Do low DHT levels cause erectile dysfunction?
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- Опубликовано: 29 окт 2023
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Sources:
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2. Bradshaw WG, Baum MJ, Awh CC. Attenuation by a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor of the activational effect of testosterone propionate on penile erections in castrated male rats. Endocrinology. 1981;109(4):1047-1051. doi:10.1210/endo-109-4-1047
3. Baum MJ, Canick JA, Erskine MS, Gallagher CA, Shim JH. Normal Differentiation of Masculine Sexual Behavior in Male Ferrets Despite Neonatal Inhibition of Brain Aromatase or 5-Alpha-Reductase Activity. Neuroendocrinology. 1983;36(4):277-284. doi:10.1159/000123468
4. Choi SK, Han SW, Kim DH, Lignieres BD. Transdermal Dihydrotestosterone Therapy and its Effects on Patients with Microphallus. Journal of Urology. 1993;150(2 Part 2):657-660. doi:10.1016/S0022-5347(17)35576-3
5. Cunningham GR, Hirshkowitz M. Inhibition of steroid 5 alpha-reductase with finasteride: sleep-related erections, potency, and libido in healthy men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1995;80(6):1934-1940. doi:10.1210/jcem.80.6.7775644
6. Anderson RA, Martin CW, Kung AWC, et al. 7α-Methyl-19-Nortestosterone Maintains Sexual Behavior and Mood in Hypogonadal Men*. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 1999;84(10):3556-3562. doi:10.1210/jcem.84.10.6028
7. Seo SI, Kim SW, Paick JS. The effects of androgen on penile reflex, erectile response to electrical stimulation and penile NOS activity in the rat. Asian J Androl. 1999;1(4):169-174.
8. Charmandari E, Dattani MT, Perry LA, Hindmarsh PC, Brook CGD. Kinetics and Effect of Percutaneous Administration of Dihydrotestosterone in Children. Horm Res Paediatr. 2001;56(5-6):177-181. doi:10.1159/000048115
9. Corradi LS, Carvalho HF, Góes RM, Taboga SR. Inhibition of 5-α-reductase activity induces stromal remodeling and smooth muscle de-differentiation in adult gerbil ventral prostate. Differentiation. 2004;72(5):198-208. doi:10.1111/j.1432-0436.2004.07205004.x
10. Traish A, Kim N. ORIGINAL RESEARCH-ENDOCRINOLOGY: The Physiological Role of Androgens in Penile Erection: Regulation of Corpus Cavernosum Structure and Function. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2005;2(6):759-770. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2005.00094.x
11. Canguven O, Burnett AL. The effect of 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors on erectile function. J Androl. 2008;29(5):514-523. doi:10.2164/jandrol.108.005025
12. Spitzer M, Bhasin S, Travison TG, Davda MN, Stroh H, Basaria S. Sildenafil increases serum testosterone levels by a direct action on the testes. Andrology. 2013;1(6):913-918. doi:10.1111/j.2047-2927.2013.00131.x
13. Sartorius GA, Ly LP, Handelsman DJ. Male sexual function can be maintained without aromatization: randomized placebo-controlled trial of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in healthy, older men for 24 months. J Sex Med. 2014;11(10):2562-2570. doi:10.1111/jsm.12550
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Хобби
What about the effects of lowered DHT on alopregnanalone which can mess with dopamine and other mental function that could affect libido and erections?
First of all, the human studies I cited in this video show that 5AR blockade does not affect the neurological elements that control libido and erections.
Secondly, since this is a common question, I'm going to partially repeat an answer to it that I gave in another comment.
I have done a whole series of videos debunking the hypothesis that 5AR inhibitors affect neurosteroids and cause depression, brain fog, etc. The clinical evidence that these side effects exist at rates higher than placebo is nonexistent. Minor changes in peripheral neurosteroid levels, which actually are not well documented, don't affect brain function, and central nervous system neurosteroids aren't significantly affected by finasteride which is a type 2 5AR isoenzyme blocker, because the brain contains predominantly the type 1 5AR isoenzyme. There is even less evidence that dutasteride has any neurological effects, even though it is a type 1 5AR isoenzyme blocker. This may be because it is a larger molecule that doesn't cross the blood brain barrier well, or because the whole influence of 5AR blockers on the brain is blown out of proportion.
Finasteride has been around for decades, and no neurological side effects were documented at all in the clinical trials done for FDA approval that involved thousands of subjects.
For more detail, please watch my video series on "Muh Neurosteroids."
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@@haircafekevinthe goat himself
@@haircafekevinThis confidence saved my hair.
@@Macorelppasame here, been on finasteride for 2.5 years and have very close full head of hair.
@@Macorelppafr, so OP
Been on finasteride for over 6 years and the only time I've had any problem down there is because of the fear of it. It's all in the head in most cases.
100%
Hey! What's your dosage?
@@Rehan_____ 1.25 every 2-3 days, I cut up proscar 5mg into 4 pieces
Been on finasteride for 12+ years now. My hair is better now I'm 42 then back in my late 20's. Had a "fear" period in life too, when I started reading all the negative crap. Let met tell you, real fear gets under your skin an eventually controls your life. Just don't let it. Did quit fin for about 3 weeks or so... But was smart enough to continue again and it was the best decision ever made for my hair. It was all just fear guys...deep fear from reading other guy's crap stories and the so called experts. Anyway, good luck to all of you fighting hairloss and don't let those idiots scare you!
Did you feel any differently when you took that break?
Did your hairline continue to slowly recede during your time on fin or is it basically the same as when you started?
@@BrutalOrc When I started taking Fin, my hair loss reversed for a good bit. I was in my late twenties back then and in my early thirties it was way better. I don't feel like my hairline receded during the years. Maybe slightly improved even more over time. Although I did have multiple sheds over the years where my hair would look temporarily worse. Always used Minoxidil too to be complete. Actually started using Min a half year earlier then Fin...
