• Paranomaly@sh.itjust.works
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      6 days ago

      Rogaine (Minoxidil) works by countering a type of male hormone that leads to hairloss, so lowering all of your make hormones in favor of lady hormones can have the same effect

      • ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        6 days ago

        That’s finasteride (blocking dht). Minoxidil is a vasodilator that increases follicle size. Otherwise what you wrote is basically correct

    • ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      6 days ago

      When I’ve worked with older trans clients spironolactone seems to be what really kickstarts hair growth, especially if they get it in before alopecia really sets in and miniaturizes follicles in a way that can’t be reversed (at least with current medications, and barring surgical intervention). Estrogen too. Either way you’re reducing the amount of androgens. As a result it can be much more effective than rogaine, which works as a vasodilator to enlarge hair follicles (probably, mechanism isn’t fully understood) or finasteride/propecia, which works by blocking androgen DHT rather than reducing it.

      I’m not familiar with research on efficacy for this purpose but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was more effective. While some people have dramatic responses to minoxidil and finasteride many have a more minor response or none at all, even.