Could Seti + PGE2 stop the shed that results from quitting minoxidil?

[recedingyt]

If minoxidil works by bringing balance to prostaglandins, could seti + PGE2 be a suitable replacement? Could you (in theory) quit minoxidil without losing the results that you gained and slowly work yourself down to a protocol where the only thing needed to maintain your hair was an AA or AA + seti? I ask because I would like to one day be free of using topicals on a daily basis as I feel it is very limiting and annoying having to keep minoxidil on my head for a minimum of 4 hours every day.

 

[Swoop]

Well, if you say that minoxidil works by bringing balance to prostaglandins then you are wrong. We simply don't know why minoxidil exactly does work. Indeed, the following study did demonstrate increased PGE2 production in vitro; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9008235. However the possible mechanism of minoxidil has shown to be way broader and more complex. In many other studies minoxidil influenced factors that could attribute to positive hair growth effects as well. So is it fair to say that minoxidil works by balancing prostaglandins? Hell no. We simply don't know. Every hair loss researcher will concur with me on this one.

Also the question you are asking is a question that nobody can answer. I guess the only way to find out is if you drop minoxidil. Perhaps you will lose much hair, perhaps not. If anything you should maybe know yourself how much minoxidil helped you in the first place?

Setipiprant is most definitely not going to replace minoxidil for you. PGE2 could maybe attribute to pro-hair growth effects. I believe it has potential but I think minoxidil will still outperform PGE2. Have a little more patience I guess. Many people are going to trial PGE2 soon. I know a few people already did try PGE2 in the past with not much success. Perhaps we'll see different results now, who knows. If they do manage to get success with PGE2 soon in terms of regrowth then perhaps that's an opportunity for you to switch out minoxidil for PGE2? That being said you'll be probably applying PGE2 topically too, doubt you would want to use PGE2 orally. So that still doesn't cover your wish to get rid of a topical.

Btw I have a question for you that is off-topic. How many estrogen did you use? Is the dosage you use "normal overall" for a transgender or did you use less or more? Thanks.

 

[recedingyt]

Thanks for the response. Seems it will be a while before we can answer this question conclusively.

I used 4mg/day of estradiol valerate for the first 6 months of my transition. Since the 7th month I've been on 6mg/day of estradiol. 4mg is pretty standard. 6mg is a little high, but not too far out of the norm.

 

[Swoop]

Thanks. By the way, why don't you use minoxidil once a day before bedtime? Or do you already? That way it won't bother you that much.

 

[Agustin Araujo]

Excellent response Swoop, the best possible one about Minoxidil in regards about what recedingyt asked for.

recedingyt, you may need to keep using Minoxidil in the longterm since it really seems like it contributed to a large portion of your intense hair regrowth despite your HRT that significantly helped treat your Androgenetic Alopecia. As Swoop suggested, you can apply the Minoxidil before bedtime, that way you won't have to deal with the topical throughout your day. Also, have you ever considered using the foam version? It's less greasy and dries much quicker than the liquid version. I've used both types before, and me personally, I find the foam much more convenient to use.

Yes, no doubt topical treatments aren't the most convenient for everyone. I know you'd love to become free from using topical Minoxidil, though continuing the use of it may be crucially needed in your case. Remember, I'm a minoxidil-User myself, and I know what it's like to need to be compliant with a topical treatment.

It's kind of a pain, but oh well.

 

[recedingyt]

Yeah I only use it once a day normally. Lately I've been doing a second application on my temples only because I'm desperate to get them to thicken up. All the hair I need for a full recovery is there, but most of it is stuck as cosmetically insignificant vellus hair for the last couple months. It's improving albeit very very slowly. I plan to drop it down to a once daily application after the temples finish filling in since it is much more manageable that way.

 

[Agustin Araujo]

Yeah I only use it once a day normally. Lately I've been doing a second application on my temples only because I'm desperate to get them to thicken up. All the hair I need for a full recovery is there, but most of it is stuck as cosmetically insignificant vellus hair for the last couple months. It's improving albeit very very slowly. I plan to drop it down to a once daily application after the temples finish filling in since it is much more manageable that way.

I sometimes wonder if there are other Androgenetic Alopecia complications that cause the frontal hair follicles to be so sensitive which doesn't effect the other hairs like it does at the hairline. I'm guessing when your Androgenetic Alopecia started, your hairline must have been the very first area to get affected, with recession. Then, the diffused thinning in the horseshoe pattern. I have the same issue and it's just plain annoying to worry about such a large area making sure thinning won't keep getting worse.

If using Minoxidil once daily has been working well, then stick with that routine. All what I can assume now at this point is to follow what's most comfortable for you.

By the way, nice avatar, what does it represent?

 

[recedingyt]

Tbh it's just a random picture I found somewhere on the internet that I thought was cute haha.