@@johnwhitaker3371 Can't say I did. I've always had good libido and drive. But when I learned about all the negatives, I freaked out. Started thinking about it continuously. That's why I started to panic and wanted to quit. Lucky I didn't for too long... Anyway, I don't think about it much nowadays and just let it do its job.
@@wezzdv9630That's good to hear about sheds. I've been on min and topical fin for the past 6 months and I feel like my crown is thinning. Possibly just a shed though as Kevin reassured me. Did you see a shed at 6 months in?
can't miss a video by kevin. 💚
Thanks Kev ,as always
I noticed noodle dink and 90% decrease in semen production. Was concerning to say the least, but channeled my inner kevininator and pushed through. Both went away by 3 months and back to normal if not slightly better.
Strong work, choom!
90% decrease in semen production? That sounds REALLY extreme…
try saving it up, wait a week then let the hose loose, should make you feel better, probably just need to release less often, this happens with age too keep in mind.@@BlahBlahPoop617
> 90% decrease in semen
Impressive that you measure you semen volume on a regular basis! Do you also do your own analysis? What has your sperm count, shape, and liquefaction been like before and after?
Kevin, you have to put a way for us to support your content like patreon or something , thank you for enlightening us with these videos.
I really appreciate that, but it isn't necessary. Watching my channel is already a great way to support the channel.
Perfect timing I just got off the Ray Peat forum 🙏🏻
Hopefully for good.
As an Australian who enjoys amusing himself with the state of American politics, I will never tire of your taunting of Tim Pool in the thumbnails. Always on point king
Thank you for highlighting gelatin content within dutasteride capsules, i was on the online order page for it right up until i heard the word gelatin in one of your previous vids and immediately closed the window. Saved me from eating boiled pig guts 🤮. Ill stick to finasteride for now.
Yeah, they really need to make dutasteride capsules. I know they exist but they're obscure and likely not easy or cheap to source.
I'm glad finasteride works well for me.
@@haircafekevin where i am from they have dutasteride in capsules, i forgot the name(been using it)
video after video, I just keep wondering why kevin is not the Deputy Secretary of Health of the USA
Is your pfp meant to be one of those "squint your eyes to see it" kind of things? If you don't see it then more power too you I guess 😅😅
Kimg kev your literally the goat on yt i promise im not exaggerating question are tgecside affects of any staroids not worth going on whats your opinion of trt are the sides too much and not worth at all?
Thanks, choom! If you're going to leave natty Ville then I'd do a test-only cycle. So long as you have the 5AR inhibitor under control then your hair should be fine which is why even many bodybuilders can save their hair while on cycle.
I would just stay away from the oral DHT based steroids. Since they're already DHT, 5AR inhibitors won't have any effect and they are generally very liver toxic, not worth it.
A 500 MG test cycle will be enough to break through any plateau.
Thanks Kevin for another great video! Can you please share your current regimen (in case it's changed)? Or is it the same since your last regimen video?
Last time he mentioned his regimen it was 1.25 mg a day of finasteride and topical minoxidil.
@@da4441 Yeah, just the standard finasteride+topical minoxidil stack.
I’ve been on fin for a couple weeks now. Apart from having slightly less morning woods, I’ve been having severe mental side effects such as being satisfied that I’m able to maintain my Norwood 0 hairline throughout my life.
Yeah... Hate to break it to you but it's probably gonna get worse with your sexuality function. Morning woods are indicative of sexual health ask any urologist
Kevin, is it a bad idea to start Finasteride if I have high Testosterone and Estradiol (not crazy high, but a little above the reference range)? Thanks for all your work on this channel, it's been very insightful.
No, because just so long as the 5AR enzyme is under control the elevation in sex hormones won't matter. Having a slightly higher estrogen level doesn't matter as much if its coupled with a slightly higher testosterone range because the ratios are balanced.
If you have excess bodyfat. Get rid of it so your estradiol doesnt get too high.
Can you make a video about the probability of growing back your hair with Finasteride vs only maintaining / preventing further loss?
fAck’ing love this dude !!!
Bro, if you ever start a merch store, please make your first T-shirts have ‘ BlüdFlüw ’ on em !!!
Hi Kev!
I want to slightly power up my
Stack because my hairline started thinning again after 2+ years of fin and min. What would that next step be? Do i replace fin with dut? Or do i only use it a couple days per week alongside fin? My dad is Norwood 7 and i feel like its why just fin, although helpful for overall density, hasnt been able to stop the hairline recession completely
Kev, thanks for the vids. Just wondering how long you have taken minox for? I have heard people using it for 15+ years with keeping good results?
Really really long time. It was the first treatment I ever used. Not sure exactly when but I think I may have been like 23 when I first tried it and I'm 42 now.
That’s great, Thanks for the reply!
I love Kevin's energy in these videos
Hey kev i got a question. Caught the hair loss early and been on fin for a year, its working great with no sides. Im contemplating on adding a capsule of dutasteride weekly for a little more protection. Is it worth or im thinking it too much?
No, it isn't too much. It is actually a great way to dip your toes into extra DHT inhibition. I made a video about it.
ruclips.net/video/y-jp7oKK2SU/видео.html
Kevin probably has legitimately saved lifes with his videos
Glad to be on the good side of the Haircafe cinematic universe
Hey Kevin
If someone is overweight would you recommend they hold off on starting finasteride until they lose the weight due to the higher chance of sides?
Sup Choom, how you living? Hope everything is nova and you're having a preem week.
Please, please make a video on Huberman's latest video where he talks about PFS.
“Dutasteride Master race “😂.
Another stellar video Kevin 🙏
Thanks! It's true. Dutasteride users are the PC gamers of the hair loss community.
Kevin . I just started on Dutasteride a month ago. Been constipated and farting everyday since . Will stick it out till the new year and possibly switch to finasteride then if this continues.
@@bohemiamode I don't think it is related. I'd speak to a doctor. You are probably dehydrated or need to eat more fiber.
