Is Minoxidil Effective For Everyone?

[DevilAngel]

Does minoxidil work for everybody or is there a chance that it might not work for you?

I had been using Regaine for over a year with no results at all (Foam, 5%, everyday twice a day).

I switched to Spectral.DNC as it also has Mino 5% along with a lot of other stuff too hoping it might make a difference. 3 months in and absolutely no difference, I know it's still early but I wanted to know,

Is it possible that minoxidil simply won't work for me?

What reasons would there be for it not working?

 

[dickhair]

hi, have you not even maintained with minoxidil?

 

[Quantum Cat]

IIRC minoxidil is supposed to be effective for about 2/3 of men, while Finasteride is about 80%

 

[Benjamin36]

IIRC minoxidil is supposed to be effective for about 2/3 of men, while Finasteride is about 80%

I actually read that minoxidil only has a successful rate in 30% of men, and that's being generous, from researching. Of course, I could be wrong, but I was contemplating using it, but was deterred from what I read about it. The thing is, the guys who seemed to have gotten results seemed to have some pretty amazing results, but I'm hesitant in adding anything that you need to commit to long-term and can have some pretty ****ty side-effects.

I was already on finasteride at this time, and I probably would have given more thought to my decision to start it, but was lucky that I didn't have any side effects, although I really don't think it's helping my situation so far.

 

[Quantum Cat]

I take finasteride but never bothered with minoxidil - too much hassle, unpleasant, expensive, strong chance it won't work, could cause severe shedding, side effects... etc. And results can be iffy at best. Just doesn't seem worth it ultimately - although some men have reported excellent results with it.

Tried some other topicals like Tricomin, Prox-N but gave up because they didn't work much and were expensive.

 

[DevilAngel]

Thanks for the replies and also it didn't help retain hair either nor increase shedding.

I also never experienced/don't experience any side affects.

I would try finasteride but as 21 year old, the possible side affects sound serious and I'm not sure how likely you are to get the serious ones over a long period....

 

[ladysmanfelpz]

I don't think minoxidil is effective as they say. I used it for 2 years and my hair only seemed to get thinner. You will get sheds from it which is very disheartening. You will go from shed (in my case a strong shed where I looked very bald) to thick hair, to another shed and the cycle continues. I was never really happy with my results and after 2 years I seemed to be in a constant shed. Went and saw a derm and he agreed and said it was not working for me. Saw another recent post of a guy explaining minoxidil really well. Pretty much its always telling your hair to be in the growth phase, but does not solve the actual issue of balding. That is why you go in and out of these sheds and have bouts of thick hair, but in the long run you are still balding. At 21 I wouldn't mess with minoxidil. I think the sides of minoxidil are worse than finasteride especially at our age (I'm 22). minoxidil really opens up your pores to allow growth, and being that it is applied right to your scalp it affects your face tremendously. It gives you bad raccoon eyes for near everyone, and gave me bad acne and terrible skin. So not only are you balding but your skin looks bad too so at 22 I looked 32. Do NOT get on minoxidil. It won't solve your problem. I know the sides of finasteride sound scary, but I really don't think it is that powerful of a drug, and balding as young as we are means we have a hormonal balance issue which I relate to an overactive 5a reductase enzyme. Treat that with finasteride. The bad sides of finasteride reported are for fat 40 year olds. You are out of puberty so everything developed, but treat the issue correctly. Get on finasteride and start at low dose (I cut my pills up into quarters .25mg) and start slowly. At 2 weeks you may see some sides like watery semen but thats it and then it will go away as your body gets used to the drug and the proper hormone balance. Then at 2 months you will start to see some regrowth and vellus hairs on your hairline. I am convinced that no one should bald at our age and it is a hormone problem so get on finasteride. You won't regret it. Now applying minoxidil twice daily and not seeing the results you want, you may certainly regret.

