me i have to get off finasteride now

 

[hoople]

The skin is an endocrine organ, it produces androgens, antiandrogens block that androgen production. In extremely sensitive and unlucky people, like myself, it has a damaging effect on the skin. I can't find any reports on the whole internet re spironolactone and skin damage so I must be a one off.

 

[Hoppi]

So, you're sure it wasn't just the minoxidil? Side effects on the skin are far more common with minoxidil.

 

[mpbsux20]

If you are so much against all these proven treatments,your best option is to start rubbing your nails.It could have a placebo effect.

 

[mpbsux20]

If you refuse to use any product containing an antiandrogen,you would be ruling out Revivigen too.

 

[casperz]

I believe that everyone is different and until you try something your not
going to know. I had ZERO change from minoxidil alone back when I was just starting balding. But with several treatments mixed together after extreme hair loss I have had some success. Will this work for everyone? I'd say probably not, but it does work for me. Until you try something you have ZERO basis for knowing if it will work for you.

 

[hoople]

Hoppi - I am 100% certain it wasn't just the minoxidil. I came off spironolactone for three months and then went back on it. I had a severe facial reaction to it in that my face started having 'contraction' type feelings, very tight, strange feeling. I observed a patch of wrinkle free skin in the centre of my forehead, 24hours later, and after strong contracted feeling, two new wrinkles spanned the area. The same thing happened under my right eye, strong contracted feeling, later a new line appears. Bizarre in the extreme, but true. Rapidly came off spironolactone and odd facial sensations continued for two weeks. All facial sensations are back to normal now.
Explain that one for me!
Maybe you can all see why i'm terrified of any shape or form of anti-androgen now.
Yes, I probably will end up with extremely thin hair and buying a wig. But rather that than continuing to age at a shocking pace.

 

[Hoppi]

when did your FPB start? Like, what age? I have to admit I don't know as much about FPB but I'm sure a fair proportion of male pattern baldness knowledge applies to it

 

[hoople]

According to a trichologist I probably had it from puberty. I didn't notice the thinning until I was 29 though. I thought the miniaturised hairs were 'cute'! (until I knew what they were!). Yes, my follicles are overly sensitive to androgens, the same as yours are, so there is a strong similarity to male pattern baldness.