Has ANYBODY had definite success with minoxidil? I have been using the 2% for 5 months, now the 5% for 2 months. It's a lot thinner with the 5%. I'm beginning to wonder if anybody really has success with the stuff????? :roll: My scalp has been a little itchy and sore. I wrote to Dr. Lee and he told me to stop using the minoxidil for a week, wash my hair everyday, then if it felt better to restart once a day, then twice if there was no further reaction. If *that* doesn't work, he suggests I order a different minoxidil, one that is less irritating. But I'm thinking.....7 months and so far nothing good at all. Any suggestions anyone???? :freaked:
the million $ question
- Thread starter Inch
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Private Ryan
Established Member
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in rogaine webbie. they wrote "more than 55% of the man regrow hair". you might not be in the 55% group. even if it does help, i believe most people only experience very slight regrow so it not noticeable by the naked eyes. according to their webbie, if after 4months you don't notice anything, you should go back to your Doctor for reassement. that just one possible option.
hairwegoagain
Senior Member
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Not enough time. The other stuff you are using is garbage insofar as treating hairloss...with the possible exception of the VERY nebulous evidence of folligen's efficacy. Keep it up if you simply like them - which is perfectly fine - but don't think the vitamins, saw palmetto, and herbal shampoo are going to help out. As far as hairloss goes, they can go straight into the dumpster. You may wish to see your doctor and discuss finasteride.
Inch said:
no finasteride
I can't use finasteride cause I'm female. And I haven't found a Dr. yet who knows his *** from his elbow. I decided to start the minoxidil on my own. The thing that gets me is that the first months on 2%, I was absolutely maintaining, no shed at all. So, I switched to 5% thinking I'd regrow, lost more and still no regrowth. Unless I count the 1-2 inch thin hairs that are popping up. But the number I've lost far outweighs anything new. So, I'm afraid to keep using the 5% and afraid not to. As far as the other stuff, I figure the vitamins can't do any harm, and I'll continue with the Folligen as well. That can't cause a shed can it?????? I started it around the same time as the 5%. :crazy:
I can't use finasteride cause I'm female. And I haven't found a Dr. yet who knows his *** from his elbow. I decided to start the minoxidil on my own. The thing that gets me is that the first months on 2%, I was absolutely maintaining, no shed at all. So, I switched to 5% thinking I'd regrow, lost more and still no regrowth. Unless I count the 1-2 inch thin hairs that are popping up. But the number I've lost far outweighs anything new. So, I'm afraid to keep using the 5% and afraid not to. As far as the other stuff, I figure the vitamins can't do any harm, and I'll continue with the Folligen as well. That can't cause a shed can it?????? I started it around the same time as the 5%. :crazy:
hairwegoagain
Senior Member
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Re: no finasteride
My apologies...I didn't realize you were female.
Anything that stimulates or affects hair growth or its cycle can cause shedding...so if folligen is having an effect for you, it's quite possible that it's causing some temporary loss.
I'd advise you to keep up your search for a good doctor. If it takes calling the phonebook listings line by line, do it. There are doctors (usually dermatologists) who specialize in hairloss - including women's conditions.
The vitamins likely won't do a bit of harm. Likewise, they probably won't do any good as far as your hairloss is concerned. From a general health standpoint, they may be beneficial - again, get in touch with a good doctor. You can find one, even if it takes some extreme effort.
Good luck and let us know how things progress.
My apologies...I didn't realize you were female.
Anything that stimulates or affects hair growth or its cycle can cause shedding...so if folligen is having an effect for you, it's quite possible that it's causing some temporary loss.
I'd advise you to keep up your search for a good doctor. If it takes calling the phonebook listings line by line, do it. There are doctors (usually dermatologists) who specialize in hairloss - including women's conditions.
The vitamins likely won't do a bit of harm. Likewise, they probably won't do any good as far as your hairloss is concerned. From a general health standpoint, they may be beneficial - again, get in touch with a good doctor. You can find one, even if it takes some extreme effort.
Good luck and let us know how things progress.
Inch said:
no docs here
The city I live in already is experiencing a shortage of family Drs. There are many people here who don't even have one. I am fortunate that I do but when I first saw him about this, he told me to take multivitamins and sit in the sun. Can you imagine? The derm he sent me to saw me for about 7 minutes, did not even look at my scalp and wanted to ship me off to the nearest big city, 6 hours away. And he is the only derm in town. That is why I have taken it upon myself to get some answers.
Did I understand you correctly when you said that Folligen can cause temporary shedding as well? If so, if I am still losing after 2 months, maybe I should quit using it? I really appreciate any help I can get, maybe now you can understand why. Thanks!
The city I live in already is experiencing a shortage of family Drs. There are many people here who don't even have one. I am fortunate that I do but when I first saw him about this, he told me to take multivitamins and sit in the sun. Can you imagine? The derm he sent me to saw me for about 7 minutes, did not even look at my scalp and wanted to ship me off to the nearest big city, 6 hours away. And he is the only derm in town. That is why I have taken it upon myself to get some answers.
