Is there a point in using tretinoin and microneedling if I take oral minoxidil? Should I quit drinking energy drinks on Oral Minoxidil?

[igbekele007]

I am about to pull the trigger on oral minoxidil because I am too far gone in the NW scale and this is my final stand.

The general consensus from what I read is that 1.25mg, and 2.5mg (and for many, 5mg too) of Oral Minoxidil is quite well tolerated in terms of chest pain.

My only concern is that I usually drink energy drinks as my pre-workout and don't want to mess my heart up doing this. Should I cut on these?

Also, if I switch from topical to Oral Minoxidil, is there still merit on microneedling and applying tretinoin?

Tagging a few OGs in the hairloss game @SOS-Sonic @enchanted_elixir @Pumanator @Sir Galachad

 

[Sir Galachad]

I am about to pull the trigger on oral minoxidil because I am too far gone in the NW scale and this is my final stand.

Go ahead. Oral minoxidil has better efficiacy than topical.

The general consensus from what I read is that 1.25mg, and 2.5mg (and for many, 5mg too) of Oral Minoxidil is quite well tolerated in terms of chest pain.

Yes. I'd recommend you start with 2,5.

My only concern is that I usually drink energy drinks as my pre-workout and don't want to mess my heart up doing this. Should I cut on these?

Should be a no-brainer. Energy drinks are shit in general. Minoxidil acts a a vasodilator which means that it opens blood vessels which lowers blood pressure driving bpm up. Everything that adds to an increased heart rate is shit. Suprisingly you should also stay away from too much green tea and everything else that further reduces blood pressure.

Also, if I switch from topical to Oral Minoxidil, is there still merit on microneedling and applying tretinoin?

Yes, but I don't see how Tretinoin would help you with hair growth. Have you seen studies about this?

 

[igbekele007]

Based G.

Should be a no-brainer. Energy drinks are shit in general. Minoxidil acts a a vasodilator which means that it opens blood vessels which lowers blood pressure driving bpm up. Everything that adds to an increased heart rate is shit. Suprisingly you should also stay away from too much green tea and everything else that further reduces blood pressure.

Is Modafinil also on this category? Hope not because it would be OVER without it for me.

Yes, but I don't see how Tretinoin would help you with hair growth. Have you seen studies about this?

Tret for hair loss is fairly recent. Basic idea is that, many people do not respond to topical minoxidil because shit has to be converted to minoxidil sulfate, the active metabolite - through minoxidil sulfotransferase and 60% of the people do not have the gene expression for this enzyme.
Application of tret has been shown to increase this activity:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30974011/

Efficacy of 5% minoxidil versus combined 5% minoxidil and 0.01% tretinoin for male pattern hair loss: a randomized, double-blind, comparative clinical trial - PubMed

The efficacy and safety of combined 5% minoxidil and 0.01% tretinoin once-daily therapy appear to be equivalent to those of conventional 5% minoxidil twice-daily therapy for the treatment of AGA.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

I have more research to make on this topic, but I feel like on Oral minoxidil, tret wouldn't be very helpful.

 

[Sir Galachad]

Based G.

Is Modafinil also on this category? Hope not because it would be OVER without it for me.

It's not, not at all. I myself use moda a lot as well as topical minoxidil, no side effects so far.

Tret for hair loss is fairly recent. Basic idea is that, many people do not respond to topical minoxidil because shit has to be converted to minoxidil sulfate, the active metabolite - through minoxidil sulfotransferase and 60% of the people do not have the gene expression for this enzyme.
Application of tret has been shown to increase this activity:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30974011/

Efficacy of 5% minoxidil versus combined 5% minoxidil and 0.01% tretinoin for male pattern hair loss: a randomized, double-blind, comparative clinical trial - PubMed

The efficacy and safety of combined 5% minoxidil and 0.01% tretinoin once-daily therapy appear to be equivalent to those of conventional 5% minoxidil twice-daily therapy for the treatment of AGA.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Very interesting, thanks for the link. I use the stuff on my face rn.

 

[igbekele007]

It's not, not at all. I myself use moda a lot as well as topical minoxidil, no side effects so far.

Likewise but topical is better tolerated anyways. I think it's time to cut back on the energy drink and replace it with water. Modafinil does 90% of the work for my wakefulness and motivation anyways.

Why are you on topical min - because you say oral is more effective?

Very interesting, thanks for the link. I use the stuff on my face rn.

Anytime G. I also just (yesterday actually) started using tret on face and also scalp.

 

[Sir Galachad]

Why are you on topical min - because you say oral is more effective?

I'm a responder to topical already and started taking meds at NW 2-3, so I'm in no rush to increase the risk for side effects (especially Hypertrichosis and low blood pressure). You have to go for more drastic meassures though, that's why I recommend oral to you.

Anytime G. I also just (yesterday actually) started using tret on face and also scalp.

