Transgender girl here looking for help, long story be prepared.

[Illuminated]

Hello everyone this is my first post.

I can't say I am happy to be here, I wish I didn't have to be.

So I have been lurking these forums for years and I finally decided to make an account.

Basically I noticed my temples thinning when I was about 17 when I had no idea what the mature male hairline was. It drove me crazy and made me so depressed for years. Being transgender and knowing I was female and dealing with this made it 100000000 worse.

So a couple of long years later I am 22 and I started Hormone Replacement Therapy in October of 2013.

I started Dutasteride right away, I was not about to **** around after finally dealing with this shit. I also was given a Lupron Depot injection which provides a temporary chemical castration as well as starting trans dermal estrogen.

So when I first noticed my hair loss at 17 I was sick and tired of running to the mirror and spending days staring and staring looking for changes that I totally stopped looking at my hairline at all. I would part my hair down the center and try not to look at it at all.

Fast forward to December 2013, after not looking at my hairline for years I was feeling my hair line and noticed all of these little pointy broken feeling hairs. To my horror when I pulled up my hairline it looked like it was thin through not just the temples but the whole hairline. My right temple had receded into a norwood 1.5 but was thinning into a 2 while my left temple was thinning into a 1.5 but was still intact to a norwood 1.

I was absolutely distraught and took some photos of my hair in really bright lighting and to my horror it seemed like the part of my hair was thinning as well. I posted them on some forums for transgender people and everyone said I was crazy blah blah blah. There was one woman who saw my post who was very knowledgeable and told me that all I had was a mature male hairline and as soon as I was castrated it should stop and that I should be able to regrow some of it. She also said my part looked normal. She knew a LOT about hair loss and has posted here frequently, her name is tracy.

In January, literally because of my hair loss driving me totally insane and desperate to stop this I had a bilateral orchiectomey.
I felt great about everything for a while but I had a nagging feeling that something was still not right.

I went outside and looked at my hair in direct sunlight, something I have not done ever, but especially since I was 17. I was absolutely SHOCKED. My hair line looked like it had lost a large amount of density to the point where the outer edge looked transparent and you could clearly see through my hair in the frontal area and my hair part looked like it had lost a large amount of density as well.

I was told over and over and over again that I do not have diffuse thinning but I suspect that I do. At least I suspect I have thinning in the 2A pattern.

I want to know a couple of things and although it will probably be impossible to give me exact answers I think it would be a good idea to brain storm with others.

First of all since I have been castrated and since I am taking Dutasteride for the rest of my life my hair loss should be arrested correct? That is what I keep getting told, that at the very LEAST my hair loss should be stopped right where it was when I was castrated.

Also my biggest question that I can not seem to get an answer to is how much reversal of miniturization should I see? Even if my hair loss stops I am unhappy with the density of my hair line and the area directly behind it.

Since I was only 21 when I started treatment and was castrated, taking Dutasteride, Estrogen is now my dominant hormone, and since the miniaturization seems to be in an early-ish stage I was thinking that it could potentially totally reverse or close to it. The miniaturized hairs are totally cosmetically significant, apparently it's only noticeable to me and it only looks bad in direct sun light. I have noticed Cis females also have "see through" hair lines and their parting looks much wider as well.

I want to post the pictures but I am afraid of what types of people I will encounter here. I have extreme anxiety and depression about this and I don't want people to lie and hurt my feelings because I am trans.

I know I may seem greedy and dramatic compared to others here but please try and understand. Hair loss sucks terribly for men, hair loss is distressing and life changing in women, but for a transgender woman it is life threatening. My life is so scary and stressful as it is and I have lost so many things and people and face so much negativity every single day. My hair loss is sending me into suicidal thoughts and depression and is eating up all of my thought and time. I am unable to get out of bed most days.

Please help

This is what I'm taking:

3 MG trans dermal estrodial
0.5 MG Dutasteride
200 MG Micronized Progesterone
1% Nizoral 2X Per Week
Hair max Laser comb every other day
I am Post Castration so no Anti Androgens.

[goldnt]

Have you tried minox 2%? Use it to stimulate growth. Since your on dut you should be good. Start off with 2% for a couple months and see how it goes. ALSO get a blood test and see if your blood work is good because you mention that estrogen is your dominant hormone so im thinking you could a have a deficiency.

[Illuminated]

Have you tried minox 2%? Use it to stimulate growth. Since your on dut you should be good. Start off with 2% for a couple months and see how it goes. ALSO get a blood test and see if your blood work is good because you mention that estrogen is your dominant hormone so im thinking you could a have a deficiency.

Thank you for replying, I was told not to use minoxidil because it can end up causing permanent hair loss in the frontal area of the scalp in some people.

