Minoxidil/Rogaine: DHT-shield or Illusion?

[DisTreSs]

I've been reading up on various ways to ward off hairloss during a cycle, but what still isn't clear to me with respect to Minoxidil is whether or not it actually protects your hair against the ravages of DHT. It is touted as anti-DHT but is it really the case or does it just make it look that way?

Either:
A) Minoxidil keeps the existing hairs healthy and actually protects against DHT-binding to the scalp while on-cycle so that ceasing minoxidil-usage quite some time after the cycle (after DHT levels have subsided) does not yield any hairloss.
This would mean that if you are not MPB-prone and do not have high enough endogenous DHT outside of a cycle this way you will be able to protect your hair and keep it...

or:
B) Minoxidil only helps in keeping the existing hairs healthy but does not keep DHT from attacking the roots themselves meaning that when you stop usage of Minoxidil you still end up loosing the hair that was affected by DHT.

So which is it?

 

[RADAR]

I use Nizerol, it is excellent protectant against hairloss!

RADAR

 

[DisTreSs]

I use Nizerol, it is excellent protectant against hairloss!

RADAR

I'm already using Nizoral 2% (as it is called over here) but I have my reservations with regards to its potency as a DHT-inhibitor.
I'm contemplating using spironolactone and/or an azalaic acid cream to further topically block DHT from the scalp unless minoxidil offers the same. I'm not really into systemic supression of DHT since gaining is already not the easiest for me.

The only thing I was wondering about is whether Minoxidil would be of added value in actually protecting against hairloss instead of only creating the illusion of a decent head of hair while you're on the stuff. As I have no intention at all of using this product 2x day for the rest of my life, I would rather see what is actually going on than painting a false picture...

Right now I'm starting to see some thinness in the middle of my hairline (difficult to judge with long hair though) but this is only relatively recent. My forehead is VERY greasy while on cycle (week 11 of a Bold/Test cycle) and this extends to my scalp as well.

On the one hand I still have faint hopes that the grease is the reason why my hair is a bit thinner (clogging of the sebaceous glands due to the oil-increase) but I don't want to be kidding myself.
On the other hand I have the hope that, if indeed my hair is thinning due to DHT-related causes, I might be able to protect it by using minoxidil and even (since it hasn't been long) revive some of the follicles in hopes that when DHT-levels subside I might get some of the lost hair back and hang on to it even when stopping minoxidil...

 

[silent says]

Yo Radar,is Nizerol over the counter?

 

[primobolicguru]

monoxidil only helps in revitalizing folicles and aiding in growin new hair. it is thought however it will help in keeping existing hair folicles healthy as well. however it is not a dht blocker. it jst basically helps the hairs that u do loose come back as strong as possible. but as soon as u quit treatment u loose any hairs grown while on monoxi...
for a dht bloker u can use finasteride or dutasteride, but both can have there own set of side effects. you could try spirolactone. u can also try saw palmetto as it is suppose to aid in suppresing the conversion of testosterone to dht naturally. although its prolly not gona help out a whole lot while on cycle. as stated above u can try 2% nizoral it is suppose to help with the suppression of dht in the scalp although i have used with little success.
and silent says... u can get nizoral otc but it will only be 1% unless prescribed, and i would say u def need 2%. but u can order ug

 

[jacshelb]

I use generic minoxidil at night before bed. But, I also use a mix of coal tar shampoo, polysorbate 80, and nizoral as my regular shampoo. I buy all three separately and none are that expensive if you shop around a bit. The coal tar shampoo (t-gel) is designed as a special dandruff shampoo. But, the interesting thing (to us flakes- no pun) is that Edward Kacy (sp?) the "prophet" listed it a hundred years ago as a cure for baldness. Ancedotally, the few people I've heard of using it long term swear by it! Polysorbate 80 is another long term thing. Like I say though, they are both cheap. The coal tar shampoo is like $4 at walmart. Polysorbate 80 with biotin and niacin is like $6 a bottle on sale and lasts forever.

I'm not saying these WILL stop hairloss. But, they are great for keeping dandruff in check and why not replace your current shampoo with something that may help?

 

[RADAR]

Yo Radar,is Nizerol over the counter?

Yes! I'm not prone to hairloss, but i use it, better to be safe than sorry!

RADAR