 

[Quantum Cat]

I don't think minoxidil is effective as they say. I used it for 2 years and my hair only seemed to get thinner. You will get sheds from it which is very disheartening. You will go from shed (in my case a strong shed where I looked very bald) to thick hair, to another shed and the cycle continues. I was never really happy with my results and after 2 years I seemed to be in a constant shed. Went and saw a derm and he agreed and said it was not working for me. Saw another recent post of a guy explaining minoxidil really well. Pretty much its always telling your hair to be in the growth phase, but does not solve the actual issue of balding. That is why you go in and out of these sheds and have bouts of thick hair, but in the long run you are still balding. At 21 I wouldn't mess with minoxidil. I think the sides of minoxidil are worse than finasteride especially at our age (I'm 22). minoxidil really opens up your pores to allow growth, and being that it is applied right to your scalp it affects your face tremendously. It gives you bad raccoon eyes for near everyone, and gave me bad acne and terrible skin. So not only are you balding but your skin looks bad too so at 22 I looked 32. Do NOT get on minoxidil. It won't solve your problem. I know the sides of finasteride sound scary, but I really don't think it is that powerful of a drug, and balding as young as we are means we have a hormonal balance issue which I relate to an overactive 5a reductase enzyme. Treat that with finasteride. The bad sides of finasteride reported are for fat 40 year olds. You are out of puberty so everything developed, but treat the issue correctly. Get on finasteride and start at low dose (I cut my pills up into quarters .25mg) and start slowly. At 2 weeks you may see some sides like watery semen but thats it and then it will go away as your body gets used to the drug and the proper hormone balance. Then at 2 months you will start to see some regrowth and vellus hairs on your hairline. I am convinced that no one should bald at our age and it is a hormone problem so get on finasteride. You won't regret it. Now applying minoxidil twice daily and not seeing the results you want, you may certainly regret.

this is exactly why if you're going to use minoxidil you pretty much have to be on finasteride as well

 

[michael.douglas18]

not all of us are lucky enough to lose hair in their 20's not teens so i cant be on finasteride

 

[blondguy]

Why can't men over a certain age go on finasteride?

 

[michael.douglas18]

im 17

 

[Esprit]

At 21 I wouldn't mess with minoxidil. I think the sides of minoxidil are worse than finasteride especially at our age (I'm 22). minoxidil really opens up your pores to allow growth, and being that it is applied right to your scalp it affects your face tremendously. It gives you bad raccoon eyes for near everyone, and gave me bad acne and terrible skin. So not only are you balding but your skin looks bad too so at 22 I looked 32. Do NOT get on minoxidil. It won't solve your problem. I know the sides of finasteride sound scary, but I really don't think it is that powerful of a drug,

Is this the general consensus of opinion with all people on Regaine?

 

[beaner]

Is this the general consensus of opinion with all people on Regaine?

No, most of what he said is wrong. minoxidil does not 'open up your pores to allow growth'. The exact mechanism of how minoxidil works is unknown at this point but it's not from 'opening up your pores".

Also, it does not give 'bad racoon eyes' for 'near everyone'. The majority of men using minoxidil on this site do not complain of this side effect, including myself.

It's up to you whether you want to use it. You must remember that since minoxidil does not effect the underlying cause of male pattern baldness it's only a temporary solution. (like any treatment). Your best bet is to use it in conjunction with finasteride---- by lowering your dht levels, the minoxidil will actually work better than if you were not on finasteride.

 

[jamesrav2]

I wonder if in some cases minoxidil is better for older guys, since their T levels begin to drop around age 30 (I assume DHT levels drops in tandem). I was on minoxidil in my 30's and occasionally in my early 40's without much results - perhaps due to battling a DHT level it could not overcome. Six months ago (age 50) on a whim I purchased the Kirkland 5% and am very pleased - it has definitely shrunk the thin crown spot and the sides and frontal hair definitely has more thickness/volume than in years past. Based on this go-around I'm definitely going to stay with it.

 

[Esprit]

No, most of what he said is wrong. minoxidil does not 'open up your pores to allow growth'. The exact mechanism of how minoxidil works is unknown at this point but it's not from 'opening up your pores".

Also, it does not give 'bad racoon eyes' for 'near everyone'. The majority of men using minoxidil on this site do not complain of this side effect, including myself.

It's up to you whether you want to use it. You must remember that since minoxidil does not effect the underlying cause of male pattern baldness it's only a temporary solution. (like any treatment). Your best bet is to use it in conjunction with finasteride---- by lowering your dht levels, the minoxidil will actually work better than if you were not on finasteride.

thanks, if you're only on minoxidil, and can't do finasteride, what else should you bolster it up with?
Do you think putting minoxidil all over, if you're thinning is a bad move?