Hello,
I am a 50yo caucasian male. I have diffuse thinning on the top of my head, and no change to the hairline or thickness of the front of my hair. I saw a dermatologist about 2 years ago about thinning of my hair that I could see a few inches in back of my hairline. He showed me the Ludwig Scale chart, indicating that my hair loss was characteristic of the typical female rather than the male pattern. I am between LW1 and 2.
He prescribed finasteride at the time. I took it for a few months, but read stories about side effects, including impotence and gyno, so I stopped. I'm divorced, and I live in Manhattan. I date several women younger than me, and I am sexually active. Sexual side effects are a no-go for me.
I had a hormonal workup as part of a physical in September, and everything is good. Testosterone and free T are even above the normal range for my age. I work out (free weights, cardio) 4-5x/week. Like a typical NYer, I walk a lot too. So I am active, fit, and I eat a clean, healthy diet.
I recently saw a photo of myself from behind and was stunned by the thinning. It's probably a little worse than two years ago, but not much. I want to do something about it, stopping or reversing it if possible.
My daily regimen, started in mid-October:
- Life extension two-a-day multi
- 4g biotin
- 10mg Jarrowsil (activated silicon, precursor to collagen)
- Sports Research Collagen Peptides Powder (10g)
- Stinging Nettle root extract, 500mg (suppresses winter dust allergies)
- Lutein 20mg (eye health)
- I also take 10mg DHEA which may be making the hair loss worse.
- Hair Restoration Laboratories (DHT blocking) shampoo & conditioner daily
- Amplixin Intensive Growth Serum on affected area 3-4x week
I take about 2g arginine and 4g citrulline before workouts. This increases stamina/endurance, but doesn't have a hormonal effect based on my research.
I've definitely noticed increased thickness in the hair I do have left, but it seems too early to tell if I have regrowth. I've been holding off on going to the barber. I'll go this weekend, and will be able to check against photos I took after my last haircut in October.
Any suggestions or anything I might be missing?
Should I be as concerned as I was two years ago about the side effects of finasteride?
Is the female pattern hair loss a normal variation for men? The dermatologist said no, not really.
Any other hormone tests that I could have?
Anything specific I could try for diffuse thinning?
I am a 50yo caucasian male. I have diffuse thinning on the top of my head, and no change to the hairline or thickness of the front of my hair. I saw a dermatologist about 2 years ago about thinning of my hair that I could see a few inches in back of my hairline. He showed me the Ludwig Scale chart, indicating that my hair loss was characteristic of the typical female rather than the male pattern. I am between LW1 and 2.
He prescribed finasteride at the time. I took it for a few months, but read stories about side effects, including impotence and gyno, so I stopped. I'm divorced, and I live in Manhattan. I date several women younger than me, and I am sexually active. Sexual side effects are a no-go for me.
I had a hormonal workup as part of a physical in September, and everything is good. Testosterone and free T are even above the normal range for my age. I work out (free weights, cardio) 4-5x/week. Like a typical NYer, I walk a lot too. So I am active, fit, and I eat a clean, healthy diet.
I recently saw a photo of myself from behind and was stunned by the thinning. It's probably a little worse than two years ago, but not much. I want to do something about it, stopping or reversing it if possible.
My daily regimen, started in mid-October:
- Life extension two-a-day multi
- 4g biotin
- 10mg Jarrowsil (activated silicon, precursor to collagen)
- Sports Research Collagen Peptides Powder (10g)
- Stinging Nettle root extract, 500mg (suppresses winter dust allergies)
- Lutein 20mg (eye health)
- I also take 10mg DHEA which may be making the hair loss worse.
- Hair Restoration Laboratories (DHT blocking) shampoo & conditioner daily
- Amplixin Intensive Growth Serum on affected area 3-4x week
I take about 2g arginine and 4g citrulline before workouts. This increases stamina/endurance, but doesn't have a hormonal effect based on my research.
I've definitely noticed increased thickness in the hair I do have left, but it seems too early to tell if I have regrowth. I've been holding off on going to the barber. I'll go this weekend, and will be able to check against photos I took after my last haircut in October.
Any suggestions or anything I might be missing?
Should I be as concerned as I was two years ago about the side effects of finasteride?
Is the female pattern hair loss a normal variation for men? The dermatologist said no, not really.
Any other hormone tests that I could have?
Anything specific I could try for diffuse thinning?
