Hello, some important background info: I’m 20 FTM and I started testosterone a year ago in May. I noticed my hair was falling and my family has history of MPB so I started finasteride in October last year and initially had fantastic results. My hair stopped falling and I noticed many baby hairs coming in at my hairline. However, around 2 months ago my hair started to fall again. I initially dismissed it as normal shedding as many other users have reported shedding at around the 6-7 month period, but over the past 2 months it has really intensified and seems to be steadily getting worse. I went from shedding around 10-20 hairs in the shower to over 60 in the shower alone, and have to clean hundreds of strands daily from my floor and pillow. I’ve lost a significant amount of density and my hair feels and looks visibly less dense compared to before I started fin. The hairs I’m losing are both thin wispy strands as well as fully developed thick dark strands. I’ve been reading a lot of posts on here the past few weeks but it seems like everyone has a different experience/many people don’t share updates, so I finally decided to make a post.
I spoke to my doctor last week and they said I could consider starting oral minoxidil; will this help stop the shedding or should I keep trying to tough it out and see if it eventually resolves? I initially thought that it would go away after a month or so but it has persisted and is definitely getting worse each day. I’m not sure how much more waiting my hair can take. I’m lucky that I’m acting early because I still have enough hair to hide my hair loss but its very quickly worsening to the point where that may not be possible.
You could try adding oral min to your routine. It might help reduce the shedding and enhance growth. Since you’re still early in your treatment journey, seeing how oral min works for you could be worth a shot.
I do not think oral minoxidil will truly stop shedding—you’ll experience some growth from its action, but ultimately it doesn’t do anything for the root cause: DHT.
You can try dutasteride as it is more potent than fin, but as I understand it, DHT is important for the development of some male characteristics for FTMs.
There are other things that can explain increased hair shedding, however. Try getting your vitamin D3 and zinc tested. (Some people are still deficient even if they get enough sun)
Firstly, you mentioned you started FIN in October last year. Were you just using FIN on its own?And did you stop taking FIN at any point? If you did, please let me know how long you were off it.
Secondly, it is right to consult with a doctor but make sure that you go to a GOOD doctor. Because yes they may be doctors that could help you, but tbh some aren’t even fully confident in what they say to you, as they may be citing off what they learnt in medical school at one point years ago. If the “doctor” was your GP, they are probably just going to give you a prescription, please go see a professional dermatologist if you are serious.
Side note: Taking oral will make the side effects even more apparent, it will not reduce shedding. You may even notice more shedding on it, but the shedding phase isn’t something you should be scared of. Because the “dread shed” that people get from min is just a phase. But that phase can last up to months, which I could understand the emotional stress, because I personally went through that, but the shed needs to happen for new growth to show. I could go way deeper on that side effect, and why it’s necessary, and what the general people aren’t educated about, but you my already be educated, but let me know if anyone wants me to go deeper.
I am not giving you medical advice, I am giving you information. Please make sure you do your own research and not just listen to what someone is saying on the internet, as there is LOTS of misinformation. Stay safe brother!