Two Years On Minoxidil And Nothing. Should I Stop?

[hrlss70]

I started Minoxidil two years ago. I went through a very nasty shed phase about 5-6 weeks in but disregarded it because I understand it's normal. But I never noticed any hair regrowth and I've definitely continued to lose hair during the duration of strict use. Logic is telling me to stop using the product but then there's a fear that maybe it has helped hold on to some hair and that hair will come out in a couple of months of non-use. But I can honestly say I've not seen a single benefit from using this product.

For the record, I am in my mid 40s and started having crown loss in my early 30s. It was very slow and only kicked up after 40. But in the last few years, which includes the two years on Minoxidil, The entire top of my head has thinned considerably and lots of skin is visible.

To add insult to injury, I had scarring alopecia on the the sides/temple area of my head. This kicked up in 2012 and moved rapidly before stopping. My beard also lost various patches of hair but my derm is confident it was not due to scarring, though none of it has ever come back. I had a small hair transplant last year, a sort of patch test in the most pronounced area on the side where the scarring alopecia happened. The growth has been very good and it seems to be holding well, though the skin has never completely returned to normal color. We are doing another small patch on the other side in 2017. I'm more concerned about having a proper framing on my face but I'm disappointed that two years of minoxidil has seemingly done nothing with the top/crown. Can minoxidil actually make hair loss worse? Thank you.

 

[stachu]

Yeah, drop it. It wont help you, after 2 years you cant just start being a "responder" And you're in mid 40s so yeah..

 

[jamesrav2]

you might try derma-rolling along with the minoxidil. I am 55, vertex has been a 'dead zone' (maybe thin zone is more accurate) for 25 years, during which time I've used minoxidil pretty consistently (thank goodness it's incredibly cheap). No progress to speak of, but I kept going thinking it would be worse without it. Then I read the Indian study, saw the pics, and had to try it. It has helped my situation, no question. I live in a building with an elevator, mirrors above and to the side. I see my crown every day, and it is less shiny than in the past. I am no longer touching sticky scalp, there is hair there now. Plus it seems to allow the minoxidil to lengthen the growth cycle on my frontal hair. I think the derma rolling does increase minoxidil absorption, to a much greater degree than other supposed ways to do that: ie. applying after a hot shower when the pores are open, or using in combination with Retin A. What could possibly be better than actually creating pathways to the follicle via light wounding? Whether rolling has any effect on its own seems unlikely based on an article I read, but the Indian study should inspire anyone to try it.