Long time Lurker now needs some advice on minoxidil

[gembat]

Have been using Revivogen and Nisim for 4-5 years with good results, Overall thickening and a stoppage of hairloss-Norwood 2.5-3. Added Nizoral last year. Am 36 years young.

7 months ago I noticed the front receeding a little bit so, me being conservative, I started minoxidil 2% just in the morning and Reviv at night. I figured they would somewhat complement eachother. I didn't have any shedding and 3 months into it noticed a nice thickening all around with MAYBE some vellus hair starting up.

Now to this month, my 7th month. Out of nowhere I have started this extreme flaking, it's like a yellow snow storm on my head. Now I'm a firm believer in giving things time, but am getting worried. I also now have an overall thinning of the hair I have, I don't know if I'm shedding because I have light blond fine thin hair and it's hard to see it when/if it comes out. I do know I am all of a sudden within a month worse off than I was 7 months ago

Questions:

1) Would you stop the 2% minoxidil entirely, or would you give it more time.
Could the fact that this came just this month out of knowhere mean it's a shedding phase and a growth cycle is yet to come?

2)Would you add anything else, (won't do finasteride though).

3)Could the minoxidil just be drying out my scalp too much having somewhat of a negative affect and the thinning is just because I am getting older and my head is used to Reviv and Nisim after 5 years?

4)Would now be a good time to switch to 5%, I read on here somewhere it has less alchohol.

5)Lastly, I ordered the last batch from a lady on Amazon, is it possible I recieved some bad minoxidil....seems unlikely?

Just not sure at this point so I'm turning to the masters.

Thanks Ahead, G

 

[Chujgcha]

...

 

[not me!]

1) Would you stop the 2% minoxidil entirely, or would you give it more time.
Could the fact that this came just this month out of knowhere mean it's a shedding phase and a growth cycle is yet to come?

This is probably just a shedding phase. I would definitely look into Nizoral 2% to make the scalp environment healthier.

2)Would you add anything else, (won't do finasteride though).

Nizoral 2%. No more than 3x a week. You may also look into a coal tar shampoo such as Neutrogena T-Gel. Use this 2 or three times a week. Keep up the rotation.

3)Could the minoxidil just be drying out my scalp too much having somewhat of a negative affect and the thinning is just because I am getting older and my head is used to Reviv and Nisim after 5 years?

No, I think you just have a buildup or perhaps it is drying your scalp out. I think the addition of Nizoral 2% will help (dang, I sound like a broken record)

4)Would now be a good time to switch to 5%, I read on here somewhere it has less alchohol.

Good question. 5% is a bit greasier feeling, though. If you are getting this much of a reaction from the 2 % you could try 5 % the next time you buy.

5)Lastly, I ordered the last batch from a lady on Amazon, is it possible I recieved some bad minoxidil....seems unlikely?

If you are in the U.S., just pop on over to a Wal-mart and pick up their generic. Its about $12 for a single bottle and $27 for 3. You can't go wrong.

 

[PartTimeNinja]

Added Nizoral last year.

Read the Post people!

 

[gembat]

Yes, I've been on Nizoral 1% for 4 months, where do I get 2%?

 

[not me!]

Thanks, but I read the post. Nizoral 1 % is really not nearly as strong as 2%.

Though it can have good effects, I believe the 2% is the only way to go if you can get your hands on it. It is available by prescription in the U.S. and i think OTC in Canada.

 

[Red Rose]

Hi Gembat as you probably know both flaking + shedding are unfortunate side-effects associated with minoxidil. The shedding should be an indicator that replacement hairs are comming back stronger and thicker however you cannot achieve the best results unless you take care of the irritartion/flaking.

To control the flakes you could do the following:

1) leave the Nizoral on longer than the prescribed 5 mins or use
everyday until the flaking is controlled;

2) rotate Head & Shoulders/T Gel with Nizoral;

3) add a topical application of copper peptides and/or emu oil to your
regimen which should control the flaking;

4) only apply 1ml of the minoxidil at a time;

5) give your scalp a break from minoxidil for 7 days;

6) you may have formed an allergy to the PPG in your minoxidil in which
case you should get hold of Dr Lees lower PPG minoxidil @
http://www.minoxidil.com - item #503.

Hope this helps.

 

[pleasehelpme]

hey

Nizoral 2% is available by prescription.

try adding on T-gel with your Nizoral and switch em off every other day. leave em in for a few min. before rinsing. if you're worried about buying "bad" minoxidil from strangers, you can buy minoxidil 2% and 5% right off the counter at your local pharmacy, supermarket.

yea, are you using more than 1 ml, twice daily? check out if you are.
it's really odd to hear a shed after 7 months of usage. things should be fine because if it's been working well until now, it's probably just a minor side effect. it says on the minoxidil. pamphlet that if you shed and keep shedding after 1 week of use, you should stop and you've passed that 1 week mark a while ago. good luck. - peace

 

[Chujgcha]

...

 

[elguapo]

I think the yellow flakes are from the brown revivogen.

I tried reviv, but I don't htink it helped me that much. Though, I am on finasteride, and some users, including HairLossTalk.com, I believe, use reviv instead of finaseride.

Try 5%. It can't hurt. You'll get more results.