Hey Tinsoldier, did you experience any other side-effects while using this medication? You could try to lower the dosage if you wish to continue using it, it would maintain the hairs that you have at least. I had a very similar experience to yours, When I used the 5% I knew it was something that caused allergic reactions of my skin, the itchiness was annoying, I experienced dried skin even though my scalp is very oily, I experienced a lot of other side effects like bloatedness, increased heart rate, flaky scalp (which was prolly the dried minx). At one point I developed a rash with small red-like bumps on my forehead.
Here's what I did, I first stopped using it to confirm that it was from minoxidil for about a week, which returned everything to normal (except the wrinkles, still there but reduced to mere expression lines thanks to Retinol). I then returned on it for two months, no increased side effects, it just gets itchy. I kept doing this for about 2 months now, no significant hair growth, just a bit of peach fuzz on the temples (which is a good sign) and very minor hair loss, like 4-5 hairs fall out when I wash my hair. 10 hairs max fall out when I blow dry it.
I went to a dermatologist the other day, he prescribed for me 10% minoxidil lol, which is a gel like material (to me it's very weird because I thought it only came in as liquid or foam). I've been using it for 4 days, it only caused a VERY minor itchiness. No other sides to report so far. It may not be from the minoxidil itself but the delivery vehicle, so you could try other alternative brands to find out which one fits you.
Worst case scenario: You could greatly lower your dosage to the point where it only maintains it (if you have this medication working greatly for you, you could do that like I did). Eventually you'll recover your skin, it takes about 3-12 months to regenerate your collagen depending on your recovery, lifestyle, etc.
And now, to address 90% of the people in this forum who derailed the topic. I don't understand why you people get so defensive when it comes to minoxidil side effects. If loads and loads of people are reporting this side-effect, it should have some sort of credibility into it. I don't give two shyts if it isn't reported in clinical trials, doctors and scientists fukk up all the time. This guy came here, to ask for assistance and help, and you go on criticizing him and claiming that he's bullshytting? The picture he posted does show how his skin became less firm, despite the colors, it shows that his eyes are more sucked in, it shows that his skin became thinner. On those remarks, did you lose weight? Seriously, help out our fellow balding mate here.
