Does Rogaine Lose Effectiveness Over Time?

[Scrappy]

seems like there are different opinions on this...been on it 9 years or so, is it still necessary? would there likely be a severe shed if I stopped?

 

[worm]

seems like there are different opinions on this...been on it 9 years or so, is it still necessary? would there likely be a severe shed if I stopped?

Yes I would think you would experience a pretty decent shed.

That said, how has rogaine been working for you up to now? What's your hair like now vs then? What's been your experience? Please elaborate.

 

[resu]

Yes it would, specially if you're not on finasteride as well.

 

[Giiizmo]

Rogaine doesn't lose its effectiveness, barring any exotic turn of events. If it seems like it does, it's usually just the hair loss catching up.

And yes, you'd probably experience a pretty big shed.

Some users who didn't tolerate topical minoxidil actually experienced regrowth because the contact dermatitis stopped, but that's another subject.

 

[CharAblaze]

Rogaine doesn't always do nothing.
I got pissed and thought that it doesn't work,because it didn't regrow my hairline.
I thought that I have no visibile crown loss.
So I quit for 1 year.
I shed, shed very hard.
My little bald spot became a large one.
After witnessing that sh*t.
I restarted it and noticed an improvement on said bald spot.
I wasn't bald enough to evaluate the benefits at first, it was foolish of me to quit.
It definitely slows sh*t down, but doesn't stop it.

 

[SpaceInvader]

It doesn't lose it's effectiveness, rather it's the sensitivity that increases, essentially reducing the success rate.

 

[yetti]

It doesn't lose it's effectiveness, rather it's the sensitivity that increases, essentially reducing the success rate.

evidence?

 

[SpaceInvader]

This may not apply to minoxidil itself, but the hormonal aspect.

When eunuchs get injected with testosterone, they immediately get where they were "supposed to be", I've read.

Supposdly that follicles gradually increase in sensitivity, requiring a higher dose of antiandrogens, even without the presence of androgens. That may explain why treatments appear to lose effectiveness. I may be wrong, but you can look around about this.

 

[worm]

This may not apply to minoxidil itself, but the hormonal aspect.

When eunuchs get injected with testosterone, they immediately get where they were "supposed to be", I've read.

Supposdly that follicles gradually increase in sensitivity, requiring a higher dose of antiandrogens, even without the presence of androgens. That may explain why treatments appear to lose effectiveness. I may be wrong, but you can look around about this.

So instead of a gradual baldness process, they go totally bald right away? In other words, if you're going to go bald, you will go bald eventually?

By that logic, you would think the follicles would be more sensitive to dht than baldness being caused by higher concentrations of dht in the scalp.

I do know that there was one guy here who had remarkable results for something like 20 years on minoxidil. Unfortunately he started messing around with what worked after all that time, and things went off track. Im not sure what happened to him, but he was a good example of minoxidil not diminishing over time.

 

[SpaceInvader]

Actually both. Sensitivity increases, independent of androgen concentration. Everyone has varying levels of inherited sensitivity. It could be that this person just found his "sweet spot".

Maybe his follicles reached their maximum sensitivity, and the minoxidil was enough to fend this off. In theory, the more sensitive they become, the less amount of androgens they require to miniaturize. That would help explain the "DHT Paradox". Why would people with lower levels of DHT exhibit advanced Androgenetic Alopecia? Their sensitivity.

Androgenetic Alopecia becomes a thing when the follicles are sensitive enough below the "threshold" of available androgens that they will show these effects. Then there's stuff like PGD-2 and PGE-2 which were discovered as a more direct cause. DHT is an indirect cause according to that.

You can look into this by looking at available chemicals that inhibit PGD-2, which is more present in Androgenetic Alopecia-affected scalps. According theory, it's PGE-2 that causes regrowth. I've read you can get pure PGE-2, but other people would better explain how to obtain and all that.

 

[MrPortugal]

I still do not understand how minoxidil works longterm alone.

 

[SpaceInvader]

I still do not understand how minoxidil works longterm alone.

Possibly, because relative to him, what ever concentration of minoxidil he was using lied beyond the his threshold of sensitivity. It was giving him success until his sensitivity increased beyond that level or he changed the regimen that, relative to him, the dose lied under the required threshold to continue making an effect.