You were 100% right Kevin. I dropped the couple other supplements I was taking along with the dutasteride for the past 3 days and my stomach has been fine..it was the biotin which I’m no longer taking.
Every man on the planet needs to see this video, I had pfs and weak erections were definitely a symptom for me for a while even after I stopped fin. However I went balls deep and educated myself on DHT and concluded permanent side effects are impossible and that DHT isn’t actually important. The side effects started to go away and now I’ve been back on fin for 6 weeks and my erections are really good and my libido is very high compared to my baseline. So sad that more isn’t being done to educate men on this subject.
Good to hear man. How long did you have pfs?
@@skylar243 wasted almost 2 years believing I had that shit. Probably around 12-18 months. I had brain fog, weak erections, low libido, anxiety/depression. Could of easily ended my life believing I had done permanent damage, that’s why PFS needs shutting down not encouraging.
@@JohnJustJohn1howd you get rid of it?
@@sullydoe stopped believing it was possible.
@JohnJustJohn1 yeah. Good for you for snapping out of it. I will never forgive the forums how they destroyed my life
Kevin where did you get your hair transplant . I have been on dutasteride for 9 month daily plus minoxidil 15 pourcent and still losing ground in a diffuse thinning pattern . Your transplant looks really good
How is your diet? Are you on calories deficit diet or keto diet?
Hey kevin. Shampoo wise do you still use head and shoulders? Do you reccomend ketoconazole shampoo? Is it overhyped? Or is shampoo even important in AGA? What kind of shampoo do you reccomend?
It's definitely overhyped but both are good for keeping the scalp healthy and controlling dandruff so I like them. Just never use see them as a mainline defense against hair loss.
@@haircafekevindo you shampoo everyday choom, do you use conditioner, what's your routine like?
Week 2 since i joined the master race, Thank you Kevin, you are the Hair Jesus, hope things go well.
Great content. I am glad I got on Finasteride. Kevin, have you made a video debunking the bogus claims of Finasteride causing Diabetes and renal failure?
I did a video on finasteride and diabetes a few years ago, ruclips.net/video/2KxqUzctcVQ/видео.html, and I have touched on the subject in other videos. As far as renal failure and finasteride, there is some animal research, but not much evidence of it happening in people. I think it would be a good topic for a video though.
@@haircafekevinis there any test done on humans for renal failure? I don't really care about other side-effects but kidney failure is scary😢
@@haircafekevin Many thanks. Also, just a question that's been on my mind. In the Dualgen 5% Minoxidil I use, there is Retinoic acid. Is this essentially the same as Trentinoin? The active ingredient?
Or, is it better for me to buy tretinoin separately and pair it with 5% minoxidil?
@@skepticthegreat979 Yes, it is the same although I don't know about the potency in that particular product.
@@dichan4928Now you have me concerned! 😟 I just started on finasteride - 1 mg daily - about 2 weeks ago. Sadly, my wife passed away from renal failure (drug induced). It was a horrible slow death. She had complications from dialysis & no donor was available. I think we need a nephrologist to chime in. Nephrologists are the only medical experts I trust when it comes to renal health. I had a great report with my wife's nephrologist. He taught me a lot about the negative effects that pharmaceuticals have on the renal system with drugs like NSAIDs being particularly dangerous. I should have thought about this & contacted a nephrologist. You really got me thinking now. 🤔
21:56 this might be the best sentence ever mentioned on this channel. ill be using that 😂😂😂
Hey Kevin I wanna start with Finasteride, but don’t know which to get I thought I should go with hims spray but it’s kinda pricy for one bottle
Hi , what do you think about the galea theory saying that most non balding people have a smooth and flat galea while balding people usually have cone shaped galea.. thank you for everything and i love your content !
I did a video debunking that theory, ruclips.net/video/pTNJmKeAtiI/видео.html
Since the blood vessels run over the galea, and not under it, it doesn't matter what shape it is or how tense it is. The blood flow to the hair won't change. So even if blood flow played a role in hair loss, which it doesn't, the shape of the skull wouldn't matter.
@haircafekevin do you think that zinc integration does something for testosterone or is it fresh water?
I always laugh at those thumbnails of Pim Tool, it's always a blast ! Thank you for that.
However, mate, do you realize that you are most definitely the biggest producer of Pim Tool humiliation por:n ? 😂
Hey Kevin,
Been on finasteride for 2 years now and wanted to hop on topical minoxidil for a little more thickness, but after trying it for a few days I had minor chest pain and heart palpitations.
What should I do man? I really want the hair gains but I can’t risk my cardiovascular health.
Maybe give 2 percent minoxidil a shot. It isn't as potent as 5 percent minoxidil but it will still work, and it may reduce the risks of side effects.
Kevin, i swim everyday in clorohine pool, is it bad for AGA? Also, i should take the topical finasteride and topical minoxidil after i swim or i can take before 30 min i get on water? Thank you hairking!
I would use the topicals after swimming, after your hair is dry. I wouldn't do it before swimming because it will wash out. I don't think there is any evidence that chlorine will hurt your hair.
Hey Kevin I've seen a study where dutasteride worsens hepatic insulin sensitivity. What are your thoughts?
Go to the 16:46 time in this video. That is where I talk about it.
ruclips.net/video/G6XrzHQk_DI/видео.html
Hello Kevin from Belgium ! (sorry for my bad English) but I want to thank you for all your videos, because you change my mind about finasteride !
But I don't know, if you can make a video about safety to take finasteride after 45-50 years old and if you must stop one day if your dht level is low with your age or continue all your life ?
I don't know if it s a good idea and be usefull, but I think it would be a good help for older who scared taking finasteride after this age.
Older people have deceased testosterone and DHT, but they can get more hair loss anyway due to senescent alopecia piling on. So it's important still to minimize DHT with finasteride, and it might help restore the decreased testosterone too.
There's no evidence that finasteride gets less effective with age, and it will help prevent prostate enlargement too. So no reason to stop it at any age.
