u/Choice_Eye_6563

From this sub/ Haircafe, I have learned that using topical Tretinoin can make people respond to Minoxidil if they typically don't respond at all because of certain enzymes.

I was also told that even oral Min won't work if you lack the specific enzyme, so you need this approach whether you use topical OR oral Min.

Is this actually true? Has anyone done this, and does it actually work? How is the process supposed to look? You just spread the topical tret literally across your scalp? How do you do this if you have hair that is slightly long?

So far I have been applying the Tret to parts* of my scalp basically once a day. Then later applying topical min. I have yet to notice anything happening.

Has it actually made you into a strong responder? Please share your experience in the comments:

Ok so I’ve been on finasteride / dutasteride for exactly 6 months. First 2 months fin then the last 4 just Dut. (with an overlap period)

Positive: PRIOR to this, I was always shedding hairs. Clogging my shower drain often. When I’d take off my hat, the inside ALWAYS had tons of hairs just stuck to it.

NOW, at some point in these 6 months, maybe month 4 or 5 but it could have been even earlier, my shedding has COMPLETELY stopped. I’m shedding literally ZERO hairs. Not one will come out when I run my hands through my hair, none are sticking to my hat, etc.
So I guess I’m happy about that…

But anything in the way of regrowth has been pretty pathetic…
Like it’s hard to notice much of anything at all. And it’s been 6 whole months.
My temples, and along my hairline, are however covered in tiny clear hairs. So the follicles still work.

And I don't mean the tiny clear hairs that we all have on every follicle across our face, that are only a millimeter long, these hairs grow centimeters or inches long. Is that a positive signal for potential regrowth?

Like I technically have hairs across both my temples, but they’re so weak and pathetic and pigmentless that they’re functionally invisible and have no structure. Like they are clear and can only be seen with light hitting correctly and looking close in the mirror. To the point where I feel skeptical they’ll ever actually become legitimate hairs
Should I be bummed and not expect my lost hair to return with these results at 6 months?

Has anyone else had a similar experience then got substantial regrowth/ recovery later?

Any advice or tips?

Right now I am thinking about using RU58841 for a couple months to see if that does anything, as I’ve seen the most impressive results attributed to RU specifically. In addition to continuing Dut of course.