Did I understand you correctly when you said that Folligen can cause temporary shedding as well? If so, if I am still losing after 2 months, maybe I should quit using it? I really appreciate any help I can get, maybe now you can understand why. Thanks!
hairwegoagain
Senior Member
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Re: no docs here
I don't know where you live, but if you're in the US then the distances you cite become much closer by air. Why not go to that big city for a day aboard an economy fare? Will cost you some dollars, but better that you're under the care of a professional than of some stranger on the internet. I can't stress this enough.
To answer your other question about shedding - anything that is affecting the hair growth cycle can cause temporary shedding. If we assume the folligen is having some effect, then yes - I would expect you to shed some hair...and you may continue to do so for some time. Two months, however, is not enough time to determine efficacy. I would hesitate to stop using any product that I thought was working - at least before a 12 month period. If you look around the forums you'll find folks who've been on one treatment or another for 6 or 8 months and are still shedding. It's normal. It means the treatment is working. Don't freak out. However, if I was you, I'd be identifying those big-city docs and planning a day trip aboard Southwest or JetBlue. No urgency - but I'd definitely plan to do it.
I don't know where you live, but if you're in the US then the distances you cite become much closer by air. Why not go to that big city for a day aboard an economy fare? Will cost you some dollars, but better that you're under the care of a professional than of some stranger on the internet. I can't stress this enough.
To answer your other question about shedding - anything that is affecting the hair growth cycle can cause temporary shedding. If we assume the folligen is having some effect, then yes - I would expect you to shed some hair...and you may continue to do so for some time. Two months, however, is not enough time to determine efficacy. I would hesitate to stop using any product that I thought was working - at least before a 12 month period. If you look around the forums you'll find folks who've been on one treatment or another for 6 or 8 months and are still shedding. It's normal. It means the treatment is working. Don't freak out. However, if I was you, I'd be identifying those big-city docs and planning a day trip aboard Southwest or JetBlue. No urgency - but I'd definitely plan to do it.
Inch said:
maybe....
I would agree with you on seeing a specialist except that I am already using the only products that are 'proven and accepted'. I have some oral spironolactone, but I hestiate to start that because I have high blood pressure. I will take your advice though, and everyone else's it seems, and continue on with the minoxidil and Follegen. If I take any trips, I have a feeling it will be to find the best and most comfortable hairpiece by a professional. I just hope it never comes to that. Thanks again, good luck to you!
I would agree with you on seeing a specialist except that I am already using the only products that are 'proven and accepted'. I have some oral spironolactone, but I hestiate to start that because I have high blood pressure. I will take your advice though, and everyone else's it seems, and continue on with the minoxidil and Follegen. If I take any trips, I have a feeling it will be to find the best and most comfortable hairpiece by a professional. I just hope it never comes to that. Thanks again, good luck to you!
hairwegoagain
Senior Member
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Re: maybe....
I'm not telling you to keep it up nor quit. I'm simply not qualified to make those recommendations. Neither is anyone on this board. You really should see another doctor...hope you do. It will make you feel better.
Good luck to you.
I'm not telling you to keep it up nor quit. I'm simply not qualified to make those recommendations. Neither is anyone on this board. You really should see another doctor...hope you do. It will make you feel better.
Good luck to you.
Inch said:
minoxidil
I guess that's why I asked the question in the first place. Has ANYBODY had success with minoxidil?
I've gone this far, may as well continue. It does seem to be the general consensus tho to give it a year. Even Dr. Lee has responded to my questions in the same way. Of course, he sells the stuff. :!:
I guess that's why I asked the question in the first place. Has ANYBODY had success with minoxidil?
I've gone this far, may as well continue. It does seem to be the general consensus tho to give it a year. Even Dr. Lee has responded to my questions in the same way. Of course, he sells the stuff. :!:
breakneckwarped
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Re: maybe....
Wouldn't spironolactone help high blood pressure? Or if in small enough dosage (<100mg/day) wouldn't the effect on your blood pressure be minor?
Hmm.. I know I have always had low blood pressure problems and too much spironolactone drops it down even lower.
Inch said:
Wouldn't spironolactone help high blood pressure? Or if in small enough dosage (<100mg/day) wouldn't the effect on your blood pressure be minor?
Hmm.. I know I have always had low blood pressure problems and too much spironolactone drops it down even lower.
iamnaked
Experienced Member
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Inch said:
Minoxidil alone won't help you regrow your hair because any gains you make through the treatment are eaten up by the underlying factor causing your hairloss, i.e. the damage being caused to the follicles by DHT. Start using a 5-a reductase inhibitor (finasteride, dutasteride) for a few months, then see if there's any improvement.
I achieved modest regrowth (norwood 1.5 to 1.25) through a regimen containing minoxidil, and received wisdom dictates that dutasteride and finasteride are good maintainers, not good growers, especially of hair from bald areas, which is why I think the minoxidil helped a fair bit.
I'm in the same boat as inch. I noticed my hair get worse on 5% than on 2%. Is this common? Can minoxidil be worse than nothing at all? Or is it either it works or it doesn't? And is it logical that if 2% worked then you're a good responder so 5% should work as well only better?
