Exploring The Hormonal Route. Hair=life.

[franzliszt]

I’m thinking of increasing my estrogen dose without my doctors permission

What country are you in?
If you're in the UK there are a few pharmacies that will prescribe oestradiol after filling out a short questioinaire. Do you know what your T and DHT levels are at?

 

[Equal Rights]

Hey do you guys know if my current T/E2 levels could be a good predictor of how I will respond to topical estriol of 17-a estradiol, in terms of gyno risk and overall feminization? Im on finasteride and my total T is 22.2 nmol/l and estradiol is 115pmol/l.

 

[Derelict]

I’m thinking of increasing my estrogen dose without my doctors permission

I know you are trans so it obviosuly doesn't bother you but what would you say breast growth has been like on your current regimen, do you know which tanner stage roughly?

 

[JaneyElizabeth]

I wish I could increase my dosage, or add an E patch. But, if I mess with my dosages, I will be cut off from seeing the gender specialist. They already want me to decrease my dosage since my E levels are a little high from 2mg sublingually. I might just use E patches regardless, though. I started E at 18, and I’ve grown into my feminisation.

Oral minoxidil has saved my life, I was seriously contemplating suicide before using it due to myself not having enough density and it worsening my GD. It has improved my self-esteem significantly, and I will never regret taking it, even if I did turn into a gorilla-hybrid after using it. Luckily, laser hair removal exists and that can be used to combat the excessive body hair growth from oral minoxidil. On oral minoxidil, my density has gone from around 40% to 90% in the crown and mid-section of the top part of my scalp. On the frontal area, it has gone from around 30% density to 80%. I have been on oral minoxidil for around ten months now.

I have been doing the Kirkland oral thing for a month. I understand about placebos and all but it seems to be working sensationally in combination with my large estradiol doses. It really does almost seem to me that I am seeing something different and better in the mirror every day since I upped my estrogen and now have added oral minoxidil.

In terms of sides, I have put on a lot of weight pretty quickly probably mostly water weight but weight can be lost. Right now only the hair growth matters really, as does the speed of the growth, both of which have started giving me added length which is a constant goal.

 

[Derelict]

I have been doing the Kirkland oral thing for a month. I understand about placebos and all but it seems to be working sensationally in combination with my large estradiol doses. It really does almost seem to me that I am seeing something different and better in the mirror every day since I upped my estrogen and now have added oral minoxidil.

In terms of sides, I have put on a lot of weight pretty quickly probably mostly water weight but weight can be lost. Right now only the hair growth matters really, as does the speed of the growth, both of which have started giving me added length which is a constant goal.

Oral minoxidil is definitely potentiated with estradiol usage, old member here ikarus was taking 2mg estradiol along with 50mg bica, 0.5mg duta. His progress didn't satisfy him so he added 5mg oral min even if he was bit hesitant i think and had very rapid results that made my progress seem insignificant in comparison. As for water weight, im pretty confident i put on about 10/11lbs of water weight from 10mg oral min, mostly around the belly, without any changes to my diet i lost it when i started spironolactone, didn't think such a large weight gain was possible tbh.

 

[franzliszt]

I have mixed feelings about minoxidil, I never tried it at a point when my androgens were fully suppressed so it's difficult to say how how much of a difference it would have made. I think it will vary from person to person but it made me look terrible. All these fine lines appearing on my forehead and facial bloating were what made me stop using it. The sides came from both oral and topical, oral however gave me heart palpitations and liver pains when used with bicalutamide (among other things).

 

[JaneyElizabeth]

What are people’s opinions on using rice water on their hair to increase the rate of hair growth? I had a haircut a few months ago and it’s so uneven with the centre-part and I want it to grow faster so I can have it cut even.

Hmm. I am going to say that I wouldn't put much confidence in this treatment but would love to hear why you think that it might work.

I have cut my own hair for 36 years since I first noticed an incipient bald spot with literally a handful of exceptions. I don't like people looking down on the back of my head. Hey, the money I have saved is several thousands of dollars that I have used for treatments. People talk about using bowls but I find that baseball caps work much better when combined with grasping the hair with a couple of fingers and cutting so you don't take too much off. The key is to never take off too much and that way you won't end up looking like Beaver Cleaver in the Xmas special episode from 1957.

I never got to the point where hair cuts didn't matter in terms of baldness, as I could always comb and style. I am currently getting a lot of body back to my hair and often we fail to see that sort of hair improvement when we are too partial to increases in mere hair counts.

