TLDR: Was on topical min for a time, which worked for a short period, before my thinning became more aggressive. On oral fin/min now, and seeing the same thing.
Hi all,
32(M) dealing with gradual thinning since my mid twenties. I started using topical minoxidil around 27/28, and saw great results for a few months. After that, it seemed to just stop working, and the thinning continued to gradually progress.
As of April of 2025, I am on an oral finasteride/minoxidil (1mg/3mg). Again, I saw good results and thicker hair during the summer time, but now am seeing aggressive thinning, including in areas I never had thinning before.
Am I just one of the unlucky ones who is unresponsive to hair loss meds? Did I give up on topical min too soon? Should I keep going with the oral fin/min or make the jump to dutasteride? Derma rollers? Red light caps?
Hair transplant is the long term plan but I’m looking to mitigate the thinning as much as possible until then.
It is normal to lose progress on topical minoxidil if finasteride/dutasteride is not incorporated into the stack. But you mention that you are thinning on finasteride too. I would suggest you to see a proper dermatologist and discuss on getting on dutasteride, I do not recommend or give a medical advice but that could be the way for you. 1mg/3mg fin/min you say you are using. My brother, oral minoxidil is NOT a shit you should EVER mess up with speaking from an anecdotal experience of mine. Always measure your blood pressure, heartbeat and get your ecg checked while on it under the guidance of a cardiologist, please, I beg you. I understand it yields incredible results in some people, zero doubt in that regard I have. But in other people it can significantly change the blood pressure and thus disrupt the normotensive patterns.
In short: See a dermatologist and discuss getting on dutasteride and see a cardiologist for oral minoxidil. But I would say you to stick with microneedling+ topical minoxidil or tretinoin+ topical minoxidil. Please, avoid oral minoxidil unless you are cleared by a cardiologist.