Re: The big 4 (now 5) for preventing hair loss.
I ran across this website today, I don't know if people have seen it or not. Pretty basic info as I have researhed this for a long time.
He claims taking 2.5 mg/fin with keep hair loss to a minimum on 500mg/week of test, not sure I believe it as I have seem studies where .05 mg fin/day reduced dht almost the same as 5mg/day
Hair Loss From Steroids - Preventing and Controlling Hair Loss From Steroids
Hey bro! That's actually my website... I haven't posted since 2005, but I found that the site was mentioned here from my web analytic page. So let's see if I can give you some info here.
That recommendation of 1.25mg per 250mg of testosterone was simply based on my personal experience. I'm very sensitive to male pattern baldness and I seemed to need that amount. I believe it was because finasteride became less and less effective over the past decade.
I've had 2 hair transplants, so that's why I have a pretty decent head of hair in the video. I'm actually working on the website now and planning to put up [pre-surgery] pictures, so show some guys the results.
You are correct that .5mg of finasteride can reduce DHT significantly, 1mg can reduce it up to 60%, according to Merck.
In my experience, finasteride became less and less effective effective. I had to increase the dose. That's obviously not because of some sort of 'tolerance' to the med, but rather a great sensitivity to DHT as I got older. A lot of my friends (who don't use steroids) have experienced the same thing.
Perhaps that explains why the older most people get, the greater amount of hair loss they experience... it's certainly not because DHT levels increase. It's likely a greater sensitivity to DHT.
As you definitely know, everyone is different, different sensitivity to androgens and different hair loss patterns. I'm actually a quite extreme example of male-pattern baldness (seriously about a 9 out of 10). Hair loss started naturally at 19!
There's also some information that I read from Dr. Alvi Armani that claimed that anabolics could "activate" the male pattern baldness gene, and hair loss can continue indefinitely. I'm not sure how I feel about that, Dr. Armani is a world class hair restoration physician but uses extreme aggressive (unethical, by a opinion of a few) marketing practices. He's outspoken against the extreme "dangers" of steroids.
All I know is, I'd be a Norwood 7 (totally bald) if I didn't use certain meds and products to get it under control.
The info on the site thus far is pretty basic, as you said, but it's more to give the guys that are just starting to battle MPB and MPB from androgens some info.
If you have any questions, fire away! :tiphat