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/

 

[AnxiousAndy]

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

My sides are the thinnest on my scalp. Some hairs are so thin they lack pigment altogether, it's a miracle they keep growing back.

 

[Elithair]

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.

Yeah, retrograde alopecia is a tricky one.

I’ve seen a few people mention some improvement with finasteride/dutasteride, but it’s definitely less consistent than typical pattern loss. It doesn’t seem to respond as predictably, which is probably why it feels like a different process sometimes.

Your point about it not being purely androgen-related might not be far off. It could still involve androgens, but maybe combined with other factors like local sensitivity or even how those follicles are structured in that area.

The frustrating part is that the sides and back are usually assumed to be “safe,” so once they start thinning, it complicates everything, especially when you start thinking long term.

From what I’ve seen, some people get partial stabilization rather than real regrowth, which might still be a win depending on how aggressive it is.

Curious to hear if anyone here has had more consistent improvement, because it definitely feels under-discussed compared to everything else.

 

[Jpw1999]

Curious to hear if anyone here has had more consistent improvement, because it definitely feels under-discussed compared to everything else.

I've never had improvement but it hasn't gotten any worse since I've been on treatment. The hair grows back pretty quickly after a haircut which is good sign. The hair in the donor area is thicker than the hair on the sides, it's the thinnest around my ears.

 

[Elithair]

I've never had improvement but it hasn't gotten any worse since I've been on treatment. The hair grows back pretty quickly after a haircut which is good sign. The hair in the donor area is thicker than the hair on the sides, it's the thinnest around my ears.

That actually sounds pretty typical for RA.

If it hasn’t gotten worse, that’s already a good sign. From what people report, it’s often more about stabilizing than getting real regrowth.

The area around the ears being the thinnest also seems common.

And if it grows back quickly after a haircut, that usually points to active follicles, even if the hairs are finer.

 

[losingbattle88]

I've never had improvement but it hasn't gotten any worse since I've been on treatment. The hair grows back pretty quickly after a haircut which is good sign. The hair in the donor area is thicker than the hair on the sides, it's the thinnest around my ears.

Be glad that you even respond to treatments. I sure dont despite slow thinning since age 22.

 

[Jpw1999]

Be glad that you even respond to treatments. I sure dont despite slow thinning since age 22.

You posted a pic of your hair and it looked insanely thick lmao. You're probably overreacting

 

[losingbattle88]

You posted a pic of your hair and it looked insanely thick lmao. You're probably overreacting

I have lost density since then. Thats why im trialing finasteride again and added sp. And OM twice a day. Gonna add the taiwan study too. Topical oleic acid with alc. It works for some but not for all.