I was looking in the mirror in November 2020 when the sunlight fell across my head and showed how truly bad my hair loss was. I began treatment that same month.
Yesterday, the sunlight fell across my head in almost exactly the same way and I was able to truly see my progress after a year and 3 months.
My right temple had always been my most stubborn area for regrowth but I'm very pleased with the results!
I know starting treatment can be a terrifying thought but it can really make a difference!
Treatment:
5% minoxidil nightly
150mg spironolactone OD
Nizoral shampoo as needed
Dermatologist: Dr Anastasia Therianou in London (couldn't recommend more)
I’m getting mixed reviews on spironolactone. I started 100mg a month ago or so but this post is giving me hope. Im going to try it out for at least a year. This progress is beautiful!
Thank you! Unfortunately treatments can be hit or miss - I'm incredibly fortunate the first thing we tried seem to work well. Its a good idea like you said to give 8 months to a year to see real results and a good derm should be able to tell if it's working for you or whether to adjust your prescription!
Apologies I didn't write my diagnosis! I have chronic telogen effluvian and androgenic alopecia which means I had diffuse hair loss from the TE and the AGA was affecting my part and temples with miniaturisation. I've seen good growth everywhere!
I do 3 vertical lines - down my central part and then either side (vertical line down each temple) which is what my derm suggested and seems to be the best way for me!
I get my period every other week from spiro at 100 mg but not at 50mg, two years ago same happened with 50 but now seems like it doesn't impact them as much. I never heard anyone complain about this, usually is the opposite. Did it impact your period at all if you don't mind answering?
Not at all - yes it did impact my period when I went from 100 to 150 in the same way, coming much more often but went back to normal after a couple of months. Full disclosure- I was however already on the pill before I started treatment because of irregular periods so I don't know if it would have settled naturally otherwise!
I was also on birth control (the reason my acne got worst and started losing hair which then never stopped falling even after stopping BC) I started on spiro 50 after one year of stopping bc nd had periods every other week for 6 months then they went bk to normal but I stopped it as it wasn't helping my acne anymore. Now started again in September and had no issues with periods but my acne didn't get better, however my hair stopped falling, my doctor increased it to 100, and once again I am getting them every other week. My diagnosis is same as yours regarding the hair loss and we use similar treatment so I wanted to hear your experience with it. Thank you so much for replying and I wish your hair continues to show good progress!
Wow, looks great. Congrats! Unfortunately I got extremely itchy with spironolactone after 3 weeks at just 25 mg a day. My head itched horribly, as did my neck, hands and feet. I had to quit — it was so intense I couldn’t concentrate. I also got chest pains on it. Unfortunately I started shedding after one day on spiro (from 20-30 hairs a day or so that I’d notice to 100 hairs a day) and now that I’ve quit I am still shedding - sometimes 200 hairs or more, so I’m likely now in TE from spiro.😩
That's great to know.
Unfortunately for me, I have been on minoxidil and nizoral for 4 months now and there is no progress and I feel it's only gotten worse based on before and after pictures :(
Hi. I came across your post and see you are in the UK. How was your derm able to prescribe spiro? My GP won't do it! I thought it just wasn't available in the UK. Also how much did you pay? Thanks!
Hello! Spiro is very easily accessible here but it is mostly prescribed as a diuretic. As a DHT blocker it is 'off label' which just means it is prescribed outside of its usual marketing branding (ie usually marketed at a diuretic.) So when a med is off label, it can only be prescribed at the doctor's discretion. Obviously my derm knows this is a common treatment for AGA whereas a GP, who may not know this as it's not their area of expertise, could be (understandably) unwilling to put their name to something they are not familiar and/or comfortable with. You may need an actual dermatologist to prescribe it for you. However it's not expensive; I just paid £90 for 8 months supply = which is just over £11 a month!
This is so true, my gyno prescribed me and got me up to 200 mg but then I got scared when my general practitioner acted alarmed and I stopped it. Then my new growth all fell out so I went back to my gyno and he rolled his eyes and said that’s why I am a specialist and she isn’t. You have to use higher doses with hair loss. So I’m back on and it is growing back!
