Hi. Stories here helped me to make decision, so i will post mine, hope it will help someone. Finasteride is not available in my country, so i replaced it with Saw Palmetto. Will update this post, when i spot some changes.
29.3.2025 Started using 1x daily “NOW Saw Palmetto” 320mg SP and 80mg pumpkin oil, 1x daily topical Minoxidil 5%.
Side effects from SP, pain in left testicle, retracting left testicle during orgasm, pain in the penile tip, difficulty maintaining erection, low libido, balls like in the winter. Side effects from Minox, heart palpitations after use, higher heart rate by 10 in calm state. Benefits from Minox, it solved my live long dandruf and helped with head scalp pain/tension.
Hair fall: up to 5 daily
After three days i had to stop SP, because of side effects. I got rid of sides after two weeks. (Also stopped Minox)
15.4.2025 Started to use 1x daily “NOW FOODS Pygeum & Saw Palmetto” 80mg SP, 25mg Pygeum and 750mg pumpkin oil, Minox 1x daily and 1x weekly Nizoral.
Have less sides from SP, no more penile tip pain. Balls are again like in the winter, left testicle pain is smaller, left testicle again trying to retract during orgasm, but its unconfortable, not painfull. Daily morning erections and during the day. Minox sides are gone, benefits still the same.
Hair fall: up to 5 daily
9.5.2025 SP sides, less pain in testicle, balls sometimes hang down, left testicle still trying to retract during orgasm and spontaneous erections are gone. Minox no sides, benefits are the same. Added 1x weekly Dermaroller 1mm. Nizoral 1x weekly.
If you’re not seeing any benefits from saw palmetto or if it’s causing side effects, consider focusing on minoxidil and dermarolling, as they can help hair growth. Nizoral is good for scalp health and can support hair loss treatment. If you’re struggling with side effects, it might be worth adjusting or pausing supplements and reassessing what works best for you. Treatments can take time, so patience and consistency are key. Check out the The Beginner’s Guide for more info.
Thanks for the advice, the side effects are slowly disappearing and I’m thinking about the recommended dose, will wait month, or two, I’m taking half now.
The least I want is to keep what I have on my head now and see in a few years if it helps or if the hair keeps falling out, it’s imposible to say right now. If it will be worse i will considere HT, i have good donor area.
SP sides - some of sides returned, but helped taking capsules with food, what is recomended. I will observe myself to see if the all side effects go away and adjust the dose accordingly.
SP sides - I had to reduce the dose because it was making me tired. And i had more sensitive nipples, and that scared me, do not want breast because of gynecomascia, it’s better to be bald.
SP sides - little bit hornier overall, no other sides.
The first photo posted here is not the best for comparison.
The next photo looks better, because of the lighting and the length of the hair, but in terms of hair count, it’s actually worse, i do think, that what fell from the minox, didn’t grew back.
You need do run/cardio/weightlifting. Cold shower on scalp and spicy food intake. Add creatine, cityline, ALA, potassium oratate, l carnetine, omega3, multivitamin, d-ribose/xylite. See what happend.
By creatine, I think you meant keratin? Creatine increases testosterone level, which can be converted to DHT.
Could you describe what Cityline is? I couldn’t find it online.
Potassium oratate, L carnetine, D-ribose and ALA are new to me, I’ll do some research.
I exercise regularly, so vitamins and minerals are common for me (including omega 3 and hydrolyzed collagen 1,2,3).
I use shampoo with medicinal cannabis and coffeine and only rinse my head with cold water and i do not was myself under hot water, because from my experience, i know, that hot water is just as good a hair killer as stress.
misprint “citrulin” .Yes i irecommend creatine+citruline, its true that from creatine hairs fall but with minoxidil hey grow out better then before cause of atp, NO and k+ pathways. You need improve metabolism (including atp, carbon and lipids). Better to do it with atp and cocarboxylase injection, or by popular sport supplements and sport. And recommend check your cholesterol, diabet, cardiology panel.
I did some internet research and i liked citruline and ALA.
Citrulline dilates blood vessels and can reduce inflammation, has no serious side effects, and it is beneficial in doing sports.
ALA is mainly benefitical for diabetics who do not take other drugs, recomended as anti-aging supplement and also lower inflammation. Can have heavy side effects as finasteride (not the same). And there are some post that it deplete vitamin B1 (cause hair fall), but it can be supplied.
I am shedding right now, losing 10-20 hair during shower, my scalp is burning ring now.
In the first post, I wrote that Minox helped me with dandruff, I probably have psoriasis, which could also have contributed to hair loss.
I was able to find a doctor who would prescribe me finasteride, I think it is necessary before HT in case if I had any side effects. Appoitment on the end of November.
21.10.2025 - the drugs are still the same (I switched from liquid minoxidil to foamy Rogaine, the liquid was more practical, so I’ll switch it back later.)
Hair fall: 0-5 daily
Sides: I got a new side and it’s a dull orgasm, one day I didn’t take Saw palmetto and it become back in normal. And i feel, that i need more genuine love in my relationship with my partner, i should check my estrogen. I have morning wood every day now, it’s weird because it was rare even during puberty.
Not necessarily, but it’s still possible that some follicles are not fully damaged and can re-grow hair with fin. You can only know by trying it plus you’ll lose nothing anyways and you might gain a lot of density in other areas
