Keyser...
Yes, I am still using topical spironolactone. I don't use it over all of my "affected area", I just use the 5% cream on and along the hairline.
As far as my regimen, well, let me tell the story... I am a long time regimen user, I think three or four years now? I have a typical "widows peak" type hairline that I've had ever since my college days, kind of a "Jude Law" hairline... and I was relatively happy with that for well into my adulthood.
Well, over time, I noticed that the hair along my hairline was starting to thin a bit, and recede a bit. The hair in my center forehead "strip" between my high temples was starting to get weaker and more thin. I had a realization that my once "Jude Law" hairline was on its way to becoming more like a "Phil Collins" type hairline and I took action, minoxidil and spironolactone. (I've done all kinds of tinkering and experimentation with my regimen through the years, but the backbone has really just been the minoxidil and spironolactone.)
The first six months of treatment my hair responded fabulously. Most dramatic was a noticeable increase in thickness of that center forehead "strip" between the temples. The Phil Collins look was successfully thwarted! I also noticed a "sprout patch" of new baby hairs start to develop on my bald temples, and that got me really excited.
The next year or so, I realized that the "sprout patch" was going to be nothing more than just that, a sprout patch, and my bald temples were never going to be recovered. This was not a surprise to me, as my temples have basically been bald for 15 years... BUT, at the very top apex, the upper corners of my temples, the sprout patch here DID slowly get thick and regrow in. I probably recovered a good 3/4 of an inch of the top of my bald temples, and this regrowth whilst not recovering a lot of acreage did have a very pleasant cosmetic effect because it rounded off the upper corners of the temples which made them a lot less prominent looking. On net, I'd say that minoxidil kept me from crossing that dreaded NW3 threshold.
Over the years, there have been a few stretches when I really got lazy with the regimen and paid the price. I mean, there have been periods of months or so when I have completlely blown off the minoxidil except for an occasional dousing. My hair held firm for about a month and then would start shedding. When I restarted the regimen discipline, the thickness always returned.
Years of regimen use later, I think that my upper temples have receeded slightly.... but the thickness and quality of my center forehead strip continues to be quite strong and remains markedly more cosmetically appealing, and more stylable than it was before I started. I mean, when I started that front center patch hair was getting thin and wispy. Now, it is still relatively thick and spiky, and just as stylable as the hair towards the rear of my head which was definitely NOT the case years ago.
As far as how much is attributed to minoxidil and how much attributed to spironolactone, its hard to tell but my instinct probably gives minoxidil 95% of the credit.
