Help.. 4 Weeks On Minoxidil Giving Up Under Advice And Shedding..

[Cate]

Hi All,

My story is a complex one as I don't think I have a balding issue.. at least.. I didn't have. I damaged my hair very badly, it broke and thinned.. I damaged it from chemical treatments to remove Henna. Massive mistake.. before that I had never touched my hair with anything other than shampoo..

I went to a hair loss place in a panic (not a tricologist) and was given Minoxodil solution and a laser cap to use every day.

I initially didn't know whether to use the minoxidil, but I was frightened that I was suffering hair loss, so started using it.. consistently.. for around 4 weeks - all over my head.

My scalp got So itchy.. and the last week, hair has been falling/shedding a LOT.. small and long hairs.. even from my fringe a couple of hairs came out.

I went to a Trichologist.. she told me I should never have been put on Minoxidil as I was not balding.. that is it a last resort treatment and to stop taking it.. (he said I could /"do what I wanted" but her advice was to come off it as it carries side effects.) . So I am now 3 days off it. The itching has stopped. the massive shedding has not.. and it is scaring me.. I'm frightened.. scared to wash or brush my hair.. scared to go out. I am SURE many of you understand on these feelings on this thread.

I am SO confused what to now do. Do I keep using the laser cap? Will the shedding stop? Will I get through this.. I'm scared.. from what I have read about minoxidil, I don 't think it is worth continuing..

I did go to the doctor and get a vitamin test in November... I was low on D, B12 and Iron.. all of those I have attended to since.. changed diet (I was vegan.. no longer) and also taking very high quality supplements. I also had a hormone test today.. results not until Wed..

Meanwhile, is there anyone out there that can help? Was I on Minoxidil long enough to cause shedding.. is it something else? Will I recover Please help someone...

 

[layabout]

You should continue minoxidil, but not the regular one. Itching is caused by PG, so find one without it. I use a non-PG one and my shedding was very minor. Also, Im vegan and I hardly ever shed throughout the day lol

You should probably start microneedling your scalp along with the minoxidil.

 

[Cate]

But if I continue, won't the shedding continue? It is SO distressing!!! I'm in a panic.. no one seems to be able to advise me what to do!

 

[SuperDPAsteve]

Googling how minoxidil works will help put your mind at ease, or at least wrap it around your situation.

Basically minoxidil is thought to induce a large shed in the beginning to allow newer, better hairs to grow. Four weeks is the perfect amount of time to get a large amount of shedding going on. If you stop now, the shedding may or may not continue, but no benefit will be had during regrowth. You must continue it forever.

Additionally, minoxidil is thought to “synchronize” your shedding phases, so instead of 10% of your hairs shedding at once, every year or so half or more of your head will shed.

Sorry to hear about your shitty situation, welcome to the club ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Cate]

Thank you.

It's not at at comforting. I went to a place in Australia called Hair Logica. They did no close ups of my scalp, did not ask about blood tests etc, which I know is essential in diagnosis. I was ignorant, and was told if I used this "lotion" on my head and a laser unit (all for 3K) I would be good in 7 weeks and start seeing improvement. I was not informed of any side effects, or the long term effects of what I was taking OR that I needed to take it for life.

Now having been to a trichologist I know I do not have a balding issue that requires minoxidil. Not only that, but the dose was way too high. I'll never go back on it. Deeply regret taking it.. deeply.

 

[SuperDPAsteve]

From our perspective, the fact that you don’t have a permanent balding problem should make you ecstatic lmao. Life is too hellish and long to regret something so inconsequential now that you know it’s temporary. Go enjoy life and never come back here

 

[Cate]

Well I have a shedding one.. is that different?

but I TRULY appreciate your comment.. before this, I didn't realise how lucky I was.. I truly do feel you..

 

[SuperDPAsteve]

Hmm.. you said you had dye damage to your hair. Are there white/yellow “bulbs” on the ends of your shed hair?

 

[Cate]

and it's been acute worries me..

 

[Cate]

Yes totally.. I went to a doctor yesterday that specialises in hair loss.. she said she oculd see new hair growing, but the shedding was "acute" - really a lot of strands coming out in my hands, and brush and when I wash.. she said "stop stressing" she can't see anything on my blood tests.. lower iron and ferritin that she would like.. they are coming up but slow.. but my hair has zero breakage now.. just a lot thinner and shedding.. which I thought was the minoxidil... but the stress from it all is not helpinf I know.. she put me on Prozac...

