Disclaimer

The information, experiences, protocols, and results described herein are based solely on personal anecdotal experience, independent research, and self-reported observations. This content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition and should not be interpreted as medical advice, professional healthcare guidance, or a recommendation for treatment.

Any medications, peptides, supplements, or therapies referenced may carry significant health risks, side effects, unknown long-term consequences, or potential interactions. Individuals should consult a licensed physician or qualified medical professional before beginning, stopping, or modifying any medical, pharmaceutical, peptide, or supplement regimen.

No guarantees regarding safety, efficacy, or outcomes. Any person choosing to replicate, imitate, or experiment with the information provided does so entirely at their own risk and assume no responsibility or liability for any injury, illness, adverse reaction, complication, damages, or death that may result from the use or misuse of the information

END OF DISCLAIMER

Introduction

I am a 29 years old male who has been dealing with male pattern baldness or alopecia since I was 22 years old. For over 9 years now l have demonstrated a significant progression of androgenic-pattern alopecia with diffuse thinning involving the frontal scalp, mid-scalp, and vertex/crown regions over time. I have done everything under the sun when it comes to hair treatment PRP, micro-needling, herbal oils, but they never worked. But I have finally found what works for me and I will try to do my best to be as detailed as possible with all my information and every step I took to get the results you’ve seen. My hair restoration protocol consisting of standard pharmacologic therapy with oral Minoxidil, Dutasteride, Pyrithione Zinc 1% Shampoo, and also an extensive peptide-based regenerative protocol of GHK-CU, BPC-157 and TB-500.

The baseline reference photograph from November 2018 (Figure 1) shows a full, dense hairline and preserved follicular density without visible scalp exposure, supporting the absence of significant alopecia prior to military service exposure and associated stressors.

By August 8, 2025 (Figure 2a), I have an estimate of ~70% total cosmetic density loss of my hair and photographic findings are consistent with advanced diffuse alopecia characterized by:
• Severe miniaturization of terminal hairs
• Marked reduction in follicular density across the frontal and vertex scalp
• Significant scalp visibility
• Recession and thinning consistent with chronic inflammatory and androgen-mediated hair loss
• Diffuse shedding pattern suggestive of stress-aggravated alopecia superimposed on androgenic alopecia

And after photographic comparison between August 2025 (Figure 2a), February 12, 2026 (Figure 2b), and March 24, 2026 (Figure 2c) demonstrates measurable improvement in overall scalp coverage and follicular recovery and the degree of improvement observed over approximately 7 months is consistent with a positive pharmacologic response and an extensive peptide-based regenerative protocol. 

Protocol

I began to subsequently initiated a comprehensive hair restoration protocol consisting of:

1. Minoxidil (Oral) 2.5mg
Initiated with an accelerated loading phase of 5mg for approximately two weeks followed by maintenance dosing of 2.5mg everyday. Minoxidil utilized as a systemic vasodilatory growth stimulant to prolong the anagen phase and improve perifollicular blood flow.

2. Dutasteride (Oral) 0.5mg
Initiated with an accelerated loading phase for approximately two weeks followed by maintenance dosing every three (3) days. Dutasteride functions as a dual Type I and Type II 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, significantly suppressing dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the primary androgen implicated in follicular miniaturization.

3. Pyrithione Zinc 1% Shampoo (Topical)
Used adjunctively every other day to reduce scalp inflammation, seborrheic dermatitis activity, microbial overgrowth, and perifollicular irritation that may contribute to inflammatory shedding.

4. GHK-CU (SubQ)
I administered repeated doses ranging approximately from 3.5mg to 13mg per administration. GHK-CU is a bioactive copper-binding tripeptide associated in medical literature with:
• Upregulation of wound-healing pathways
• Increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
• Improved dermal remodeling
• Stimulation of follicular stem cell activity
• Enhanced extracellular matrix repair
• Reduction in perifollicular inflammation

From a trichological standpoint, GHK-Cu likely contributed to:
• ⁠Improved scalp microvascular circulation
• ⁠Recovery of partially miniaturized follicles
• ⁠Increased terminal hair shaft diameter
• ⁠Acceleration of anagen-phase cycling

Based on the photographic progression it demonstrated changes consistent with follicular reactivation and improved scalp coverage following GHK-Cu therapy.

5. BPC-157 (SubQ)
I administered repeated doses ranging approximately from 0.5mg to 2mg per administration. BPC-157 is recognized experimentally for:
• ⁠Angiogenic activity
• ⁠Nitric oxide pathway modulation
• ⁠Anti-inflammatory effects
• ⁠Enhanced soft tissue healing
• ⁠Cellular regenerative signaling

While direct human evidence for alopecia treatment remains limited, the peptide’s regenerative properties may plausibly support:
• ⁠Reduction in inflammatory scalp stress
• ⁠Improved perifollicular tissue recovery
• ⁠Enhanced scalp healing environment
• ⁠Supportive recovery in stress-mediated alopecia conditions

6. TB-500 (SubQ)
I administered repeated doses ranging approximately from 0.5mg to 2mg per administration. TB-500 is a synthetic fragment related to Thymosin Beta-4, a peptide associated with:
• ⁠Cellular migration and repair signaling
• ⁠Anti-inflammatory modulation
• ⁠Tissue regeneration
• ⁠Cytoskeletal remodeling
• ⁠Enhanced wound-healing responses

Within the context of alopecia recovery, TB-500 may have supported:
• ⁠Reduction in chronic inflammatory signaling
• ⁠Improved scalp tissue recovery
• ⁠Enhanced follicular environment stabilization

Although high-quality clinical data for androgenic alopecia remains limited, the regenerative profile of TB-500 may have functioned synergistically alongside minoxidil, dutasteride, and GHK-Cu.

