minoxidil - All grew back then fell out again in 6 months?!?!

[mr_sparkle]

Hi I'm a bit confused and wondered if someone could help...

In May I started Regaine to stop what I think is diffuse thinning (basically bald spot emerging on top of head and thinning and thinning - hairline is fine)

After a month maybe less I had the inevitable shed which lasted a few weeks. No problem I wasn't too worried as I knew it was working.

After 2 months re-growth was notieceable, and after 3 months and a re-visit to the doctors we all agreed it was working a treat. I was so happy and never felt more confident. It wasn't ALL back but looked a LOT better and made things like swimming much easier.

But since November it's was seeming much thinner and was starting to fall out again. Possibly another shed but it seems wierd to have two sheds after such a small length of time on it. I'm still using it religiously - I did get slightly complacent over August/September time as it seemed less important due to thickness, and haven't really NOTICED hairs falling out except when I brush it.

Is this normal? I mean I know sheds are but it seems odd to have one again at this time...

I am so scared...what if it's just stopped working

 

[Guest]

Re: minoxidil - All grew back then fell out again in 6 months?!?

complacency over August/September.

 

[mr_sparkle]

it was only slightly though...does that mean it's gone forever? I mean I didn't apply it EVERY time in July either...? I'm religiously applying now will it grow back?

 

[Guest]

most probably, if you had results previously they tend not to 'switch off' over night.

So now it's July, August and September, that would suggest you only consitently used it in May and June, do you have anything else to tell the jury?

 

[mvpsoft]

Stay with it, it has been said many times that combatting hair loss is a roller coaster. Evalute things in six month periods of time, not month to month.

 

[Guest]

Stay with it, it has been said many times that combatting hair loss is a roller coaster. Evalute things in six month periods of time, not month to month.

Posted this before, but for what it's worth...

On Medications like Minoxidil and Propecia over the course of a year your hair will (we hope) be gradually improving, but this proccess is not linear, that is to say it will rise and fall on a micro level, but over the longer term improve.

Take a look at the overall improvement in this example graph, now compare that to the change between mid-may and the start of july if you were to focus in on this small portion of the year you would think "sh*t!!!! it ain't working!!!"

Like mvpsoft says, stick with it for a whole year (consistently) and only then assess.

Have you considered propecia (finasteride)?

 

[mr_sparkle]

Well when I say inconsistent I mean not twice a day. I'd always apply at least once, be it morning or night, but little things would get in the way, but I'd guess over 80% of the time I'd do morning and night.

But the first two months, may and june, I applied religiously. every morning and night.

Then I went travelling from Mid June to late July and did bring the minoxidil with me. As I was in cheap budget rooms, there would be the odd occasion where I couldn't do both applications, or maybe quickly sprayed it over my scalp whilst no-one was looking. Camped on occasion so couldn't easily apply both days.

Get back July noticing re-growth and through August. Inconsistencies mainly in occasionally forgetting or perhaps going over to friends and not bringing the minoxidil with, or falling asleep completely wasted before night time appliance.

I don't think there's been many days (less than 5) where I've not applied at all, so it's not that bad, but there would be some times where haven't applied BOTH morning and night but not too bad.

September started college and shared a room initially, making appliance very tough, but it would usually be every morning and every now and then not at night. But that only lasted two weeks.

Since November I've made absolutely sure to apply morning and night, well over 2ml to make sure ALL the area is covered well. I wasn't THAT inconsistent at all.

Maybe I applied it wrong. I'm not sure - but the loss did seem very sudden. It seemed that at 3 months major re-growth, 5 months no more regrowth but no panic, 6 months a lot as fallen. Hoping 8-9 months all grows back!

 

[Guest]

Then I went travelling from Mid June to late July and did bring the minoxidil with me. As I was in cheap budget rooms, there would be the odd occasion where I couldn't do both applications, or maybe quickly sprayed it over my scalp whilst no-one was looking. Camped on occasion so couldn't easily apply both days.

