Not sure it would help lenneth, i take 5mg of finasteride a day (have for 6 months) and dont feel its doing much with hair, i was reading something the other day (albeit an old 1958 study!) that suggested that if your over 30 terminal hair reduction is likely to be less than 50% in mtf transgender individuals on hrt, in fact heres a copy and paste:
Androgens stimulate the conversion of fine vellus hair into large terminal
hair in many regions of the skin following puberty. The growth of pubic and
axillary hair is stimulated by low levels of androgens, probably of adrenal
origin. Higher levels of gonadal androgens are needed to stimulate hair
growth on the beard area, trunk and limbs and, in these sites, terminal hair
growth is dependent on the potent androgen dihydrotestosterone, which
is derived from circulating androgens (principally testosterone) by the
action of the enzyme type II 5-alpha reductase. These changes are most
pronounced in men but they also occur in some women, particularly those
with hyperandrogenism. Paradoxically, androgens are also responsible for the
progressive miniaturisation of hair follicles on the scalp that cause balding.
Men castrated before puberty do not show these androgen-dependent
changes in hair growth. In men castrated post-puberty, some reversal may
be seen. The degree of reversal appears to depend on the age at androgen
ablation – in young men terminal hair growth may be fully reversed by
gonadectomy but with increasing age the degree of reversal becomes
progressively less (Hamilton, 1958). Limited studies in male castrates
suggest that androgen ablation in men aged over 30 reduces terminal hair
growth by less than 50%. The same considerations apply to male balding
(Hamilton, 1942). These observations indicate that androgens alter gene
expression in androgen-dependent hair follicles, which is not fully reversible
in the absence of androgens. This view is supported by numerous studies on
the treatment of female hirsutism with anti-androgens.
We may expect, therefore, that androgen ablation, either chemical
or surgical, will produce a substantial degree of androgen-dependent hair
growth reversal in young men, although there is likely to be interindividual
variation in the response. Women may also be taking oestrogens. In other
species, oestrogens inhibit hair growth but very little is known about the
effect of oestrogens on human hair growth and we cannot assume that
oestrogen therapy influences terminal hair growth. Where terminal hair
growth is well established, androgen ablation will, at best, result in only
partial reversal and other methods of hair removal may be needed. Methods
such as shaving and waxing are widely used but their effect is, of course,
temporary. To date there are only two methods of hair removal which have
the potential to be permanent – electroepilation (electrolysis) and laser hair
removal, neither of which is readily available on the NHS.
Androgens stimulate the conversion of fine vellus hair into large terminal
hair in many regions of the skin following puberty. The growth of pubic and
axillary hair is stimulated by low levels of androgens, probably of adrenal
origin. Higher levels of gonadal androgens are needed to stimulate hair
growth on the beard area, trunk and limbs and, in these sites, terminal hair
growth is dependent on the potent androgen dihydrotestosterone, which
is derived from circulating androgens (principally testosterone) by the
action of the enzyme type II 5-alpha reductase. These changes are most
pronounced in men but they also occur in some women, particularly those
with hyperandrogenism. Paradoxically, androgens are also responsible for the
progressive miniaturisation of hair follicles on the scalp that cause balding.
Men castrated before puberty do not show these androgen-dependent
changes in hair growth. In men castrated post-puberty, some reversal may
be seen. The degree of reversal appears to depend on the age at androgen
ablation – in young men terminal hair growth may be fully reversed by
gonadectomy but with increasing age the degree of reversal becomes
progressively less (Hamilton, 1958). Limited studies in male castrates
suggest that androgen ablation in men aged over 30 reduces terminal hair
growth by less than 50%. The same considerations apply to male balding
(Hamilton, 1942). These observations indicate that androgens alter gene
expression in androgen-dependent hair follicles, which is not fully reversible
in the absence of androgens. This view is supported by numerous studies on
the treatment of female hirsutism with anti-androgens.
We may expect, therefore, that androgen ablation, either chemical
or surgical, will produce a substantial degree of androgen-dependent hair
growth reversal in young men, although there is likely to be interindividual
variation in the response. Women may also be taking oestrogens. In other
species, oestrogens inhibit hair growth but very little is known about the
effect of oestrogens on human hair growth and we cannot assume that
oestrogen therapy influences terminal hair growth. Where terminal hair
growth is well established, androgen ablation will, at best, result in only
partial reversal and other methods of hair removal may be needed. Methods
such as shaving and waxing are widely used but their effect is, of course,
temporary. To date there are only two methods of hair removal which have
the potential to be permanent – electroepilation (electrolysis) and laser hair
removal, neither of which is readily available on the NHS.