I have had extensive blood tests since I started HRT in October and nothing has been found, what deficiency are you referring to? I honestly would highly doubt it is anything other than genetic hair loss. Thyroid issues do run in my family though, I guess I should ask to have it checked in my next blood test.

Also it makes me feel better that you think it should at least stop from taking Dut

[goldnt]

Many people use minox and see growth after a couple months. Just like your Dut its a commitment for life otherwise the hairs will fall out. Dut should stop your hairline from receding but i honestly suggest you at-least try minox. If your upset over how your hair already is might as well take the risk. I use it and its perfectly fine. Just don't stop using it otherwise it will be worse than what you started off. And how long have you been using dut? A year? Try also taking pics every once in a while to see how your hair stands over time.

[Illuminated]

Many people use minox and see growth after a couple months. Just like your Dut its a commitment for life otherwise the hairs will fall out. Dut should stop your hairline from receding but i honestly suggest you at-least try minox. If your upset over how your hair already is might as well take the risk. I use it and its perfectly fine. Just don't stop using it otherwise it will be worse than what you started off. And how long have you been using dut? A year? Try also taking pics every once in a while to see how your hair stands over time.

Well it's not bad enough to risk making it worse yet, and I have only been on Dut for 7 months and I haven't really seen any difference yet but I keep getting told I need to wait 12 - 18 months or even longer to see a difference.

Apparently a hair may need to go through more than 1 hair cycle to show some recovery.

Also my time frames are different since Estrogen lengthens the growth phase so I really am not sure when I should start seeing results.

If I can avoid using minoxidil I would rather not have to use it, its a big commitment and seems really messy and annoying to have to use.

Will Dut and the fact I am castrated be enough to reverse the miniaturization process ?

[Hair Bear]

In a strange way I can understand where you are coming from in a manner of speaking, I mean... I have wore my hair long for most of my life now and it had become a feature of my persona and thus it had become a focal point however now that my hair has declined to such a terrible point I can no longer bare to look at myself in a mirror, see pictures of myself or socialise as I once did.
I understand your hair is a key aspect of your appearance as it defines you as who you are portraying yourself to be.
I strongly suggest you do more research on minox and perhaps LLLT the former has proven itself over time however the later has not proven itself completely yet to be a worthy treatment to many.
In regards to minox I will put it this way you could do as I did and hesitate for a few more years and watch your hairline fade or you could take the plunge and hope for the best.
I hesitated many years ago because I believed something better was coming... it never came, I hesitated because I wanted a better solution... it never came, I hesitated because I was afraid I would lose more hair whilst on it but you know what that was my biggest mistake because I have lost a lot of hair since and I suspect I could have been a lot better off now that I would have been had I started back then.

Minox is a commitment and could be messy but so can putting on make up which is somewhat an art form if ask me.
I have tried playing around with hair concealer's too which is also an option but keep in mind it like make up takes a lot of time to perfect.

Sorry if I may have offended you in some manner as it is not my intention, I believe everyone has the right to feel happy within themselves and in their life, I am not here to judge you, as long as you are honest and respectful to others around you then that is fine.

On a side note I probably would not have mentioned the name of said person that helped you as they may not be comfortable divulging such information.
I believe we are all aware of said person by name but not by nature.

This is just one hetro guy's view on your situation.

[Illuminated]

Thank you for the thought out answer hair bear

I am really sorry you are having issues with your hair as well.

I can tell you that this certainly is ruling my life, I literally am more depressed and anxious about this then when I thought I had cancer. It had made me feel worse than anything else ever has and probably ever will. It has literally ruined my life.

The only reason I have not committed suicide is because I keep being told that my hair loss should reverse almost completely with everything I have done and am doing to change my body hormonally.

I feel like I am in uncharted territory here. I am castrated and changing my body hormonally to female while taking Dut still as well. At the very least I'm pretty sure my hair loss should be arrested, but I certainly don't want to jynx it.

I have looked in to Minox but again I was told that any perception of benefit is far outweighed by the chance of causing more loss. I trust the woman who told me this, I have sent her almost 100 pictures of my hair in all different lighting. She has told me over and over and over again that I need to not use minoxidil. She honestly has had the most knowledge of hair loss of anyone I've ever met or spoke to in my life. I'm not trying to tout her it's just I want to stick with what she has said and avoid minoxidil for now.

So can anyone tell me what kind of results they have had from Fin or Dut alone at reversing the miniaturization process? Especially at the frontal area and hairline? That's where my issues seems to be the worst right now. I do not THINK my miniaturization is very advanced yet, the hairs are still growing very long like regular hairs but they are a lighter color and appear thinner.