Give us the bicep & chest workout mann!
hey kevin, i wanted to get your opinion on this (if you haven’t already spoken on it) but is it true that if you started losing hair at about 17-18 that finasteride won’t be as effective long term? since your loss would be considered “aggressive “
No, it isn't true. How effective finasteride is is based on how soon you start it. Watch my video titled "why finasteride stops hair loss forever."
@@haircafekevin will do. thanks so much for responding. really settled my nerves about the whole thing
Kevin man pls make same video for dutasteride ❤️
Hey Kevin, I had an unrelated question.
Does hard water or chlorinated water and hair loss have any relationship ?
It won't cause hair loss, but it could cause some dryness and itchiness of your scalp.
Hey Kevin, long time fan of yours. I’ve messaged you before on other videos as well. I have yet again another question for you:
I’m currently on 0.5mg/day of dutasteride, made amazing gains (you could even see the difference from some of my RUclips videos)
I started Finasteride 1mg a day from January 27 2023 to July 10 2023. I switched to 0.5mg dutasteride every day because I was (not knowing at the time) experiencing a shed and panicked. So I reached for the stronger medication. I’ve been on 0.5mg dutasteride since July 10 2023.
Lately I’ve been experiencing ED. To be honest I think it’s psychological (I’m only 27 and I think it’s performance anxiety) not physiological. So I’ve been watching your videos and doing research. If for chance, I am indeed actually experiencing ED from the dutasteride, would you recommend I:
A.) Take 0.5mg dutasteride every other day
B.) Switch to 1mg/day oral fin and topical minoxidil
C.) switch to topical Finasteride and minoxidil
D.) Try stacking 0.5mg dutasteride once a week and Finasteride the other 6 days of the week (topical or oral)
I’d like to get your input as I trust your opinion.
I’m considering doing option D but some studies I’ve looked at are conflicting with one another. Is stacking dutasteride and Finasteride dangerous?
Thoughts?
Kev,
Have you seen any research showing the creatine supplementation increases DHT levels causing potential hair loss. Been on finasteride for over 2 years with no side effects. thanks to this channel
Yes, I have made videos on it.
m.ruclips.net/video/CEqwrYIMM1c/видео.html&pp=ygURaGFpcmNhZmUgY3JlYXRpbmU%3D
@@haircafekevin my bad, not sure how I missed this. Thank you for all the research you put into your videos.
Hey Kevin, this may sound silly to ask but since the half-life of finasteride is about 5-6 hours what if you cut 1mg of Finasteride in half and take it twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, will it balance out the half-life or is it completely pointless?
Pointless. It doesn't work on serum level. It works on tissue level. That's why you can take weeks off and lose no hair. Theoretically you could take it pretty infrequently once stability is achieved.
Hey Kevin I am currently using a shampoo from Avalon Organics and it contains 6-7 different kind of oils in it so my question is that would that shampoo limit my minoxidil absorption as it contains lots of different kind of hair oils? You’re response would be highly appreciated.
No, minoxidil contains an ethanol/PG solution so it will easily permeate any oil in a shampoo or hair product.
Hey, Kevin. I wanted to ask why exactly are you not able to stop minoxidil? Have you tried to stop, it seems to me if you are taking fin, min should not be needed anymore right? I say this because I took fin for 2 weeks after much back and forth but I had very bad exp (insomnia+bladder discomfort maybe prostate effect idk). I decided to stop as pyri and gt20029 are on the way. I want to try minoxidil maybe next year but if my hair get dependent on it, it would render gt20029's long application window null. Pls comment.
It isn't that your hair is dependent on it, it is just that the mechanism is different from finasteride.
So if you get better results with finasteride + minoxidil than just finasteride alone then you will need minoxidil to maintain those results.
Check out my video "what happens if you have to stop minoxidil and finasteride."
I talk about it there.
@haircafe dude you have the best content on here. You’re incredibly funny and all of your videos are incredibly insightful and helpful. I have a question though, I’m a 28 year old with a Norwood 3, I’ve been on FINASTERIDE for 7 months taking 4mg a week. Should I stop being a bitch and just take one everyday? I’ve noticed some stabilization but at the same time I feel like I’m getting thinner on top. Thanks
Thanks, homie!
Honestly, yeah I would do the daily dose. What you're using is legitimate but if you're new there is no need to start from a position of compromise, even if it is a slight one. Go ahead and do the standard 1 MG per day dose and titrate down only if you get sides which is unlikely.
Kevin, generally speaking, how often is mpb more than 1 issue? I myself had seborrheic dermatitis, alopecia areata, and not I have androgenic alopecia.
I ask because I never considered that there can be a multifactorial hair loss in some cases.
It's never more than one issue. The only thing that makes androgenic alopecia progress is DHT. There are other forms of hair loss that exist but they're rare and temporary.
They're also distinct from androgenic alopecia as they are usually patchy and random, they don't have a pattern as we see with the norwood or ludwig scale.
A lot of people overstate the significance of "other factors" but they're usually just trying to scam you by making you think the DHT issue is only part of the equation.
In Dr. Imperato's research on the Dominican pseudo-hermaphrodites, not a single one of them showed any sign of hair loss whatsoever.
So if you have androgenic alopecia, all you need to focus on is controlling DHT.
@@haircafekevin 🙏
@@haircafekevin Kevin, do you recommend most users start with the standard 1mg of Finasteride a day, before titrating? My hair lost SUDDENLY got really bad in the course of 2 years. I currently do 1 mg every other day, but I saw that 1mg a day is recommended.
Hi Kevin, I've been 4 months using daily Dut 0.5 and topical minox and I've had a massive shedding for the last two months. I'm loosing around 300 hairs a day (I scrub my head on top of a white table each morning and take a photo, and it's really that many). The hairs come from all parts of my head, including sides and back. Do you think this is normal shedding? My derm sent me yesterday to do a blood bcause he thinks it's too much hair to be a shedding. Thank you so much for your help!