So now it's Mid June, July, August and September!

 

[mr_sparkle]

Have you considered propecia (finasteride)?

Not originally, as minoxidil seemed to be working so well and life was so good. Now I might do, but I'm from Britian so it's MUCH harder to get, and as predictable as it sounds, I'm a bit scared to try it because of the horror stories you hear about growing boobs and a decrease i your libido. I'm only 19 and am a bit worried to f*** around with my hormones like this. So for now I'll stick to minoxidil.

But yeah so have a look at the stats. I mean I do expect sheds but two in the space of seven months seems a bit wierd...

 

[mr_sparkle]

Then I went travelling from Mid June to late July and did bring the minoxidil with me. As I was in cheap budget rooms, there would be the odd occasion where I couldn't do both applications, or maybe quickly sprayed it over my scalp whilst no-one was looking. Camped on occasion so couldn't easily apply both days.

So now it's Mid June, July, August and September!

 

[mr_sparkle]

kind of...

Late June-July I was about 95% consistent, with the odd day of being unable to apply both days but pretty much spot on

July/August time about 80% consistent. Some days I'd apply just the once. Such as if I was going swimming so minoxidil would be pointless so added at night, or had it in morning but stayed over at a friends.

September about the same, maybe slightly less due to college things.

But rememebr June-July even though I wasn't always 100% consistent there were results, and since October/November I have been SPOT on every time.


But a quick question, I usually apply minoxidil and then brush my hair ten minutes later to make styling easier - the minoxidil should be in the scalp by then so surely brushing hair wouldn't be a problem...

 

[Guest]

Not originally, as minoxidil seemed to be working so well and life was so good. Now I might do, but I'm from Britian so it's MUCH harder to get,

Where have you heard this from? Propecia, finasteride, Proscar is very very easy to get in the UK and non-generic Merck brand finasteride can be had very cheaply.

and as predictable as it sounds, I'm a bit scared to try it because of the horror stories you hear about growing boobs and a decrease i your libido. I'm only 19 and am a bit worried to f*** around with my hormones like this.

The side effects have been researched extensively and are rare, listen to the multi-million dollar, double-bline placebo multi phased trials involving thousands of patients, not the unforunate few who react badly, you will never get a balanced view like this.

Being only 19 is a concern though. I think 18 is the recommended lower limit for finasteride as far as I know, so you are close to the limit here.

So for now I'll stick to minoxidil.

If you stick to it like you have so far, don't expect great results, but if you are consistant with two appications a day, you may see good results.

But a quick question, I usually apply minoxidil and then brush my hair ten minutes later to make styling easier - the minoxidil should be in the scalp by then so surely brushing hair wouldn't be a problem...

Not quite sure what you are asking here, minoxidil needs around 3-4 hours to fully absorb into the scalp.

 

[mr_sparkle]

Where have you heard this from? Propecia, finasteride, Proscar is very very easy to get in the UK and non-generic Merck brand finasteride can be had very cheaply.

In the Uk I think you need a prescription, and my last trichologist refused to prescribe it as he fears there are still yet to be discovered as it's new etc etc

I

f you stick to it like you have so far, don't expect great results, but if you are consistant with two appications a day, you may see good results.

But the think is I DID have phenonemal results! And I really wasn't being too much less complacent at all. It's not like I stopped using it completely. I missed the odd dosage but not THAT many. And the last couple of months I've been impeccable!

mr_sparkle wrote:
But a quick question, I usually apply minoxidil and then brush my hair ten minutes later to make styling easier - the minoxidil should be in the scalp by then so surely brushing hair wouldn't be a problem...


Not quite sure what you are asking here, minoxidil needs around 3-4 hours to fully absorb into the scalp

Basically I go for a spikey finasteride/faux-hawk thing, and after applying minoxidil it looks a bit bad. So what I do is apply the minoxidil, then brush my hair to get it all flat, and then do the quif/spike thing. Would this be damaging and affect the minoxidil in any way?

