Can minoxidil work for a VERY long time??

[ups1984]

Hi All, This is my first post. I have read in many forums that minoxidil on its own works for something like 2 or maybe 3 years...does this mean that after 2 to 3 years the hair regrowth will stop and one will start losing his hair AGAIN, or does this simply mean that one will not grow any more hair.

Secondly, if one uses minoxidil and finasteride together...will minoxidil still lose its effect? Hope the questions are clear.

 

[Bryan]

The problem here is that you haven't carefully defined the word "work" in this context. In my opinion, the evidence shows that minoxidil continues to "work" for as long as you use it; the problem, however, is that it doesn't interfere with the fundamental balding process, so balding continues right along at its normal pace, eventually overtaking the effect of the minoxidil.

Bryan

 

[jambri]

I think it's unclear really, whether or not minoxidil fundamentally interferes with the balding process. Some people report continued success (thicker hair) with minoxidil alone for 10+ years, before returning to baseline. Noone is quite sure how minoxidil works, so they say!

 

[Private Ryan]

I think it's unclear really, whether or not minoxidil fundamentally interferes with the balding process. Some people report continued success with minoxidil alone for 10+ years. Noone is quite sure how minoxidil works, so they say!

what bryan mean by "doesn't interfere with the fundamental balding process" is that minoxidil does not affect the cause of hair loss which is DHT...

there is no way minoxidil have any effect on DHT on the scalp... this we can be sure...

 

[beaner]

I've used minoxidil succcessfully for going on four years. I achieved a lot of thickening and some decent regrowth, especially on top and at the temples. Minoxidil "worked" for me for that long with no signs of regression of the state of my hair. I've only in the last few months began other treatments to hopefully further enhance my progress. I can't say minoxidil would "work" that well for everyone, but I think it can "work" for years in some people.

 

[Bryan]

I think it's unclear really, whether or not minoxidil fundamentally interferes with the balding process. Some people report continued success (thicker hair) with minoxidil alone for 10+ years, before returning to baseline.

The evidence that minoxidil doesn't interfere with the fundamental balding process is circumstantial, but still fairly compelling, in my opinion: once the peak of regrowth occurs after the first year or so, haircounts and hairweights start to slowly decline at what appears to be about the same rate as placebo users, according to a fairly recent study by Vera Price. I think the handwriting on the wall is pretty clear.

Bryan

 

[ups1984]

Thanks alot for your replies guys. Really appreciate it. so basically...to be on the safe side, one can use a DHT blocker (topical or oral) along with minoxidil and maybe even beat hairloss for 10 to 20 years. BUT if one uses minoxidil alone...depending on the severity of hair loss, eventualy he may lose the hair.

I have been doing some research in it (DHT Bockers) and the obvious choice is Propecia and some other oral tabs, and some topicals as well...but none are natual. However, i have read in more than one place and EMU OIL is full of fatty acids...one of those acids is linolenic acid which is an antiandrogen...could someone shed some light on this? i ask becuase there are many other benifits of EMU OIL as well...not necessarily regrowth but alot of skin (scalp) benefits and makes your hair nice and silky too (atleast whats left of it )...

 

[Bryan]

It's true that certain fatty acids like gamma-linolenic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and several others have been shown to be 5a-reductase inhibitors, and may even have some antiandrogenic properties; however, those are properties of FREE fatty acids, not the triglycerides found in natural oils like emu oil. While emu oil _may_ have other properties that are beneficial for hairloss, it's doubtful that it has any significant kind of antiandrogenic effect.

Bryan

 

[ups1984]

Thanks alot for the reply Bryan. Could you please explain to me what FREE Fatty acids are...im sort of new to all this so don't know much.

secondly, there are many other anti-andr. such as vitamin B6, Zinc and Azelaic Acid. Are there any products in the market with a combination to all three?? PLUS, I found this article on the net, please post your views on this.

http://www.swordmedical.com/newsletter_april_2004.asp

 

[Bryan]

Thanks alot for the reply Bryan. Could you please explain to me what FREE Fatty acids are...im sort of new to all this so don't know much.

Fatty acids are typically long hydrocarbon chains (which gives them their "fatty" characteristic) with a carboxylic acid group at one end. That's why they're called "fatty acids".

But plant and animal fats don't generally exist as just mixtures of simple fatty acids, except for a few trace quantities. Most fatty acids end up combining with glycerol molecules to form glycerides. Because a molecule of glycerol has three spaces available where individual fatty acids can attach, the resulting molecule (1 glycerol + 3 fatty acids) is called a triglyceride. Yes, it's the same thing that we hear so much about in the context of human heart disease.

The experiments that were done on hamsters showing a 5a-reductase inhibition effect used the free fatty acids, not the fatty acid/glycerol combinations. Triglycerides have little or no such effect. Since natural oils are almost entirely triglycerides, they aren't going to have any significant antiandrogenic properties.

secondly, there are many other anti-andr. such as vitamin B6, Zinc and Azelaic Acid. Are there any products in the market with a combination to all three?? PLUS, I found this article on the net, please post your views on this.

http://www.swordmedical.com/newsletter_april_2004.asp

It's possible that zinc may have a 5a-reductase-inhibiting effect when applied to skin, but to the best of my knowledge, it hasn't really been tested for that.

As for azelaic acid...there's not so much as a single in vivo study showing that it inhibits 5a-reductase. In fact, there's even some evidence suggesting that it DOESN'T do that.

Bryan

 

[Guest]

According to Minoxidil Prospect, the regrowth will only last until week 48.

After that, you will mantain what you regrew.

 

[Bryan]

According to Minoxidil Prospect, the regrowth will only last until week 48.

After that, you will mantain what you regrew.

Yeah, and that statement from Minoxidil Prospect is so dumbed-down for mass consumption, it loses any usefulness at all. Just use what I said in my first post in this thread as a general rule-of-thumb for what happens when you use minoxidil.

Bryan