I think it is just a treatment shed. There is nothing blood work will be able to tell you as scalp dht is the important factor, not serum dht.
If you really want some metric of progress then go to a university dermatologist and ask for a phototrichogram. If 6 months later things are looking worse then consider 2.5 mg of dut.
@@haircafekevin Thank you Kevin for being so kind and taking time to answer so many of us!
How long before bed should minoxidil be applied to be sure it doesn’t get on your pillow and is fully absorbed I keep hearing 2-4 hours but that seems way too long
My day is made every time I hear “chooms”
Hey kev. Been on 1.25 daily fin for 10 months. I haven't experience that famous shed phase and lost density and ground in this period of time. I was a NW2.5 but now I'm a solid 3 with diffuse thinning. I'm scared from dut and min due to shedding bc i can still cover my bald spots with a shaggy haircut. I don't know what to do. What can you say? Appreciate your effort for those who lost their hair. Thanks.
If you think shedding from treatment is bad, wait till you see what happens when you shed without treatment. You will still shed but the hair will never come back.
Shedding is something you have to deal with because it is impossible to keep a hair forever in the anagen phase. Look into hair fibers like toppik, and derm match as a temporary cosmetic ssolution.
But forget about avoiding a shed, that is an inevitability and it means the treatment is working. If you avoid treatment you will still shed but it will be permanent.
hey Kevin ! I have been using topical finasteride for 2 years. The shedding continues, but my hair is not thinning at all and is thick. Should I start oral fin?
It could just be a seasonal shed, I would give it a couple of months before adjusting your treatment protocol. Oral finasteride may not be a bad idea but assuming your topical fin has minoxidil in it make sure you use topical minoxidil too.
Hey Kevin, I’ve been taking 1 mg of finasteride daily, but I was wondering if I could take half of that every other day? Would that still be pretty good? Only reason I ask is because I have noticed a loss in my libido and erections. I’m a healthy 30 year guy who works out regularly
Sure, finasteride isn't very dose dependent and it is common for doctors to recommend dose titration for people who get side effects on the standard dose.
@@haircafekevin thank you for replying!! Really appreciate you! 🙏🤘
Hey Kevin, do you think having a bad itch/rash from minoxidil foam and/or liquid is normal?
No, it sounds like it could be an allergic reaction. I'd speak with a dermatologist.
@@haircafekevin thanks for the reply! I’ve been on fin 3x a week and im not sure if I should make it everyday?
Hi Geralt, do you think being 100lbs overweight could cause mpb due to messed up hormones? I have no history of mpb in my family but I'm an aggro diffuse thinner. I've been using fin&min+dermarolling for the past 3,5 months with no visible results.
3.5 months is way too soon, give it at least a year, choom.
Being overweight can cause elevated estradiol levels which in theory may increase your risk of sides but if you aren't getting sides now you are probably fine.
I wouldn't sweat it, you are using the gold standard stack so it is just a matter of time.
If after a year you are still losing ground then I'd join the dutasteride Master race and try 2.5 mg of dutasteride for double finasterides scalp dht suppression.
@@haircafekevin Thanks! I'm hoping for regrowth since I've already lost 50% of density (silly me).
But if the gold standard stack doesn't work for me after 1 year of use, I'm gonna have to join Baldcafe...
@@Fibonacci-en3fd Nah, you can always join the dutasteride master race. You've got this.
I hate how hard it is to know what things affect health, in what ways, and to what extent. It’s arguable the most directly relevant domain of science for everyday life and yet it’s the one field more than any other that feels plagued with the worst science communication.
"Which is why he is a recurring character here in the HCU" Fking killed me 🤣
I have been on 1mg Dutasteride for 15 months with not a full recovery (diffuse thinner). Should I increase Dutasteride dosage or introduce a topical antiandrogen? I want to attempt everything before using greasy minoxidil. Do I just need to deal with scalp DHT or scalp testosterone? Please help
Thank you for sharing. Kevin has covered studies showing daily dutasteride dose can be as high as 2.5mg per day for maximum effectiveness. So maybe increase your daily dutasteride?
And also use a laser helmet as a growth stimulator instead of topical minoxidil.
im 21 and have a receding nw2 hairline, im going to use proscar 5mg and split it to 8 pieces, use 0.65 every other day for first week if there is no sides then ill use 0.65 every day. does it sounds logical or i should start with 0.65 everyday or even 1.25 ?
Hey Kevin, is it okay to chew finasteride pills? or just drink it crushed
I can't swallow pills and rather not do topical
Yeah it is fine, it will still enter your stomach and work.
apparently, new research suggests that dutasteride increases ldl cholestrol and lowers hdl cholestrol, this has got me scared, since ive been on dut for nearly an year now, and i was young when i started it (18), and rn i am (19), it hasnt caused me any sexual sides in any way ever, but the cholestrol link has got me worried, i have no plans of coming off dut since i love my hair, tho im coping by since the studies included old men with bph who might already have bad levels of cholestrol anyway
What’s up Kev? How much time does it take for someone who started using oral minoxidil to develop heart complications and how long before someone who quit it to be completely rid of said complications?
The case reports showed it happened pretty quickly, usually within a few months. That was one of my criticisms of the 1404 study since it excluded people who had been on treatment for under 3 months.
If you stop the drug you should be free of risks as soon as the drug is out of your system which should just take a couple of days.
I agree oral minox although effective probably isn't safe. I had heart palpitations and shortness of breath from topical minoxidil after 2 years without sides. Even as low as 0.25ml would give me rapid heart beat especially when lying down and in the evenings. Only used once a day 1ml too for the entire time.
However, half a year I can now take it again (although I lost some hair) without issues, been 2 months so far. Sometimes I notice my heart beating more rapidly for example when I have headphones on but it's nothing compared to what was before. Also, each time it was 1 say without minox and sides disappeared immediately.