Thanks for your help though...

 

[Guest]

In the Uk I think you need a prescription

Propecia/Proscar/Finasteride can be bought legally, cheaply and easily without a prescription in the UK.

try somewhere like http://www.QHI.co.uk, there are others.

and my last trichologist refused to prescribe it as he fears there are still yet to be discovered as it's new etc etc

"there are still yet to be discovered".....

concentrate man!, concentrate! if you miss important worms from your questions people will not give you quality answers.

Finasteride has been used for many years, it can hardly be described as new, I believe people have been using it for well over 15 years, a poster here (X5o I think) has been using it for over 10.

Basically I go for a spikey finasteride/faux-hawk thing, and after applying minoxidil it looks a bit bad. So what I do is apply the minoxidil, then brush my hair to get it all flat, and then do the quif/spike thing. Would this be damaging and affect the minoxidil in any way?

Thanks for your help though...

I suppose if you don't let the minoxidil absorb into your scalp and slap loads of gell, or whatever, some of the minoxidil will be leeched into the hair product, I am not expert on this, you may need to ask around.

I suspect you would be doing your hair a favour if you after you get up in the morning you first get a bath/shower/rinse your head in a bucket, then apply the minoxidil, then go about your morning ritual of eating, watching Lorainne Kelly on the telly, shitting, choosing your shoes, kicking the dog, then last thing (after the minoxidil has had a chance) do your hair.

just an idea.

 

[mr_sparkle]

sounds like a plan. Good thinking.

But back to the original thing.... I mean does this sound normal to any more learned posters out here. I know sheds are normal but basically the great results over three months have basically been lost over the next three... Should I panic and see a consultant or just assume it's natural and it'll grow back again...

 

[Guest]

sounds like a plan. Good thinking.

But back to the original thing.... I mean does this sound normal to any more learned posters out here. I know sheds are normal but basically the great results over three months have basically been lost over the next three... Should I panic and see a consultant or just assume it's natural and it'll grow back again...

I would always have to opt for the panic option, just make sure you are consistent in your panicking, no good panicking for 10 minutes, then stopping for a while, then doing a 3 minute panic and stopping again.

Ty

 

[too bald too furious]

DONT GIVE UP minoxidil. STICK TO IT.

Some days your hair will look like sh*t and some days it will be awesome.

Refer to the graph Tynan shows. Its very true. minoxidil is helping you.

I had gained thickness around month 4 but started shedding around month 5.Could had been the seasonal shedding, the one people have before summer.

Good luck

 

[Old Baldy]

Tynan's also right when he states finasteride. has been around for over 10 years. It is regarded by MANY hair transplant doctors as one of the safest drugs available - for ANY ailment it is designed for.

 

[mr_sparkle]

Hmm well I was thinking of finasteride but only if minoxidil didn't work. But after three months minoxidil had worked a treat - better than i could have asked for. It was amazing, and I thought things could get better and for the first time in a VERY LONG time I was actually happy and enjoying life...

But it's all virtually fallen out again now and I'm gutted. I didn't think it would have to be a problem any more but clearly it is. I'm praying that minoxidil will do the same again and grow back because I am applying it religiously, and if it's worked once why can't it work again when I've only been on it six months? It's just insane. I'll never give up the minoxidil though I mean I've nothing to lose by using it even if it doesn't work - but I know it has done and a lot grew back!! I just want it to work again....

Maybe I'll do finasteride later. But at 19/20 you're still growing so maybe it's best leave it a bit and hope the minoxidil kick-starts again...

 

[mr_sparkle]

BUMP

sorry to do this but it's really confusing me. It's not like I've stopped using it, and a LOT has fallen out so I can't just see it being a shed and I've no idea what could be the cause.... How can it be SO successful after three to all fall out three months later?