Various people have varying levels of androgen sensitivity

 

[SpaceInvader]

I know minoxidil is not an antiandrogen, but it would appear that whatever sensitivity you have, gives you an idea of what regimen, what dose would work for you.

It would be very helpful to have a sensitivity rating system. It would give a better idea what would work and required dosage, regardless of their hormone levels.

 

[worm]

Possibly, because relative to him, what ever concentration of minoxidil he was using lied beyond the his threshold of sensitivity. It was giving him success until his sensitivity increased beyond that level or he changed the regimen that, relative to him, the dose lied under the required threshold to continue making an effect.

Various people have varying levels of androgen sensitivity

Interesting thought. This would to me imply that he probably didnt have aggressive male pattern baldness, and therefore this use of minoxidil for 20 yrs worked for him, where it doesnt work or inevitably stops working for most who come here because it just isnt enough.... I like this idea, as we can see many here need different approaches with varying intensity to achieve results.

I for one have had tremendous success on zix alone, however over 12 years, ive had to up my concentration of zinc to obtain the same results. Others for some reason dont necessarily experience the same benefits I do, it's case dependent..

So ultimately, by that reasoning, minoxidil will either work for you or not, but if you have high follicular sensitivity, it could be that there is little to prevent the inevitable; however if you only need a little boost, this could be the ultimate solution. In the end, PG allerges aside, it wont likely hurt to use minoxidil, however the results you will experience depend on the levels of dht in your scalp and your corresponding follicular sensitivity.

++

 

[MrPortugal]

I still not understand one thing, before I start minoxidil I had itch on my hairline, but after 2 months using minoxidil I don't have itch anymore and I have nice regrowth.

But if this itch is from dht, why minoxidil can stop this itch?

Sorry for my English

 

[worm]

I still not understand one thing, before I start minoxidil I had itch on my hairline, but after 2 months using minoxidil I don't have itch anymore and I have nice regrowth.

But if this itch is from dht, why minoxidil can stop this itch?

Sorry for my English

perhaps it's better blood flow, maybe it's better resistance to dht as minoxidil is giving your follicles a boost...

What has been your experience? How old are you? How much regrowth, and only on your hairline?

 

[MrPortugal]

perhaps it's better blood flow, maybe it's better resistance to dht as minoxidil is giving your follicles a boost...

What has been your experience? How old are you? How much regrowth, and only on your hairline?

I have 18 years old

I put Minoxidil on my hairline and top of head 1x/day 1ml

I have many short hairs growing on my hairline and start looks better.

I hope minoxidil helps my hair for the next couple years.

Unfortunately I can't use finasteride give me bad sides and I'm young.

 

[worm]

I have 18 years old

I put Minoxidil on my hairline and top of head 1x/day 1ml

I have many short hairs growing on my hairline and start looks better.

I hope minoxidil helps my hair for the next couple years.

Unfortunately I can't use finasteride give me bad sides and I'm young.

Yes, I started finasteride when I was 19, I turn 40 tomorrow I used finasteride until I was 27, but stopped once I realized life was much better without the side effects. I think because I started when I was so young, I never grew proper facial hair and finished puberty properly. Anyways, I feel good and I have a good life now, so I can only say I wished I had waited until I was 21 before I tried finasteride.

 

[Scrappy]

Yes I would think you would experience a pretty decent shed.

That said, how has rogaine been working for you up to now? What's your hair like now vs then? What's been your experience? Please elaborate.

I guess like for most people it bought me some time for a few years, then hair loss increased pretty dramatically. I don't use finasteride but I started Revivogen and nizoral and my hair basically stabilized for the past two years. I'm now in my late 30's. My erections have never been as good as they were before I started Rogaine. And no, it wasn't in my head. Rogaine had an impact.

I want to stop throwing stuff on my hair every day and not feeling like myself. I've come to the point where I'm ok with going bald. However, I have transplants in the front corners I'd have to get laser removed if I lose the rest of my hair too quickly.

 

[kj6723]

I don't think it loses effectiveness per say, but rather the overpowering of androgens catches up with the dying hairs it is allowing to grow

Minoxidil alone is still a losing battle. It's best combined with an antiandrogen as a booster/supplemental treatment to help grow those follicles as they are freed from androgenic suffocation by finasteride or whatever antiandrogen you are using

Still, if you're a minoxidil responder, even minoxidil alone will always have you better off than you would be without it