Hi Kevin, I have been on fin and topical minoxidil for 2 years and recently I have experienced some hearth palpitations, do you have any opinion on that, could it be related to fin or minox or both?
Could be minoxidil. Maybe switch to 2 percent minoxidil but talk to your doctor first.
I had the same thing! Also after 2 years of topical minox!
Heart palpitations and shortness of breath, couldn't take a full breath, weird feeling in the chest and heart thumping especially when I would lay down or in the evening. I was also only doing 1ml/day.
I can say that reducing the dose even to as low as 0.25 ml didn't help. Still had it. Tried to quit for 2 weaks and take again and still had it. So I quit for 6 months lost a lot of hair but now I can take it again without problems. Been doing that for 2 months. Hope this helps.
BTW. I was never on fin so Kevin Is probably right, it's the minoxidil. Heart palpitations are listed as a side effect
I started finasteride 2 months ago. I’m shedding a lot of hair still. I’m taking finasteride by Sanis. Is this a good brand? Or is it worth looking into switching to another brand?
every brand or generic type is exactly the same. Just go with what is the cheapest option in your country.
Kevin, Finasteride has pretty much eliminated my headaches/migraines.
It turns out the trash hormone DHT was playing a role in the headaches...
Thank you again for putting the truth out there.
Yo Kevin, do you think I should join the dutasteride Master race? (2.5 mg EOT).
Or just keep it on fin (1mg) daily? I'm on my sixth month with it.
Probably just stay the course. Finasteride is good enough for most people.
@@haircafekevin thank you choom!!
@@javiers4173 You bet!
Kevin, curious...are you using finasteride? If so, what's your dosage & frequency? If not, what's the reason for not using the pharmaceutical?
I do use it. 1.25 mg daily.
Hey kev, I’m using 0.5mg of finasteride 3times a week which is low amount but I developed gyno, I stopped using it but this is very depressing I really would love to continue the treatment do you have any advice.
You can try using 0.2 MG per day alongside an OTC aromatase inhibitor like DIM. I talk about it in my "What to do if you get sides" video I made about a month ago.
If you can't control the gyno, then I would just get the gyno surgery and get it over with. It's not an ideal solution but it is still cheaper than a hair transplant.
@@haircafekevin gyno scares me and I couldn't afford the surgery in the UK if it affected me.
So does Dim actually prevent it occurring as such?
I’m on anti depressants, HBP meds, dutasteride and Minoxidil My libido is superhuman 😅
hey i couldnt find any info about this online but it looks like my hair is thinning in a FPHL pattern and also receding with a MPB pattern, do you know if this is possible or am i imagining things? my hair loss came aggressively, NW1 to 3 in 3 years. if i have both of these patterns does that change anything for me in regards to treatment? should i be using minoxidil on the whole middle line through my scalp for example? sorry for so many questions i just want to eradicate this stupid curse
Yes, it is possible. Androgenic alopecia has over 250 genes associated with it so it is very diverse in how it progresses. You can have unpatterned diffuse hair loss, pattern hair loss, or a combination of both.
It is still a form of androgenic alopecia though so conventional treatments should work. I would use minoxidil everywhere you're thinning, even if it means using more than 1 ML.
Of course you should also be using finasteride or dutasteride as well.
@@haircafekevin thank you, i hope everything is nova for you!
Hey Kevin, another wonderful video! I have two unrelated questions for you.
1. Could you maybe do a video on the reported “brain fog” that those on forums report? I feel like everyone I see on places like Reddit and hairloss talk say they have it lol.
2. I have a (albeit likely wrong) theory regarding the far out side effects some people report anecdotally. While I’m sure many fall victim to general worry and psychosomatic manefestations, what if it’s in part due to the inactive ingredients in some generics? I’m well aware that generics are suppose to be bio-equivalent, but from my knowledge that doesn’t mean the fillers can’t be different. What if some individuals metabolize/react to these varying fillers poorly, and thus incorrectly blame finasteride instead of the filler for their side effects. This would be nearly a perfect explanation why things like insomnia, brain fog, and other unreported-AES aren’t found in studies/trials (since they all use the same formulation in studies).
Just a thought, let me know what you think!
The downstream metabolites of DHT, 3α-Androstanediol and 3β-androstanediol, are minor endogenous estrogens and neurosteroids of which the biologic importance is not entirely clear. the consenses seems to be that 3α is a potent positive allosteric modulator of the GABA-A receptor (same as xanax), is involved in rewarding, calms anxiety (same as xanax), promotes sexual behaviors, and has anti seizure effects (withdrawl from xanax can result in seizures). DHT and estradiol may be understood, but if you are taking Fin, you are still messing with downstream hormones that we don't fully understand. Take at your own risk
I've done a series of videos on the claims that 5AR inhibitors affect neurosteroids and cause depression, brain fog, etc. The clinical evidence that these side effects exist at rates higher than placebo is nonexistent. Minor changes in peripheral neurosteroid levels, which actually are not well documented, probably don't affect brain function, and central nervous system neurosteroids aren't significantly affected by finasteride which is a type 2 5AR isoenzyme blocker, because the brain contains predominantly the type 1 5AR isoenzyme. There is even less evidence that dutasteride has any neurological effects, even though it is a type 1 5AR isoenzyme blocker. This may be because it is a larger molecule that doesn't cross the blood brain barrier well, or because the whole influence of 5AR blockers on the brain is blown out of proportion. The person commenting that we just don't understand these effects should realize that finasteride has been around for decades, and that no neurological side effects were documented at all in the clinical trials done for FDA approval that involved thousands of subjects.
As to whether the fillers used in generics have a role, I guess anything is possible, but I don't know any evidence for that.
@@FrancisFleuronasFound the PFS spokesman…
@@FrancisFleuronasmuh neurosteroids
@@FrancisFleuronas We have decades of outcome data in dozens of millions of men taking finasteride. That trumps any and all mechanistic speculation or animal research and proves the safety and efficacy of finasteride. Your concern trolling has no effect here, eggman.