 

[JaneyElizabeth]

I have mixed feelings about minoxidil, I never tried it at a point when my androgens were fully suppressed so it's difficult to say how how much of a difference it would have made. I think it will vary from person to person but it made me look terrible. All these fine lines appearing on my forehead and facial bloating were what made me stop using it. The sides came from both oral and topical, oral however gave me heart palpitations and liver pains when used with bicalutamide (among other things).

Goddess. Some of you really face an uphill road with all of these sides. Only spironolactone has been my nemesis among different hair meds over 35 years and it probably was helping fine, I just couldn't take the sweating, fatigue and weakness.

 

[Derelict]

I have mixed feelings about minoxidil, I never tried it at a point when my androgens were fully suppressed so it's difficult to say how how much of a difference it would have made. I think it will vary from person to person but it made me look terrible. All these fine lines appearing on my forehead and facial bloating were what made me stop using it. The sides came from both oral and topical, oral however gave me heart palpitations and liver pains when used with bicalutamide (among other things).

Yeah, some people weirdly have a very lower tolerance to minoxidil in both forms and can't use it, don't now why that is, especially when it comes to skin sides etc Do you have a good skincare regimen?

 

[ReturnOfExtreme]

What country are you in?
If you're in the UK there are a few pharmacies that will prescribe oestradiol after filling out a short questioinaire. Do you know what your T and DHT levels are at?

UK, correct. I know what my levels are at, luckily.

 

[franzliszt]

Yeah, some people weirdly have a very lower tolerance to minoxidil in both forms and can't use it, don't now why that is, especially when it comes to skin sides etc Do you have a good skincare regimen?

My skincare is pretty ok, I use cerave cleanser and moisturiser every night, I also dermaroll every few weeks or so. Some of the lines on my forehead still haven't gone away. In terms of skin care, what else would you reccomend.

Goddess. Some of you really face an uphill road with all of these sides. Only spironolactone has been my nemesis among different hair meds over 35 years and it probably was helping fine, I just couldn't take the sweating, fatigue and weakness.

It's really annoying when you know a regimen will work, but the sides are too much to bare, almost like a feeling of being trapped.

 

[ReturnOfExtreme]

I know you are trans so it obviosuly doesn't bother you but what would you say breast growth has been like on your current regimen, do you know which tanner stage roughly?

I got basically no breast growth but great feminisation everywhere else. But, it’s ok, I’m alright with small boobs. I’d say Tanner stage 2.5/3.

I have been doing the Kirkland oral thing for a month. I understand about placebos and all but it seems to be working sensationally in combination with my large estradiol doses. It really does almost seem to me that I am seeing something different and better in the mirror every day since I upped my estrogen and now have added oral minoxidil.

In terms of sides, I have put on a lot of weight pretty quickly probably mostly water weight but weight can be lost. Right now only the hair growth matters really, as does the speed of the growth, both of which have started giving me added length which is a constant goal.

Yeah, oral minoxidil seems to work in great synergy with E. Are there any images of your hair and progress?

Hmm. I am going to say that I wouldn't put much confidence in this treatment but would love to hear why you think that it might work.

I have cut my own hair for 36 years since I first noticed an incipient bald spot with literally a handful of exceptions. I don't like people looking down on the back of my head. Hey, the money I have saved is several thousands of dollars that I have used for treatments. People talk about using bowls but I find that baseball caps work much better when combined with grasping the hair with a couple of fingers and cutting so you don't take too much off. The key is to never take off too much and that way you won't end up looking like Beaver Cleaver in the Xmas special episode from 1957.

I never got to the point where hair cuts didn't matter in terms of baldness, as I could always comb and style. I am currently getting a lot of body back to my hair and often we fail to see that sort of hair improvement when we are too partial to increases in mere hair counts.

There’s a lot of YouTube videos say that fermented rice water increases hair growth in regards to inches. It would be interesting to see what happens. I am not bothered about regrowth but how asymmetrical my haircut is currently is bothering me. I do believe that some natural treatments can increase hair growth depending on ethnicity.

If you’re good at cutting your hair, that’s great. I’m bad at it personally. But, will you ever get your hair professionally cut once you feel more confident to?

 

[ReturnOfExtreme]

I am increasing my estrogen dosage to 3mg per day. I am going to take 2mg at night and then 1mg during the day as a pick-me-up.

