Advice on very low DHT levels & Switching to Topical finasteride

[leobran]

Hi -

I have a question about my very low DHT levels and would be grateful for your advice for switching from oral to topical finasteride.

Just for context - I am now 39 years old and have been taking oral finasteride for nearly 20 years (I started with 1mg per day, now reduced to 0.25 mg/day for the past two years) alongside twice daily minoxidil 5% and the occasional Nizoral. I have a strong history of baldness in the family (both grandfathers, father), so I started early. I managed to maintain a NRW2 to 2.5 so far, though corners are slowly receding and I have experienced some increased shedding recently - I guess my 40s are approaching. I have never really had noticeable side effects of any kind and am fit and seem to have no problem building muscle with workouts (though did notice slightly more morning erections when I stopped for a six months period). However, I increasingly worry about the long-term effects of suppressing DHT for decades especially as I get older (higher cardiovascular risk; higher dementia risks - both run in the family as is).

My DHT levels seem to be extremely low - I did a blood test for DHT and got a result of only 11 ng/DL vs. an indicated normal range of 12-65 ng/dl. This was a Quest Diagnostics Lab in the US. I'm a little freaked out about having such low DHT and want to try switching to topical finasteride to see if I can maintain my hair while raising my serum DHT a bit.

My questions are the following:

1. Are there any threads where people post their DHT levels so I can compare what results people on similar regimen tend to have? Is 11ng/DL really freakishly low? Also - is there a recognized "normal range" - people seem to post very different indicated normal ranges...

2. Could you point me to any threads/sites that systematically evaluate the best topical finasteride options currently available in the USA? I am considering the widely advertised ones ("Forhims" at 0.3% plus 6% minoxidil, or Happyhead at 0.25% plus 8% minoxidil). I'm tending towards the latter (lower finasteride higher minoxidil).

Also - how are you guys handling topical finasteride solution in a bathroom shared with your wife/gf? Is that a health concern? Just separate it carefully? Is her touching your head in bed a concern?

Thank you,
L

 

[losingbattle88]

Hi -

I have a question about my very low DHT levels and would be grateful for your advice for switching from oral to topical finasteride.

Just for context - I am now 39 years old and have been taking oral finasteride for nearly 20 years (I started with 1mg per day, now reduced to 0.25 mg/day for the past two years) alongside twice daily minoxidil 5% and the occasional Nizoral. I have a strong history of baldness in the family (both grandfathers, father), so I started early. I managed to maintain a NRW2 to 2.5 so far, though corners are slowly receding and I have experienced some increased shedding recently - I guess my 40s are approaching. I have never really had noticeable side effects of any kind and am fit and seem to have no problem building muscle with workouts (though did notice slightly more morning erections when I stopped for a six months period). However, I increasingly worry about the long-term effects of suppressing DHT for decades especially as I get older (higher cardiovascular risk; higher dementia risks - both run in the family as is).

My DHT levels seem to be extremely low - I did a blood test for DHT and got a result of only 11 ng/DL vs. an indicated normal range of 12-65 ng/dl. This was a Quest Diagnostics Lab in the US. I'm a little freaked out about having such low DHT and want to try switching to topical finasteride to see if I can maintain my hair while raising my serum DHT a bit.

My questions are the following:

1. Are there any threads where people post their DHT levels so I can compare what results people on similar regimen tend to have? Is 11ng/DL really freakishly low? Also - is there a recognized "normal range" - people seem to post very different indicated normal ranges...

2. Could you point me to any threads/sites that systematically evaluate the best topical finasteride options currently available in the USA? I am considering the widely advertised ones ("Forhims" at 0.3% plus 6% minoxidil, or Happyhead at 0.25% plus 8% minoxidil). I'm tending towards the latter (lower finasteride higher minoxidil).

Also - how are you guys handling topical finasteride solution in a bathroom shared with your wife/gf? Is that a health concern? Just separate it carefully? Is her touching your head in bed a concern?

Thank you,
L

I wouldnt recommend topical finasteride in a relationship at all. Dried particles of finasteride will be flaking in the bed and everywhere. Best to apply it and let it absorb for 3 to 4h and then wash out.

 

[Moz5x]

Hi -

I have a question about my very low DHT levels and would be grateful for your advice for switching from oral to topical finasteride.

Just for context - I am now 39 years old and have been taking oral finasteride for nearly 20 years (I started with 1mg per day, now reduced to 0.25 mg/day for the past two years) alongside twice daily minoxidil 5% and the occasional Nizoral. I have a strong history of baldness in the family (both grandfathers, father), so I started early. I managed to maintain a NRW2 to 2.5 so far, though corners are slowly receding and I have experienced some increased shedding recently - I guess my 40s are approaching. I have never really had noticeable side effects of any kind and am fit and seem to have no problem building muscle with workouts (though did notice slightly more morning erections when I stopped for a six months period). However, I increasingly worry about the long-term effects of suppressing DHT for decades especially as I get older (higher cardiovascular risk; higher dementia risks - both run in the family as is).

My DHT levels seem to be extremely low - I did a blood test for DHT and got a result of only 11 ng/DL vs. an indicated normal range of 12-65 ng/dl. This was a Quest Diagnostics Lab in the US. I'm a little freaked out about having such low DHT and want to try switching to topical finasteride to see if I can maintain my hair while raising my serum DHT a bit.

My questions are the following:

1. Are there any threads where people post their DHT levels so I can compare what results people on similar regimen tend to have? Is 11ng/DL really freakishly low? Also - is there a recognized "normal range" - people seem to post very different indicated normal ranges...