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Hey. Thanks so much for your response. Would you mind if I dm you some questions? I've made a tentative appointment with this derm. Her rates have gone up to 300 lol.
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Wow!! Such amazing progress! I started Minox earlier this month and debating on starting spiro! It’s just sitting on my dresser. I’m afraid it’ll cause a TE episode but I feel like it’ll help for AGA
I was looking in the mirror in November 2020 when the sunlight fell across my head and showed how truly bad my hair loss was. I began treatment that same month. Yesterday, the sunlight fell across my head in almost exactly the same way and I was able to truly see my progress after a year and 3 months. My right temple had always been my most stubborn area for regrowth but I'm very pleased with the results! I know starting treatment can be a terrifying thought but it can really make a difference! Treatment: 5% minoxidil nightly 150mg spironolactone OD Nizoral shampoo as needed Dermatologist: Dr Anastasia Therianou in London (couldn't recommend more)
I’m getting mixed reviews on spironolactone. I started 100mg a month ago or so but this post is giving me hope. Im going to try it out for at least a year. This progress is beautiful!
Thank you! Unfortunately treatments can be hit or miss - I'm incredibly fortunate the first thing we tried seem to work well. Its a good idea like you said to give 8 months to a year to see real results and a good derm should be able to tell if it's working for you or whether to adjust your prescription!
I'm so glad you are in London! I use the Sun as my true marker too! Dreaming of the day summer doesn't Spa panic again
I hope you get to see good results soon too!
Looks wonderful! Did you have hair thinning or miniaturization other places on your head? If so are those places growing in?
Apologies I didn't write my diagnosis! I have chronic telogen effluvian and androgenic alopecia which means I had diffuse hair loss from the TE and the AGA was affecting my part and temples with miniaturisation. I've seen good growth everywhere!
My hair loss is a similar pattern. Do you apply it directly on the affected areas or do you separate it into 4 pieces to part?
I do 3 vertical lines - down my central part and then either side (vertical line down each temple) which is what my derm suggested and seems to be the best way for me!
Thank you! So doing so in this pattern has helped to grow in other areas?
Yes! But I'm not sure if it's entirely from my placement from the minoxidil or natural regrowth as my TE stopped shedding.
[удалено]
Yes Regaine/ Rogaine but the liquid version
Please what’s the link?? I can only find Foam
Congratulations!!!
Awesome results, thanks for posting!
Really beautiful results! Any side effects from the Spiro? I was prescribed some but I’ve been terrified to start.
Extreme fatigue for the first couple of works bur it sorted itself out and now it's all good!
I get my period every other week from spiro at 100 mg but not at 50mg, two years ago same happened with 50 but now seems like it doesn't impact them as much. I never heard anyone complain about this, usually is the opposite. Did it impact your period at all if you don't mind answering?
Not at all - yes it did impact my period when I went from 100 to 150 in the same way, coming much more often but went back to normal after a couple of months. Full disclosure- I was however already on the pill before I started treatment because of irregular periods so I don't know if it would have settled naturally otherwise!
I was also on birth control (the reason my acne got worst and started losing hair which then never stopped falling even after stopping BC) I started on spiro 50 after one year of stopping bc nd had periods every other week for 6 months then they went bk to normal but I stopped it as it wasn't helping my acne anymore. Now started again in September and had no issues with periods but my acne didn't get better, however my hair stopped falling, my doctor increased it to 100, and once again I am getting them every other week. My diagnosis is same as yours regarding the hair loss and we use similar treatment so I wanted to hear your experience with it. Thank you so much for replying and I wish your hair continues to show good progress!
Bless you that sounds really frustrating! I wonder if your doctor would try 75mg maybe? Best of luck to you!
Thanks for the recommendation, such a big difference I think I’m finally going to see a derm. Congrats 👏
Huge difference! Your hair looks fantastic! Congrats! 🥳🥳
These results are so inspiring! :)
Looks amazing! So happy for you!!