Kevin will skincare products like moisturizer or cleanser touching my hair cause hair loss ?
No, they are benign.
Hey dad. Im trying to slow down my MPB not completely stop it because I'm getting a lot of sides from fin. I was on 0.25 every other day and still was developing gyno. I saw your video about stopping min or fin and what would happen, and I learned that stopping fin takes you back essentially to when you started it, but it is not like stopping min which drops you to a level thats similar to have never used it.
so.. when I am off fin for 5 weeks, my gyno goes away. Does it make sense to be on for a few weeks and then off for another just to slow down MPB, or should I look for other alternatives. My Doc recommends either being on it fully (and dealing with gyno surgically) or not using it at all
dude... gyno means there is some hormonal imbalance...
Your doctor recommendation sounds good. You are already on a very low dose of finasteride at 0.25mg every other day so stopping periodically when already taking so little sounds like a poor strategy.
Maybe your body would react to dutasteride better?
Personally I would recommend taking care of the gyno surgically and then not having to worry about it anymore.
Hey! Do you know if corticosteroids like predniso(lo)ne can cause/worsen hair loss? Been using them for long periods of time and now I wonder if they have anything to do with it. Noticed that my hair loss tends to get a lot worse when I have to use higher doses of steroids
Yes, sometimes they can but the hair loss is temporary and should resolve on its own.
I’ve been on corticosteroids since I was 8 so I hope it doesn’t worsen hair loss lmao
Hey Kevin, will taking dutasteride 3x a week have the same effect as taking dutasteride everyday. I ask this because taking finasteride 3x a week is practically the same as everyday. Thank you.
Maybe not exactly the same but close enough that any difference would be negligible.
Alright, thanks Kevin. Also would you say finasteride everyday is better or worse than dutasteride 3x a week?
Haircafe Kevin hi bro.
I am on oral dutasteride 0.5mg for almost one month. I have used oral finasteride for one year and it didn't do anything for me, even not decreasing the hair shedding. I had a 4 months break before I started oral dutasteride and I see too much hair falling out, it's like heaven rains lol, I see clumps of hairs in the shower drain, that's scary bro. I can definitely see more scalp than the preceding months, I am really confused, I don't know if it's a good sign or if I am not responding to these medications at all. I need your advice on this
Thank you
It is a good sign, because you are shedding hair that will be replaced by healthy hair. One month is too soon to see growth. Wait at least 6 months and your hair should be looking better.
Kev I tried dutasteride for a week and already started getting throat pain. Will this go away with continued use?
I do not think that is related but whatever is causing it likely will go away. I'd still play it safe and talk to your doctor.
@@haircafekevin thanks for the response! And yeah I might go talk to my dermatologist and see what he has to say. Keep up the great content choom!!!!
Hi Kevin,
If you had to choose between 1mg 3x a week or 0.5mg daily due to costs which way would you go?
Thanks mate
Daily due to finasteride's relatively short half life of about 6 hours.
@@haircafekevin hi Kevin, if it’s biological effects lasts a long time, what’s your views on the needs of taking it daily?
Thanks mate
Kevin you have knowledge on peds, does igf1 or igf1-lr3 cause hair loss?
They are hair growth stimulants. I did a video on IGF-1 a while ago, ruclips.net/video/1BgpuDRGs3w/видео.html
Hi Kevin I've been on fin for 20 days, 0 sides. After how long could I see some regrowth??
What happens now?
Are there any studies comparing the efficacy of Dutasteride vs finasteride PLUS 5% topical minoxidil?
No, I don't think so. I would definitely like to see one.
if finasteride increased my libido, will those effects be permanent as long as I take finasteride or will they decrease eventually returning my libido to normal after a short period of time?
It is likely it will return to normal as you adapt to the drug.
I wonder if I can ask, as someone who used dutasteride sparingly and topical finasteride in combo I have a fairly obvious case of impotency right now. It's been 6 weeks. Wondering how long to wait till I need to worry. I love your channel, but suffering right now and wonder what to do. The Hair Loss Show Oz docs say these drugs can take 3 months to get out of one's system and dutasteride has a long half life. Temporarily halting all treatments till this abates, but it kills me to do so for hair sake. Just can't get erect.
Finasteride has a short half life, just 5-6 hours. It is dutasteride that has the really long half life. Maybe drop the dutasteride and stay on the finasteride.
Side effects will usually go away on their own with continued use. Maybe consider a low dose PDE5 inhibitor. That will solve any erection issues you presently have.
I read somewhere that we have androgen receptors down there and dht bind more readily than test which leads to strong erections. but when you lower dht, in some individuals test may make up for it but not everyone and hence the side effects. What do you think about this? Would love to know. Thanks!
There are androgen receptors, but there there isn't much 5AR there. DHT works where it is produced, and the penis doesn't produce much of it. If you take DHT as a supplement you will get stimulation of those androgen receptors, but that's a different situation. The amount of circulating DHT present normally is much less than the amount of circulating testosterone, so testosterone is gong to be the predominant hormone affecting erectile function, whether or not you lower your DHT.
For some reason 5 copies of your comment posted. Maybe you can delete the extra copies?
@@haircafekevin thanks for the response. My bad. will do that right away
Great video as always. I was wondering if you could make a video about the following. If you use finasteride for 5-10 years let's say and then you quit. Will you have lost less hair at the age of 60 than someone who hasn't used finasteride at all? So basically, is the finish line going to be the same regardless as soon as you quit or do you actually save some hairs on the longterm the longer you use it?
When you are on finasteride you put the hair loss on hold. If you stop it, hair loss will resume starting from where you are when you stop it. There will not be a catch-up effect. So yeah, the longer you lose it the more hairs you save.
Hey Kevin, hopefully you will see this. Been on topical min 5% topical fin 0.25% once a day for the last three months. I’ve noticed a hit to my libido and erection quality.
I am a healthy 28 year old, I eat well, workout ect.