 

[franzliszt]

UK, correct. I know what my levels are at, luckily.

UKmeds.co.uk will prescribe patches, gel, pills etc. you just need to fill out a questionaire saying that you're a menopausal woman and haven't had a period in like 5 years. It also helps to say that you've been prescribed hrt on the NHS in the past, but you ran out. I hope this helps, it's a lot more convenient then buying from inhouse pharmacy. How long have you been on HRT?

 

[JaneyElizabeth]

My skincare is pretty ok, I use cerave cleanser and moisturiser every night, I also dermaroll every few weeks or so. Some of the lines on my forehead still haven't gone away. In terms of skin care, what else would you reccomend.


It's really annoying when you know a regimen will work, but the sides are too much to bare, almost like a feeling of being trapped.

And the sides might very well be "bare", lol, without treatment, meaning the sides of the head while playing on the distinction between "bare" and "bear". Since I removed my beard, my skin care necessities have become minimal. I do notice circles under the eyes but they aren't terrible and they get better as the day goes along, not to mention that there is always concealer for the face that actually works, as opposed to hair concealers which are messy and don't work well at all in my experience since they discontinued spray can hair.

 

[Derelict]

My skincare is pretty ok, I use cerave cleanser and moisturiser every night, I also dermaroll every few weeks or so. Some of the lines on my forehead still haven't gone away. In terms of skin care, what else would you reccomend.


It's really annoying when you know a regimen will work, but the sides are too much to bare, almost like a feeling of being trapped.

Try retin-a or copper peptides at night, maybe vitamin c serum during the day, collagen and MSM supplements along with Vitamin C. Needling at 1.5mm is good, only do it once a month though, no need to do it more although you can use 0.25mm more often. No need for a big complex regimen or anything, you are covering all the bases with that, maybe a moderate strength glycolic acid peel now and again

 

[franzliszt]

And the sides might very well be "bare", lol, without treatment, meaning the sides of the head while playing on the distinction between "bare" and "bear". Since I removed my beard, my skin care necessities have become minimal. I do notice circles under the eyes but they aren't terrible and they get better as the day goes along, not to mention that there is always concealer for the face that actually works, as opposed to hair concealers which are messy and don't work well at all in my experience since they discontinued spray can hair.

Oh god haha, I'm pretty embarrased now.

 

[JaneyElizabeth]

I am increasing my estrogen dosage to 3mg per day. I am going to take 2mg at night and then 1mg during the day as a pick-me-up.

Just based upon this thread, the jump up from 2 mg might be helpful. Many of those struggling seem to max out at 2 mg of estradiol while hoping that the AA will be enough to push them over the edge but except for @bridgeburn and me, nobody seems to be taking over 4 mg of estradiol daily orally. He did use sublingually at times while I only use parenteral currently, except for a booster of 1.25 Premarin in the morning and evening of late. We don't have much research but hitting adult female targets for E and T seems necessary for hair growth while being completely unnecessary for breast growth. The issue for non-MtFs is that you have to go through the breast growth part of the experience before you can proceed to the hair growth part.

In terms of hair loss, however, lesser amounts of estrogen might work to prevent hair loss. Yes, dutasteride can as well but dutasteride is a mere palliative while estrogen is more of a cure. Overall, the estrogen experience is stupefying in terms of tissue renewal and youth effects in my case and I think that anyone who looks at transition pics will say that these youth effects are often incredible pictorially.

 

[ReturnOfExtreme]

UKmeds.co.uk will prescribe patches, gel, pills etc. you just need to fill out a questionaire saying that you're a menopausal woman and haven't had a period in like 5 years. It also helps to say that you've been prescribed hrt on the NHS in the past, but you ran out. I hope this helps, it's a lot more convenient then buying from inhouse pharmacy. How long have you been on HRT?

I have been on HRT for two years or so. I am on the waiting list to see a gender specialist currently, I’ve been on the list since 2019.

 

[franzliszt]

Try retin-a or copper peptides at night, maybe vitamin c serum during the day, collagen and MSM supplements along with Vitamin C. Needling at 1.5mm is good, only do it once a month though, no need to do it more although you can use 0.25mm more often. No need for a big complex regimen or anything, you are covering all the bases with that, maybe a moderate strength glycolic acid peel now and again

I just ordered some MSM after what you guys have said about it, and now some collagen supplement. I hate to think how much I've spent over the last year and a half