2. Could you point me to any threads/sites that systematically evaluate the best topical finasteride options currently available in the USA? I am considering the widely advertised ones ("Forhims" at 0.3% plus 6% minoxidil, or Happyhead at 0.25% plus 8% minoxidil). I'm tending towards the latter (lower finasteride higher minoxidil).

Also - how are you guys handling topical finasteride solution in a bathroom shared with your wife/gf? Is that a health concern? Just separate it carefully? Is her touching your head in bed a concern?

Thank you,
L

Did you know what your DHT levels were when you started 20yrs ago? How long has the recent increased shedding lasted?

The fact that you stopped finasteride for 6 months and did not lose ground is quite telling. You likely just have very mild/slow male pattern baldness despite what your family history would suggest. Maybe you got lucky with the genetics?

If you are still tolerating oral Finasteride well why does the current DHT level even matter? When it comes to a regimen that works, I’m a firm believer in taking the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach. You could always just monitor your health (heart, sexual, mental etc) in the meantime and then make a change if/when side effects start to adversely affect you.

 

[leobran]

I wouldnt recommend topical finasteride in a relationship at all. Dried particles of finasteride will be flaking in the bed and everywhere. Best to apply it and let it absorb for 3 to 4h and then wash out.

Fair point. I guess it is not a good option in this case Thanks for the response

 

[leobran]

Did you know what your DHT levels were when you started 20yrs ago? How long has the recent increased shedding lasted?

The fact that you stopped finasteride for 6 months and did not lose ground is quite telling. You likely just have very mild/slow male pattern baldness despite what your family history would suggest. Maybe you got lucky with the genetics?

If you are still tolerating oral Finasteride well why does the current DHT level even matter? When it comes to a regimen that works, I’m a firm believer in taking the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach. You could always just monitor your health (heart, sexual, mental etc) in the meantime and then make a change if/when side effects start to adversely affect you.

These are good points. I suppose I am just afraid that possible long-term side-effects of artificially suppressed very low DHT would only manifest in middle/older age - which I am reaching now - when issues such as cognitive function and heart health in general become more of an issue.

I do not know my original DHT levels unfortunately. This recent shedding started about four weeks ago without any change in my routine.

Of course it is possible I got relatively lucky with genetics, but virtually all male relatives are bald; I would expect permanently removing finasteride would speed it up at the very least.

This potential trade-off between vanity and basic health is unpleasant...

 

[debyne]

I was on oral finasteride 1mg for 13 years and microdosed for about year before switching to topical; I had minor sides like brain fog, anxiety, no morning wood. I'm 3 months into topical and I've never felt better. Morning wood almost every day at 45 y/o, brain is sharp as a tack (whereas I had minor fog on oral), and my hair is the best it has ever been.

I make my own topical with Kirkland min 5% and Proscar. I drop three 5mg Proscar pills into the bottle, let it dissolve over night, and start using 2x per day. It's that freakin' easy if you can find a Doctor to prescribe you Proscar. My hair is thicker now than it ever was on oral, and I feel awesome. I don't want to jinx it but this has been a silver bullet for me personally.

If you don't want to make your own, which is super cheap and effective by the way, I'd suggest customizing your finasteride dose with Happy Head to be 0.025% and their 8% min. I've read users doing this...they won't customize the min % though.

 

[leobran]

I was on oral finasteride 1mg for 13 years and microdosed for about year before switching to topical; I had minor sides like brain fog, anxiety, no morning wood. I'm 3 months into topical and I've never felt better. Morning wood almost every day at 45 y/o, brain is sharp as a tack (whereas I had minor fog on oral), and my hair is the best it has ever been.

I make my own topical with Kirkland min 5% and Proscar. I drop three 5mg Proscar pills into the bottle, let it dissolve over night, and start using 2x per day. It's that freakin' easy if you can find a Doctor to prescribe you Proscar. My hair is thicker now than it ever was on oral, and I feel awesome. I don't want to jinx it but this has been a silver bullet for me personally.

If you don't want to make your own, which is super cheap and effective by the way, I'd suggest customizing your finasteride dose with Happy Head to be 0.025% and their 8% min. I've read users doing this...they won't customize the min % though.

I remain worried about my wife getting into too much contact with finasteride. Maybe I could apply the finasteride mixture just in the morning, pure minoxidil in the evening and shower before bed. finasteride has a long half-life anyway if I understand correctly. Besides, my understanding was that the danger is really only for pregnant women (or rather, the foetus), not women in general...

On dosing - 15mg into a standard kirkland 60ml bottle would be 0.25 mg per mililiter - applied twice per day this would be double my oral dose, but administered topically. I don't have proscar but easy access to the regular 1mg pills. Do you crush the pills before throwing them in? Can one really just dissolve them that easily?

Edit: I've read online now that 0.1% solution is equivalent to 1 mg finasteride i.e. Happyhead 0.25% would be 2.5mg which is half a proscar, 2.5 times a standard pill, and 10x my current dose! Maybe I will try your approach with a micro-topical dose of 0.025%... very tempting.

 

[debyne]

Is your wife planning on having kids? If not, I don't think the risk is real if she gets a drop of the solution on her skin. Remember, finasteride through topical solution is a fraction of what it would be taking a pill.

 

[leobran]

no kids in planning right now; maybe in two years. Starting to think it is worth a try as long as I'm careful and don't do it before bed. dissolving my own pills sounds easiest; then again, standard topical doses seem to be much higher.

Maybe I will get the 0.25% or 0.3% formulations from "Hims" or "Happyhead", which seem to be the go-to vendors in the US, and then dilute these with standard minoxidil to get to 0.1%. If I maintain my hair and see a positive effect on serum DHT, I may try to slowly reduce further. On a sidenote, I saw that "happyead" has a steroid in the solution - not sure if I want that on my head daily...

Thanks for the advice here - very helpful.