6+ months and a bit on Regaine and Kirkland 5% foam = nothing

[Kirby]

OK, so I started minoxidil 5% on the last week of May this year, as I've been using finasteride since January 2012 continuously and it has not done anything for me really.

minoxidil hasn't done anything: no sheds, no vellus hair. I'm equal to where I started in density, i.e. pretty ****. Is this a sign that minoxidil doesn't 'work' on my scalp, and if I wasn't currently experimenting with weekly dermarolling, it'd be a sure sign that minoxidil isn't worth me continuing with?

(FWIW, yes, I am following the Indian dermarolling study, but that is still 'experimental' and currently not conclusively proven. I see it more as a means to get some oomph out of minoxidil rather than anything else. TBH, and I will keep going as far as possible.)

 

[nicefella]

How advanced is your hair loss? I'm just about to start Rogaine as well, maybe give it more time?

 

[Kirby]

NW2.5 but REALLY thin, particularly on my solar panel on top. Don't go out in public without a hat as my crown loss is so bad.

 

[Kirby]

Nearly 8 months... Nothing.

 

[saintsfan92344]

Doesn't it suck that these same treatments work within 3-4 months on some people, those lucky F@ckers,

 

[The Far Side]

- Have you been using the minoxidil 6 days a week rather than 7 due to the dermarolling? How many applications per day?

- You mentioned 2 brands of minoxidil foam, does that mean you switched brands at some point during this regime, when? Just a different brand morning and night perhaps?

- I'm also curious about the application of the foam. How long is your hair in the areas you apply it? Do you cool your hand/fingers down that apply foam?

Personally I tried liquid Rogaine several years ago and I had lots of "peach fuzz" vellus hair within a couple of months but it wasn't very dramatic. I tried a new regimen recently after basically giving up entirely, and it featured Rogaine foam. Again within a month I noticed countless vellus hairs. I had much stronger results with the foam which might be a result of the other treatments (just topicals) - but my point is I got visible results within a month or two both times. In my case I've been applying minoxidil to fairly slick frontal areas and areas where the hair is shaved to a 'number 1'. I've tried applying minoxidil to longer hair and areas with a greater density of hair and I start having issues. I end up with considerable minoxidil stuck to hair shafts rather than reaching the scalp and I have little control over how evenly it is spread on the scalp, particularly with foam.

I don't know if any of these factors apply to you and I'm not trying to be offensive, but there is definitely some knack to applying Rogaine foam in particular. I neglected to turn the can upside down when spraying foam onto my finger a couple of times and got a bunch of foam which had no ingredients within (in my opinion) and on other occasions I had hot hands and the foam started melting onto my finger rather than on my scalp etc. You sound like you're doing quite well as a result of finasteride and that you are applying minoxidil to areas with decent amount of hair and of some length? I'd recommend trying a small test area for a couple of months which is fairly slick where you'll be able to get a really good application each time, perhaps a receeding temple area? When I speak of visible results within a month I'm talking fine and largely light hairs which are only visible up close or when the light catches them. With my more recent attempts featuring Rogaine foam I grew fine hairs within a month (like the peach fuzz) but they are pigmented (black in my case), so I'm not sure what to call those, still vellus?

Good luck. From my personal experience Rogaine foam is the way to go, it has given me the best results and is much easier to work with in terms of drying time, residue etc. for saving time or applying other topicals afterwards.

 

[Kirby]

6 days a week due to dermarolling, yes, did 7 days before that. Used Regaine foam until July, using (imported) Kirkland foam currently as it's far cheaper. I'll post a photo of my hair tomorrow; I part my hair and add foam to the exposed scalp. Been careful about having cool hands, turning can upside down and shaking thecan before use, etc. Even on my bare temples/hairline, NO peach fuzz or vellus hair whatsoever even after months of continuous use. I've never had ANY visible regrowth of any sort while using hair loss treatments, even with a very strict regimen.

 

[jasperhobbs]

I think you hit the nail right on the head about Derma Rolling giving Minoxidil a boost. I don't recall of anyone having results with derma rolling alone.

Jasper

OK, so I started minoxidil 5% on the last week of May this year, as I've been using finasteride since January 2012 continuously and it has not done anything for me really.

minoxidil hasn't done anything: no sheds, no vellus hair. I'm equal to where I started in density, i.e. pretty ****. Is this a sign that minoxidil doesn't 'work' on my scalp, and if I wasn't currently experimenting with weekly dermarolling, it'd be a sure sign that minoxidil isn't worth me continuing with?

(FWIW, yes, I am following the Indian dermarolling study, but that is still 'experimental' and currently not conclusively proven. I see it more as a means to get some oomph out of minoxidil rather than anything else. TBH, and I will keep going as far as possible.)

 

[The Far Side]

Do you get any minoxidil sides? I get a good response in terms of growth but I can be susceptible to sides. I gave up the first time when I was applying the minoxidil to a decent sized area of diffuse thinning due to side effects. I'm only using it on a pair of 50 pence sized areas this time, yet I can still feel it if I go overboard. If you're not feeling anything or seeing anything maybe you can be a bit more cavalier with the rolling, personally I think its a bad idea (wounding followed by minoxidil) and I saw the email written by the original dermaroller company discouraging it. I know there are people caking their head in blood with 1.5+ mm rollers then applying minoxidil straight after and seem to have got away with it thus far, I know for sure that would be extremely unwise for me to try.

I've seen people on various sites make claims that they respond well to topicals but get nowhere with pills, and the opposite. Maybe you're in that boat, who knows... You mentioned that you haven't seen regrowth from anything but do you think finasteride helped you maintain?

 

[Kirby]

I have no idea if finasteride has helped me maintain. I'd assume not, as I have had no minor regrowth at all, and my balding process was/is slow (first noticed when I was 30), but I'm not willing to give up on finasteride for now with no genuine alternatives. I'd try dutasteride, but it's not something I can get reliably and fully legally as a hair loss treatment here in the UK.

I did get sides from minoxidil, as in swollen eyelids, dry, cracked face, when I switched to twice a day from once, so I only use it once a day as I did when starting with foam, and make sure that I apply it many hours before I go to sleep at night.

 

[Kirby]

Not dermarolling any more, obviously does nothing for me. Time to knock minoxidil on the head too?

 

[Kirby]

I've been on Finasteride since January 2012 solidly.

I've been using minoxidil since last May. Again, daily use, no pauses.

minoxidil has caused no regrowth.

Presumably I don't need minoxidil because I'm maintaining using Finasteride?

minoxidil is meant to peak at 16 weeks of use and I'm well past that point with no regrowth.

 

[Benjamin36]

Hmmm...that sucks, Buddy. I was talking with you about trying minoxidil too, but I didn't, and this is one of the reasons why, because it would be great if I had results, but if I didn't experience anything noticeable, how would I know if the minoxidil isn't doing anything now or in the future? I don't know about you, but if I quit I'd always be wondering if I should have continued because noticeable results could be right around the corner or the minoxidil could be helping me to hang on to some of my hair. So, I'd basically be stuck using it forever.