 

[SuperDPAsteve]

If it were me I wouldn’t be taking any SSRIs but only you can gauge your mental health needs. I’m sorry to hear you’re in a dark place over this

As far as your shedding, I would look into telogen effluvium both acute and chronic.

It doesn’t sound like it, but if your shedding is localized to patches around your head, look into alopecia areata.

The other most common causes of non-pattern hair loss are high cortisol and thyroid issues.

In any case, minoxidil will help tremendously with any of these conditions if the shedding is persistent, but it sounds like you’re headed toward a full, natural recovery, which is a cause for celebration. Beers on you

 

[Cate]

Well thyroid is fine... I am worried to go back on Minoxidil because it causes shedding.. it scares me to go through this.. mentally.. I agree re SSRIs.. totally don't want to take anything.. ahve always been a clean eater and never take medication, but if it stops the shedding? I really became suicidal over this... truly.. have struggled to get out the house..
She said to take oral minoxidil.. should I? If there is a chance to recover without taking it I would rather do that.. is new growth on the head a sign that all will be OK in the end?

 

[SuperDPAsteve]

New growth on the head is always a good sign. In fact, it means that you’re probably on your way to recovery once they grow to full length. The only thing you need to watch out for is “miniaturization”, which would mean you have genetic baldness. It doesn’t sound like that’s what you have though.

Oral minoxidil is 100% more likely to give you unwanted side effects. It’s a blood pressure medication so think dizziness, chest pain, heart palpitations, etc. I would do your research on topical minoxidil. It’s not the most popular treatment in the world for no reason. Im going through the shedding phase myself.

If you can find a Doctor that will scan your scalp for miniaturization and/or do a biopsy to confirm genetic baldness and it comes back negative, I would throw all my medication in the trash and forget about hair loss

 

[Cate]

You're amazing . thank you.. so I did go to another trichologist that looked at the back, top and front of my head with her microscope thing, the only place miniaturisation was occurring was the very front.. fringe and a bit on the top etc...(not the back) they started a herbal treatment for that.. in fact she was the one who said come off minoxidil because you don't need it.. but they are a natural treatment clinic.. (australia hair and scalp clinic)....

 

[SuperDPAsteve]

Sounds like she was right. Keep an eye on the spots where they identified miniaturization because if you have genetic baldness that’s where it’ll start.

And for Christ’s sake get off Prozac if the only reason you got on was your hair lmao

 

[Cate]

No family baldness, not even on my dad's size. They said early stages re the front and can do something about if I go there once a month for treatment . I truly never appreciated how traumatic this is for men, let alone women.. I meet so many men who say to me that they are not bothered what my hair looks like.. yet to me it's everything.. and yet I say the same to men, have always been strongly attracted to bald men or men with shaved heads.. I know how we feel about ourselves is more important than any of those words..

Take your point about the SSRIs.. I really only went on it because I have to stop the stress... I thought it could do that..

 

[Cate]

BTW I use the laser cap each day that I was given.. that is safe right? No side effects? 30 mins I day I was told by the first guy I went to.. any experience there?

 

[SuperDPAsteve]

Uhm I’m not sure about the efficiency of LLLT but I can say I’ve never read anything that would suggest it is in any way harmful. I wouldn’t worry

Also same. I never appreciated the impact of losing your hair till it started w/ me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[-Synergy-]

Hmm.. you said you had dye damage to your hair. Are there white/yellow “bulbs” on the ends of your shed hair?

What if there was white bulbs at the end of the shed hair? What would that be an indication of and how would you recommend to treat it? I have been losing ground from white bulbs at the end of my hair ever since topical minoxidil and nizoral hurt my scalp. I might switch to low dose oral minoxidil 5 mg a day because at this point every other drug out there seems experimental.

 

[Cate]

I gave them all up and am now doing well.. nothing against Minoxidil, it works for many, but I've stopped with everything (inc laser) and that was the best thing I could have done.. things changed for me when I did.. although being female obviously means that I have different issues from males here..
My diet is very hair orientated, all foods that feed the hair and block DHT, as well as a range of supplements and herbal tablets.. all good so far..