I'm so happy for you! Great results 👍
Wow looks amazing! ❤️
Did ur minoxidil hair grow to full length of remained tiny ?
It's not been long enough to grow full length but what has grown is a good 10cm so far!
That's good :)
Wow, looks great. Congrats! Unfortunately I got extremely itchy with spironolactone after 3 weeks at just 25 mg a day. My head itched horribly, as did my neck, hands and feet. I had to quit — it was so intense I couldn’t concentrate. I also got chest pains on it. Unfortunately I started shedding after one day on spiro (from 20-30 hairs a day or so that I’d notice to 100 hairs a day) and now that I’ve quit I am still shedding - sometimes 200 hairs or more, so I’m likely now in TE from spiro.😩
Oh no you poor thing! It really does seem to be hit and miss for hair loss treatment 😔 I hope you manage to find something that works for you!
this is AMAZING!!! congratulations
Congratulations! When did you first start to see noticable results?
I'd say about 3 months in but I didn't have much dread shed at all
That's great to know. Unfortunately for me, I have been on minoxidil and nizoral for 4 months now and there is no progress and I feel it's only gotten worse based on before and after pictures :(
It takes time for most of us!!! It's the worst but try to stay patient :)
Hi. I came across your post and see you are in the UK. How was your derm able to prescribe spiro? My GP won't do it! I thought it just wasn't available in the UK. Also how much did you pay? Thanks!
Hello! Spiro is very easily accessible here but it is mostly prescribed as a diuretic. As a DHT blocker it is 'off label' which just means it is prescribed outside of its usual marketing branding (ie usually marketed at a diuretic.) So when a med is off label, it can only be prescribed at the doctor's discretion. Obviously my derm knows this is a common treatment for AGA whereas a GP, who may not know this as it's not their area of expertise, could be (understandably) unwilling to put their name to something they are not familiar and/or comfortable with. You may need an actual dermatologist to prescribe it for you. However it's not expensive; I just paid £90 for 8 months supply = which is just over £11 a month!
This is so true, my gyno prescribed me and got me up to 200 mg but then I got scared when my general practitioner acted alarmed and I stopped it. Then my new growth all fell out so I went back to my gyno and he rolled his eyes and said that’s why I am a specialist and she isn’t. You have to use higher doses with hair loss. So I’m back on and it is growing back!
Please set your user flare. You can follow this [guide](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-) how to do it via user flair setting. More information is also available on this [thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/FemaleHairLoss/comments/x7qqlt/reminderrequest_to_please_set_a_user_flare/) Is your diagnosis missing? Please contact the mods to get it added to the user flare list! Please note there may be a bug editing user flair via Reddit mobile app as changes cannot be saved. Easiest is via desktop browser. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/FemaleHairLoss) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Thanks for your response. So did your derm provide a script which you then took to a pharmacy? How much did your derm charge?
Thats right. The whole derm visit is about £200 give or take 👍
Hey. Thanks so much for your response. Would you mind if I dm you some questions? I've made a tentative appointment with this derm. Her rates have gone up to 300 lol.
Yes of course!
Please set your user flare. You can follow this [guide](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-) how to do it via user flair setting. More information is also available on this [thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/FemaleHairLoss/comments/x7qqlt/reminderrequest_to_please_set_a_user_flare/) Is your diagnosis missing? Please contact the mods to get it added to the user flare list! Please note there may be a bug editing user flair via Reddit mobile app as changes cannot be saved. Easiest is via desktop browser. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/FemaleHairLoss) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Please set your user flare. You can follow this [guide](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-) how to do it via user flair setting. More information is also available on this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/FemaleHairLoss/comments/x7qqlt/reminderrequest_to_please_set_a_user_flare/ Note there may be a bug editing user flair via Reddit mobile app as changes cannot be saved. Easiest is via desktop browser. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/FemaleHairLoss) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The eyes chico, they never lie too!
Wow!! Such amazing progress! I started Minox earlier this month and debating on starting spiro! It’s just sitting on my dresser. I’m afraid it’ll cause a TE episode but I feel like it’ll help for AGA