Testosterone Level Normal But Still Dealing W/ Hair Growth/Loss? This Could Be Why -- - Page 2

dcamille · 06-25-2003, 12:53 PM

Dear Dawna,

Thank you for your reply. What vitamins are you using to increase head hair growth.

Deborah

bandanna · 06-29-2003, 07:31 PM

please keep me posted...

Matilda2 · 07-09-2003, 07:06 AM

'a negative test does not mean there is no problem, simply that the test has failed to tell us the cause.'

Thank you! At last this has been realised. Well, my 2 cents to the whole thread: hairloss is pretty complicated. I have found some of the baldness sites very useful for information on this. After all, plenty of women who don't have PCOS suffer from hairloss, even with normal testosterone. Personally I have yet to find an answer. Flutamide is meant to be the best anti-androgen for hairloss, but it isn't guaranteed to stop it. From reading the women's hairloss boards, I have gathered that a few people seem to respond badly to anti-androgens, including spiro i.e their symptoms get worse. But I don't think this is a good reason not to try them as most people don't have this problem. It is unusual to get a significant amount of regrowth in thinning areas from just taking anti-androgens I believe, but hey, stopping hairloss is a good place to start!
My personal experience with nizoral shampoo is that it caused more hair to fall out- but that was just my experience and most people find it somewhat helpful, or at least not damaging. I then found out that the active ingredient affects something like vitamin A metabolism, or something. I can't remember exactly, but I think it is why some people on roaccutane can start losing their hair-so that's just a warning in case as it took me ages to work out why I was losing even more hair. Shampoo wise t gel works for me and I cannot recommend shampoo containing tea tree oil enough. The stuff rocks!
I would imagine that your skin acquires sensitivity to androgens at puberty, and once that is it, then that is it. Apparently males castrated before puberty never went bald even if they were later given testosterone. (unless I've remembered that wrong) But who knows? This could well be yet another misunderstood area. After all, if they have only just started noticing that many women ovulate several times a month....Hairloss though is weird and doesn't just kick in for most people at puberty, although it can. So in most men, you have plenty of T and DHT cascading about but it doesn't usually initiate hairloss straight away. It could take years, and that only happens if you have the genetic tendancy to go bald...oh well I could blabber on for hours about this, must stop!Oh yes, and doctors say that once the hair is growing, it will usually stay growing, unless you take something that partially inhibits the androgens from binding to androgen receptors or of course, kill or disable each hair follicle. However, I would take that with a pinch of salt, as often women can get decreased hair growth, even if not elimination of excess hair, without taking anything like this if their hormones are normalized to a degree. I think there is a lot that is not known about hair growth. Phew, that was definitely more than 2 cents.

hunterli · 07-09-2003, 07:15 AM

Very interesting! I must have missed this first time around!

I have always had testosterone in the nomal range, in fact usually towards the lower end of normal, even though I also have low SHBG which you would normally expect to go together with HIGH testosterone.

I don't have any hairs growing on my face, but I have definitely noticed my legs and "down there" have become hairier, and I have some thinning at the front of my head.

Thanks for the info!

Lis

Dawna · 07-09-2003, 12:37 PM

Hi, I am sorry it took me so long I have been on vacation. Anyway I have never had thinning hair on my head. Just extra hair on my body. I don't take any vitamins at all. I do drink a ton of Milk though. anyway sorry no quick fix for anything . Dawna

THANKS for the info on spironolactone I will ask my dr. I hate taking bc pills they have made me gain weight and all that fun stuff.

AliC · 07-14-2003, 10:04 AM

Thanks very much for that info.

I have normal testosterone levels but excess hair (and a deep mistrust of synthetic hormones) Could something like Dianette help? Would it treat follicular sensitivity, or is it a waste of time if testosterone levels are normal?

Are there other treatments for follicular sensitivity to testosterone?

Would be massively grateful for advice - thanks in anticipation!

Ali

ak82 · 07-15-2003, 02:17 AM

I have that problem: hairy (not severe or anything but annoying) and my testosterone is in the low-normal range. Doen't make sense if you just look at it like that. However, my progesterone is VERY low and estrogen is low, so that means my testosterone would be high when you compare it to the other hormones.

Maureen77 · 07-15-2003, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AliC
Are there other treatments for follicular sensitivity to testosterone?

Aldactone (brand name of generic spironolactone) see www.hormonehelpny.com for info

Or the herb saw palmetto (see info in my sig.)

AliC · 07-16-2003, 07:45 AM

thanks so much - I'll check them all out

Ali xx

Owl · 10-22-2003, 09:03 AM

Hezzer - Thank you so much for sharing all of this great info!

I am wondering.....What are the side effects or problems with eulexin?