In softer lighting I don't look like I have any issue at all whatsoever, in bright lighting I can tell but from HD pictures I have taken no one else really can still, but in direct sunlight it looks scary.

Also I have been told that my density will fluctuate with the treatments I am using. Is it possible that the density loss I am seeing may be temporary because of my hairs cycling and responding to Dutasteride and everything else I have done like castration and Estrogen?

I am using LLLT but I'm using the hair max comb which I guess is outdated. Does anyone know of any better LLLT devices that aren't that expensive? I heard the more lasers the better is that true?

I would remove her name but I am not allowed to edit my first post for some reason I agree she may not want her name posted and I hadn't thought of that before

[Dan26]

IF your hair were to get worse still after dut and castration it would mean it must be something other than ANDROGENIC Alopecia. Have you had blood tests recently?

Also I'm not sure it is necessarily true that nuking DHT and Testosterone will literally regrow a hairline that has matured. Some get regrowth with fin, dut and especially spiro but its never a guarantee.

It would be awesome if you hairline regrew completely but if it doesn't, maybe consider a HT?

Best of luck to you! Keep your head up

[Illuminated]

Thanks Dan but see that's the thing, my hairline is miniaturized it's not gone yet. It's thinning still, but no one has even noticed yet. It's still in a stage that most hairs grow really long, they are just a lighter blonde color.

So what I'm saying is they are still cosmetically significant especially in my forelock area, I just want to reverse the miniaturized hairs which I heard is supposed to be very possible especially since the hair is not at an adanvced miniaturized state yet

Is that true?

I have thought about a HT but I certainly don't have the money right now. I also am told that it would be a very bad idea since my hair is not yet gone, I have coverage it's just thin and has lost density. If I were to get transplants they could cause shock loss and I would lose the miniaturized hairs.

[Illuminated]

Also please not I am NOT talking about the "temple peak" area. I am talking about the frontal forlock area recovering since that is where I have density loss and miniaturized hairs that are really bothering me.

Transplants are fine for the temple peak area since that area is never really that dense. But transplants anywhere else requires maintenance like selective styling and a huge issue with density.

[Illuminated]

Anyone? Now I'm really freaking out about this

[Sogeking]

Hi Illuminated the part of the hair you mention is the same part where I'm losing my hair so I can relate.

Now I don't take DHT inhibitors of any kind, but if Dut has stopped your hairloss after a longer period of time than you basically won the battle early enough.
Women can also get AA but it is usually around central parting. However yours it seems is apparently going towards the male pattern baldness route but with Dut you may have stopped it which actually makes a hair transplant a viable option.


I mean since you still have hair there and density is still significant you might not need a lot grafts to achieve satisfying results. However if you do opt out for HT, it might be good for you to consult with a hair transplant doctor first. If you are in USA you might consider a doctor from IAHRS, you have a sub-forum with pictures from recommended surgeons.

You can also consult with your doctor or a hair specialist if you want to use minox.
There are some side effects to minox but I haven't heard of the one you mentioned, although there is increased shedding possible and for some it might not work.

But as I said stopping hair loss is really good and it seems you already succeeded. Don't despair, thoroughly check your options.

However you might still have good enough of density, and sometimes it could just be in your head, can't tell what your level of hair loss is and whether it is noticeable.

But I urge you to consult with professionals in the field before taking any real significant steps .

[mpb47]

Anyone? Now I'm really freaking out about this

I agree with the poster above- you should see a dr. If your loss is the male type, the removing T/DHT should stop it like clockwork . There are well known studies that proved that. And adding E should give you a chance at regrowth.

So you should really see a Dr to find out what kind of loss you have if you are sure you are still losing hair. Best of luck..

[Illuminated]

Thanks you guys. I wanted to share this : http://www.baldingblog.com/2009/07/2...a-with-photos/

If I had not interviened with my castration and hormonal transition this is the pattern I would probably have ended up with. I believe I am in the very early stages of this right now.

What I'm saying is if this young man could reverse that much miniaturization with just 1 MG of finisteride when he was at a much later stage of miniaturization than I am, with all of the drastic changes I have made to my hormones and body there HAS to be some solid logic that my hair could recover almost completely as long as the hairs are still active and not fully miniaturized yet.

[Dan26]

With dut and/or chemical castration is is true there is like 99% chance you will experiance no more further minirurization due to androgenic alopecia ie DHT (but still hair may thin over time just due to age, stress, envirornemnt etc)

But again there is no guarentee any miniturization will be reversed. If you are lucky, it will happen. It SHOULD happen for you in that frontal area, but it is not a certainity.

Those miniturized hairs have experianced fibroses which is not easily reversed, things like AHK-CU (copper peptide) MAY help.