Retrograde Alopecia. Any success stories?

[AnxiousAndy]

Hey all!
I have retrograde alopecia (thinning of the donor zone). I am already on treatments and have had success in the typical male pattern baldness zone but never on the sides and back which are noticeably thinner (especially on the sides).. This has led me to theorize RA isn't androgen related (although I've seen RA corrected with 5ar inhibitors).
If you're someone also with this condition and able to correct it please let me know, or anything that may help. RA is a very under reported condition so there is little literature and literally no treatment options besides conventional which seemingly rarely work.
Theories are welcome too, theories lead to progress.

 

[bsmith]

I'm really surprised that hair surgeons don't use beard hair for the scalp. At least they don't in the United States.

In other countries, do hair doctors do this? That would definitely solve a lot of issues.

 

[DemodexMitesExterminator]

I'm really surprised that hair surgeons don't use beard hair for the scalp. At least they don't in the United States.

In other countries, do hair doctors do this? That would definitely solve a lot of issues.

I cant even grow a beard lmao.

 

[AnxiousAndy]

I'm really surprised that hair surgeons don't use beard hair for the scalp. At least they don't in the United States.

In other countries, do hair doctors do this? That would definitely solve a lot of issues.

Some surgeons do, even in the US. Dr Gary Linkov on YouTube (great hair loss resource btw) sometimes does beard grafts.

 

[AnxiousAndy]

I cant even grow a beard lmao.

I can grow an amazing goatee but my cheeks are very sparse.

 

[bsmith]

Some surgeons do, even in the US. Dr Gary Linkov on YouTube (great hair loss resource btw) sometimes does beard grafts.

Beard hair is DHT resistant. It would seem that would be the best way, unless the environment (where they are placed on the body) determines that.

 

[bsmith]

I can grow an amazing goatee but my cheeks are very sparse.

I can grow a beard, but at my age, I look like Santa Clause.

 

[AnxiousAndy]

Beard hair is DHT resistant. It would seem that would be the best way, unless the environment (where they are placed on the body) determines that.

DHT makes beard and body hair grow, you should look up the "Androgen Paradox" it's an interesting read.

I can grow a beard, but at my age, I look like Santa Clause.

Keep it trimmed, a full gray stubbled face is a great look.

 

[Jpw1999]

I've never had any regrowth, treatment has probably slowed it down because it hasn't gotten much worse in the last 8 years. The sides look thicker when I let the hair grow longer, I can't have a shaved back and sides anymore because it ends up looking too patchy.

It kinda just looks like I've had a bad haircut, it's pretty rare to be balding on the sides.

 

[losingbattle88]

I've never had any regrowth, treatment has probably slowed it down because it hasn't gotten much worse in the last 8 years. The sides look thicker when I let the hair grow longer, I can't have a shaved back and sides anymore because it ends up looking too patchy.

It kinda just looks like I've had a bad haircut, it's pretty rare to be balding on the sides.

My hair above my ears are twice as thin than the top. Im a badass best genes ever.

 

[Jpw1999]

My hair above my ears are twice as thin than the top. Im a badass best genes ever.

I made a post about my RA nearly 7 years ago. It pretty much still looks like that now, maybe a tiny bit worse. It's such a weird hair loss pattern. It appeared out of nowhere in around 2018

https://www.hairlosstalk.com/interact/threads/thin-patch-at-hairline-and-back-and-sides-of-hair-male-pattern-baldness-or-alopecia-areata.123738/