I have been taking 200mg of Spiro for a while now. While it has really helped to lessen my hairgrow in unwanted areas, it has not really helped with regrow on my head. I think I have stopped in the excessive loss department - but it is still very fine and thin.... I guess now I am just looking at alternatives and trying to see if there is something I can do to help with regrow.

Thanks again!

Owl

Hezzer · 10-22-2003, 11:28 AM

Here's some information I found when I ran a search on the web.

Flutamide/Eulexin for Hirsutism

Flutamide (eulexin) is a potent antiandrogen that strongly binds to androgen receptors on cells in hair follicles and anywhere else in the body. Even though it binds to the cell receptors it does not stimulate the cells into any response. When naturally produced androgens bind to the same receptors on hair follicle cells, the cells may respond with increased activity and terminal hair production. The binding of Flutamide to cell androgen receptors blocks the receptors from binding to naturally produced androgens and so stops natural androgens from stimulating hair growth.

Studies that compare flutamide to spironolactone or cyproterone acetate suggest that overall the beneficial effects on reducing hirsutism are similar. Some suggest flutamide is slightly superior and others say it is slightly less superior. Initially flutamide was given to patients at high dose rates of up to 250mg three times a day. However more recent studies indicate that a similar improvement in hirsutism can be obtained with flutamide doses as low as 62.5mg a day. The reduction in dose significantly reduces the risk of side effects.

For a small subgroup of women flutamide and other oral antiandrogens are highly toxic. Between February 1989 and December 1994 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received reports of 20 patients who died and 26 who were hospitalized for hepatotoxicity due to flutamide, a rate around 3 per 10,000 flutamide users. Early symptoms of hepatotoxicity include nausea, vomiting, fatigue and jaundice and if such symptoms occur they must be immediately reported to a doctor. Dermatologists generally recommend that serial blood aminotransferase levels should be monitored during the first few months of flutamide treatment. Any adverse aminotransferase level changes suggest that hepatotoxicity is a significant risk and flutamide use should be stopped. For this and other reasons, some dermatologists do not use flutamide to treat hirsutism however, the side effect risk of flutamide is no better or worse than other oral antiandrogens.

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Other information I found . . .

Eulexin (also known as flutamide) is an antiandrogen used mainly in causing medical castration. That is, complete inference with testosterone at the cellular level leading to a complete absence of testerones effects. This drug is commonly used in prostatic cancer since testosterone will accelerate the cancer. It is commonly used with leuprolide to treat prostate cancer. Some have advocated this drug to be used in sexual offenders as a way to decrease testerone levels.

Side effects are listed for treatment with flutamide: loss of libido, impotence, hot flashes, hypertension, diarrhea, GI disturbances, anorexia, confusion, depression, drowsiness, anxiety, nervousness, anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia macrocytic anemia, methemoglobinemia, hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, jaundice, hepatic necrosis, liver failure, rash, injection site irritation, erythema, ulceration, bullous eruptions, epidermal necrolysi, gynecomastia, edema, neuromuscular symptoms, pulmonary symptoms, GU symptoms, malignant breast tumors.

Eulexin has been known to cause liver failure in some patients, in rare cases leading to death. Your doctor will do blood tests to check your liver function before you start treatment with Eulexin, and at regular intervals thereafter. If a liver problem does develop, you may need to take less Eulexin or stop taking the drug altogether. Report any signs or symptoms that might suggest liver damage to your doctor right away. Warning signs include dark urine, itching, flu-like symptoms, jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and eyes), persistent appetite loss, and persistent tenderness on the right side of the upper abdomen.

Owl · 10-22-2003, 11:36 AM

Thanks again for the info. this is really good stuff to know! I appreciate you sharing this with me.

Owl

bandanna · 10-25-2003, 11:23 PM

hi,

for those of you who are not on any meds (bcps, aldactone, saw palmetto, etc) do you notice increased hair growth?

what measures are you taking to reduce your hair growth - diet, exercise etc. if diet, please describe your diet.

thanks.

b

kmc · 02-01-2004, 09:42 PM

Hi Hezzer

Just wondering if you are taking Metformin for your insulin resistance?

Also, I take it you are a doctor?

Hezzer · 02-02-2004, 12:02 PM

No, no, no ... I'm not a doctor. Sorry if I gave that impression. The information I posted was from the Hormone Help Center in NY. I found it to be very informative and thought I would share it with everyone else. One of the mods thought it interesting enough to be a sticky so she made it into one.

I am not currently taking metformin and never have although I've tried to get on it. My last doctor refused to prescribe it for me unless I was trying to get pregnant even thought my three hour glucose fasting test showed me to be borderline diabetic/insulin resistant. He said I would be full blown diabetic eventually and have to take meds so I should enjoy this time of not having to take any meds. I was shocked to say the least and needless to say, I have not been back to see him.

I see an endocrinologist for the first time on 2/16 and am hoping she will prescribe the metformin.