Would you recommend cutting back the dosage to 0.2% or 0.15% fin. Or keep going at 0.25% for another few months, I am going to see my doctor again in June. So maybe keep going till then (so long as things don’t get worse)
The side effects aren’t awful but I do notice them.
I'd give it a bit more time. Side effects will usually go away on their own with continued use.
If they stubbornly refuse to go away then I would maybe consider mircrodosing oral finasteride. 0.1 MG daily is the smallest dose you can use that still works.
@@haircafekevinthanks for the reply. The side effects just started maybe a week or two ago. The first two months were smooth sailing, so I’ll tough it out for a few more months.
in another video you suggested some supplements to resolve sexual side effects. do you still suggest those or a PDE5 inhibitor instead?
Pde5 inhibitor is easily the most effective way to deal with any erectile issues from 5ar inhibitors, which are rare.
@@haircafekevin what about libido issues? thank you, i hope you have a preem week!
@@whenwillitbecold Yeah, you can try an over the counter aromatase inhibitor supplement like DIM. There are a few other things. I talk about it in this video.
ruclips.net/video/XH89LagYOIo/видео.html
I would stay away from pharmaceutical aromatase inhibitors though. They cause hair loss and other health problems like hypercholesterolemia.
@@haircafekevin thank you so much!
Hey Kevin, unrelated but where can you get pantostin? (Not eBay or Amazon tho as I’ve already checked them)
Look up Ell-Cranell on Ebay, it is the same product, just a different manufacturer.
In my country we only have 5 mg finesteride should i take it !?
Hey just wondering, I left my topical finasteride + minoxidil solution (I'll hopefully get a chance to switch to oral fin soon) out in 40 - 57 farenheit conditions for a few days, is it still okay? It says on the box it shouldn't be kept under 60 farenheit
No, that isn't too far of from room temperature so probably doesn't matter.
@@haircafekevin Thank you, that is good to know. Another question, I went fully vegan three months ago (stopped consuming dairy for my acne earlier this year and it all kind of snowballed from there until I went full plant-based) I've been very mindful of all of my nutrients such as iron, calcium, protein and so on. My diet was terrible when I was omni, so I'd argue I'm the healthiest I've ever been.
Anyway, I'm aware that the idea of, for example, biotin supplementation for hair loss is unnecessary if you live in the first world and don't have malnutrition, but are there any minerals/vitamins that people on a vegan diet need to mindful of that can cause hair loss (whether it be something like TE or accelerating MPB) if one is deficient in them? Again I'm already on min and fin.
As someone who is balding is it bad to get on finasteride if you don’t get bloodwork done to see where your levels are? I keep hearing that taking fin without bloodwork can be dangerous and give PFS symptoms
There is no blood marker that can predict how well you will respond to finasteride. Don't bother. Just take it like an aspirin and forget about it.
The more you worry about it and hyper-analyze things the more likely you're going to give yourself a nocebo effect.
@@haircafekevinKevin do you believe we can take a pill similar to finasteride but it's just a sugar pill and somebody will tell us it's fin but the mind is a powerful thing so we give ourselves a placebo effect and our hair grows back on its own without fin?
Hey Kevin the hair loss GOAT, I'm an early NW 2, 20 years old, any hope for me to get back to NW 1?
Thank you, and you have a pretty good chance. But I would use finasteride and topical minoxidil if you want to maximize your chances of regrowth.
Whats up man. Been taking oral 5mg finasteride just like you where i cut it into fourths at 1.25mg . Been having some sexual side effect not sure if its from.the finasteride or not. If i lower the dosage to .50mg will that lessen side effects and if so should i take it daily or will every other day be just as effective at stopping hairloss? Let me know brother
Yo! Give it a few weeks to stabilize as sides usually go away on their own with continued use as your endocrine system adjusts.
Next step is to lower your dose. 0.5 or 0.2 mg should do the trick.
If need be you can even lower your dose as low as 0.1 mg daily and it still works.
Take it one step at a time though. You've got this.
@@haircafekevin Thank you so much. And should I take it daily or every other day at .50mg to lessen side effects but still stop hair loss ? Please advise brother. I appreciate your input
Hey Kevin, I just wanted your advice on stopping once a week Dutasteride and continuing with 7 times a week Finasteride 1 mg. Actually when I first started loosing my hair like 1 year ago I started with Finasteride 1 mg and 5% Minoxidil and continued it for like 3 months and then I got hair greed and I couldn't allow myself to wait 1 year or more to see the full results of Finasteride so I got on 0.5 mg Dut once a week along side with 1 mg Fin 6 times a week and Minoxidil 5%.Other reason to get on once a week 0.5 mg DUT was that I started loosing hair at the age of 18. But as for now I got lots of hair regrowth on my hairline area and vertex of scalp and I'm very happy for the results but now I am afraid to continue DUT once a week for the rest of my life as its giving me sides like watery semen and water retention in my body. Because of the sides I stopped Dut for a while and continued with Fin 7 times a week and noticed that sides started to go away so my question is that would I loose grounds if I stop taking Dut once a week? Thanks again in Advance G.
Yeah, you can go ahead and stop dutasteride. Dutasteride suppresses about 10 percent more scalp DHT than finasteride so it isn't THAT much more powerful and is only needed in cases of extreme hair loss. You got into the good fight early so I don't think you'll need it.
Finasteride plus topical minoxidil is the gold standard for a good reason, it's probably all you will ever need.
@@haircafekevinThanks a lot for clearing all my doubts. I remember when I first started loosing my hair I was researching everywhere how to stop and reverse hair loss and luckily god made me stumbled upon your channel and that was the reason I got into the good fight early. May god bless you brother you're truly an inspirational to us young folks.
Hello kevin i have aquestion
Is there a medicine that just reduce the sensitivity of hair folliciles of the scalp towards dht , instead of removing dht ???????
Just reduce the sesnsitivity
Yes, but it isn't out yet. Check out my videos on gt20029.