Remember to apply it before going to bed and moisturise 2-3 times a day. My skin peeled away like crazy in the beginning.

 

[igbekele007]

Remember to apply it before going to bed and moisturise 2-3 times a day. My skin peeled away like crazy in the beginning.

Based G. A very knowledgeable guy on the forum actually advised me to apply it like this:

Cleanse - Matrixyl and Copper Peptide Serum (https://theordinary.com/en-us/buffet-copper-peptides-1-serum-100411.html) - Moisturizer - wait for 30 mins - tret.

I'm a responder to topical already and started taking meds at NW 2-3, so I'm in no rush to increase the risk for side effects (especially Hypertrichosis and low blood pressure). You have to go for more drastic meassures though, that's why I recommend oral to you.

Maybe I am too, I just started running the ish so I can't tell. I think I will wait for 6-7 months before switching from topical to oral and try to get the oral prescribed from a dermatologist instead of running the good old Indian Pharma.

 

[Kroker]

Are you on finasteride? I'm also gonna try Minoxdil... Because I can't tolerate fin.

 

[igbekele007]

Are you on finasteride? I'm also gonna try Minoxdil... Because I can't tolerate fin.

I have very recently started using finasteride. Mine comes from a topical solution from Hims. It's a topical finasteride + minoxidil spray.
Too early for me to talk about finasteride side effects. Don't feel anything thus far.

 

[igbekele007]

Based G. A very knowledgeable guy on the forum actually advised me to apply it like this:

Cleanse - Matrixyl and Copper Peptide Serum (https://theordinary.com/en-us/buffet-copper-peptides-1-serum-100411.html) - Moisturizer - wait for 30 mins - tret.

Maybe I am too, I just started running the ish so I can't tell. I think I will wait for 6-7 months before switching from topical to oral and try to get the oral prescribed from a dermatologist instead of running the good old Indian Pharma.

@Sir Galachad you don't fw the tret game?

 

[SOS-Sonic]

Start with fin+min+microneedling+tret for 6 month and then decide on oral min and RU.

 

[Sondern]

Go ahead. Oral minoxidil has better efficiacy than topical.

Yes. I'd recommend you start with 2,5.

Should be a no-brainer. Energy drinks are shit in general. Minoxidil acts a a vasodilator which means that it opens blood vessels which lowers blood pressure driving bpm up. Everything that adds to an increased heart rate is shit. Suprisingly you should also stay away from too much green tea and everything else that further reduces blood pressure.

Yes, but I don't see how Tretinoin would help you with hair growth. Have you seen studies about this?

Good take. This dude knows what he’s talking about. Although I’d start with 1.25 and work your way up

 

[eduardkoopman]

I am about to pull the trigger on oral minoxidil because I am too far gone in the NW scale and this is my final stand.

The general consensus from what I read is that 1.25mg, and 2.5mg (and for many, 5mg too) of Oral Minoxidil is quite well tolerated in terms of chest pain.

My only concern is that I usually drink energy drinks as my pre-workout and don't want to mess my heart up doing this. Should I cut on these?

Also, if I switch from topical to Oral Minoxidil, is there still merit on microneedling and applying tretinoin?

Tagging a few OGs in the hairloss game @SOS-Sonic @enchanted_elixir @Pumanator @Sir Galachad

You don't use finasteride and RU58841?

 

[eduardkoopman]

Tretinoin for scalp is cope though.
It's only for topical non responders to minox, so that one might become an responder to minox

 

[igbekele007]

You don't use finasteride and RU58841?

I only use finasteride (topical) currently, have not started RU yet. Will evaluate it at around 6-7 months mark (currently @ 1 week)

 

[eduardkoopman]

I have very recently started using finasteride. Mine comes from a topical solution from Hims. It's a topical finasteride + minoxidil spray.
Too early for me to talk about finasteride side effects. Don't feel anything thus far.

I see, sorry for previous question.

Topical fina moggs

 

[igbekele007]

It's only for topical non responders to minox, so that one might become an responder to minox

For guys running topical minoxidil, it can make the night and day difference because of converting non-responders to responders. In that case it's not cope?

For guys running oral minoxidil, it's a cope IMO.

 

[eduardkoopman]

I only use finasteride (topical) currently, have not started RU yet. Will evaluate it at around 6-7 months mark (currently @ 1 week)

Good stuff.

I used to be on: 0.33mg fina oral + a topical mix or minox + RU58841 + tretinoin.

Now I recently changed to.
Topical fina + topical RU58841. And deleted to minox.
I still have to wait some time, to see what happens. Can't say yet.

 

[eduardkoopman]

For guys running topical minoxidil, it can make the night and day difference because of converting non-responders to responders. In that case it's not cope?

For guys running oral minoxidil, it's a cope IMO.

I agree.
I was a non responder to minox also i feel. With tretinoin, i felt i turned into a low responder to minox. Hence i deleted it now on muh routine, and made routine without minox.

Curious what will happen.