Rainbow_Chakra

Ok now I know this sounds blasphamous. But I was just thinking the other day...

The way some of these hair retaining products like Rogaine work is by "INHIBITING DHT" (do a search on DHT blockers) this is the bad type of testosterone in your skin that makes you hairy... OR BALD... Sound like a contradiction? Well maybe not.

Many Balding men have too active DHT in their body which makes them have hairy bodies BUT thin hair on their head. Much like the PCOSer.

OK so my question is would Rogaine if applied to arms make arm hair finer, lighter and more vellus? Before you instantly say no, it would grow hair... hear me out... I know it might be stupid but just consider...

Rogaine doesn't magically just make hairs grow, that's why they say on the box that you have to use it while you still have hairs - to prevent their loss - it can not grow back new ones if the follicules are already dead.

What it does do is block DHT a Male Hormone. Because it does this, then living follicules have the opportunity to grow normally like normal head hair... Because it turns into normal hair instead of hormonal hair that more closely resembles public hair and has a tendancy to fall out while on the head.

So wouldn't a DHT blocker make coarse dark hair (that's growing there because of DHT) turn into more normal arm hair...

Or am I off my rocker? Anyone willing to try? I think I might try this experiment.

kimm

Eeeeek!

Don't do it! (apply to areas other than scalp)

Rogaine doesn't work by inhibiting dht. It works as a vasodialator, meaning that it allows for more blood flow to your follicles. It helps give back some zip to ailing follicles. It doesn't address the root cause though (high androgens or dht)

In fact, one of the side effects of rogaine is increased facial hair, even if not used on the face (some of it gets absorbed systemically)

For some that side effect is a deal breaker, for others it's just a small price to pay for the chance at slowing the loss and regaining some hair.

So I'd also look for either a topical or internal either androgen inhibitor/dht blocker or both to add aide in Rogaine's effectiveness.

Rainbow_Chakra

OK good then. It's settled. It was a stupid idea. lol

Thanks for your reply! If Rogaine isn't a DHT blocker... Then where can I get a DHT blocker? Would that be something to try on the arms?

joyblack

You're right about Rogaine -- not only is some of it absorbed systemically, but it needs to remain on the scalp for hours to gain its maximum effect and if it gets left on overnight it tends to rub off on pillows etc. and thus come into contact with the face. Probably most of us who have a tendency to balding also have a strong tendency towards male-type beard growth and, whilst I think that my beard growth disturbs me less than beard growth disturbs most women and I don't mind at all having to shave every day, I certainly wouldn't be wanting to do anything that would have a real risk of increasing my beard growth -- I don't have a problem living with what I have, but the thought of doing anything that would have very real potential of a side-effect that would make me more masculine is something I'd avoid like the plague.