Dosing Log

The dosing logs provided demonstrate consistent administration over several months with therapeutic exposure sufficient to support biologic activity related to tissue repair, angiogenesis, follicular stimulation, and inflammatory modulation. 

Refer to charts for reference of dosage and timeline.

Observed Hair Improvements

August 2025 → February 2026 (approximately 6 months):

• ⁠Reduction in diffuse shedding pattern
• ⁠Early reversal of follicular miniaturization
• ⁠Increased terminal hair caliber noted along frontal and mid-scalp regions
• ⁠Partial improvement in crown opacity

February 2026 → March 2026:

• ⁠Improved uniformity of hair growth
• ⁠Reduced scalp visibility under direct lighting
• ⁠Enhanced maturation of previously miniaturized follicles

Overall Estimated Recovery

Compared to the August 2025 photograph, the March 2026 photographs demonstrate an estimated:

• ⁠Significant stabilization of active hair loss
• ⁠Evidence of successful follicular rescue and reactivation
• ⁠Conversion of vellus-like hairs into thicker terminal hairs

Despite persistent thinning at the vertex/crown, the documented response is significant and strongly supportive of therapeutic efficacy. 

Overall Impression/Interpretation

My overall impression is that my response to this protocol is consistent with diffuse androgenic alopecia, stress-aggravated telogen effluvium, and chronic inflammatory follicular dysfunction. The observed recovery appears temporally associated with sustained oral minoxidil therapy, dutasteride-mediated DHT suppression, anti-inflammatory scalp management, and long-term regenerative peptide administration. The combined therapeutic regimen likely functioned synergistically to stabilize ongoing hair loss, improve scalp vascularity, reverse partial follicular miniaturization, promote terminal hair regrowth, and improve overall cosmetic scalp coverage.

I believe with continued treatment I would be expected to further stabilize my hair loss and potentially improve density over the subsequent 12–18 months, as hair cycling recovery is gradual and dependent on sustained anagen-phase support.

If you have any questions I will do my best to answer them.

M/41/6’1” 285lbs to 179lbs over 19 months.

Regimen:

Cycling between cutting and maintenance to ensure muscle growth / retention while losing fat.

Metrics:
I measured my strength, waist, weight, daily steps, mood, sleep, resting heart rate, caloric intake and macros. If I noticed I was losing weight, waist was shrinking and my strength was going up, I continued cutting. Once my strength started to dip, or my recovery was suffering, I would swap to maintenance x 4 weeks before resuming the cut. I could cut roughly for 3-4 months then 1 month maintenance, rinse and repeat.

Calories / macros
Cut: 2100 calories, 185g+ protein, 50g fat, rest into carbs
Maintenance: 2700 calories, 185g+ protein, 50g fat, rest into carbs

Routine: workout 6x weekly, 9-10k steps daily, no cardio
- Push
- Pull
- Upper A
- Legs
- Upper B
- Abs
- Rest

Rep ranges: 8-12

Stack:
Multivitamin
Legion pre-post workout (with creatine)
Fish oil
Zepbound 15mg every 10 days

Im finishing up my final cut phase over the next few weeks to try and remove as much of the remaining stubborn lower fat before transition ton maintenance x 3 months, followed by my first lean bulk phase this fall.

Been taking reta 2mg once a week and tesa 2mg daily since Jan 2026
From 150lbs —> 115lbs

Still going not where I want to be. Started Retatrutide in December at .25mg now at 5 mg weekly. Also been on TRT and HCG for last two years.

Last time I posted, my phrasing confused some people. I’ve been lifting for a year. I have been on TRT for only a month. More like 5 weeks now. 160MG test Cyp a week, as well as HCG and anastrozole. My neck has grown 2 inches in those 5 weeks, and I get these crazy pumps in my head muscles by my eyes when I eat. Is this typical?😂

I lost the first 70 then decided to add in tirz after plateau for months. Stayed at 2.5mg for 6 months and lost an additional 40 with consistent gym and staying on top of eating habits.

Hello researchers, I had severe allergy from the CJC/IPA 10mg - strong hives all around abdomen/arms and sides, strong nausea as well with a strong sweating - took anti histamine and some hydrating tablets and the allergy went off.
Dose taken : 200mcg - 1st dose.
Iam on Reta / SLUPP.
After two days i tried on a new vial with around 100mcg.
Itching and wheezing started straight ahead. So Iam definitely dropping this pep.
3 years ago i was on ghrp2 - ghrp6 - Fragment.
Should I try IPA alone, or Sermorelin.
Iam trying to reserve the muscle loss, and focusing on body decomposition currently.
Please advise if possible.

Hi there

On trt and added in Reta
Photo in my hoodie is me at 137.85 Kg and non shirted photos are me at 106 Kg

Im just wondering about my bodyfat percentage right now im hoping that im now under 30% and closer to hopefully the mid 20%s. Really need to get down to 18%.

Just got to keep grinding

Is 2000 kcal a day+ callisthenics and cardio low enough to see serious progress inside 10-12 weeks?

My Melbourne friend gave me ret & ghk cu and I’ll never go back

43M Dad of 4, gpa of 1
235 down to 170. 2 years in the gym, 1 on TRT
Reta at low dose
HCG to keep the boys
More work to do, but bench press is up from 225 to 365, endurance and mental health way up ⬆️