Hello,

I took accutane for 6 months from ages 26 to 27.

It cleared my skin but I was left with enduring hair loss and alopecia. I had no other side effects that persisted.

I waited 1 year and tried finasteride, it gave me sexual side effects, no libido, anorgasmia, difficult erection, flaccid shrinkage, I hoped they would resolve with time, but they did not after 4 months. I also got brain fog and lost alcohol response. After I quit I briefly got better then crashed, everything got worse. Now 5 months later I am improving slowly with all symptoms. Mostly just sexual symptoms remain.

I think I became more prone to finasteride side effects after accutane use, although accutane never gave me sexual or cognitive side effects.

But my mind drifts to my hair, I am not afraid of going bald after all I’ve been through. But there are some products that interest me still which work on different pathways to finasteride.

I don’t want to take finasteride/ dutasteride obviously. And minoxidil also has anti androgenic effects, although to a lesser degree.

One that I’ve been following is a new product called system K11.

I’m just wondering if any of these ingredients have the potential to make my PFS worse or prevent fully healing.

Proanthocyanidin for TGF-β

Dihydroberberine & fenugreek (glucose metabolism)

L-ergothioneine (for mitochondrial oxidation?)

Sulphoraphane, to support 3 alpha hsd to break down DHT (not inhibit 5ar)

I was also following the 2 deoxy d ribose topical, but I’m not sure exactly of its mechanism

Hope you can give some insight, thanks.