Minoxidil and normal hair ?

[Going2beBald?]

Hi,

If I apply minoxidil for all over my head will my regular hair become dependent about minoxidil? If I at some point don't apply minoxidil on the right areas will my before normal growing hair fall out ? This really concerns me because I would like to apply minoxidil all over "a bit here and there" because of few thinning spots and while doing that it will go on some normal areas.

Thanks !

 

[Bryan]

What do you think it means for hair to be "dependent" on minoxidil? :dunno:

 

[Xandroxuser]

What do you think it means for hair to be "dependent" on minoxidil? :dunno:

My assumption was that if any new hair was grown in response to minoxidil, then that hair was 'minoxidil dependent', i.e., would be lost after 4-6 months if minoxidil was stopped.

But what about non-minoxidil hair that would have been lost if minoxidil was not being taken? My assumption was that this way of looking at it was incorrect.

Rather, it is finasteride that maintains hair that would have been lost if finasteride had not being taken. Most comment I have read says finasteride-related hair will be lost in around a year, if finasteride is stopped.

I am always puzzled by the effect of the ageing process generally working to hinder the efficacy of both minoxidil and finasteride, as specified above.

 

[Going2beBald?]

I'm sorry if I was unclear I didn't know what would be a right word to describe what I wanted to ask..

I mean they say that new hair grew by minoxidil will be lost after discontinuing the treatment but what about the hairs which hasn't grown because of the minoxidil but has exposed to it ( my normal hair ) will those follicles stay intact no matter if they got some minoxidil when I apply it all over my head ?

I just want to know can I apply minoxidil all over my head without need to be worrying if I miss a one healthy hair spot here and there ? Will those healthy hairs be lost because they didn't get their daily minoxidil boost and they had got it a couple of times before ?

 

[Bryan]

My own assumption is that the growth of all hair is stimulated by minoxidil, balding or not. If it's applied to seriously balding hair, my guess is that the main effect is the growth of vellus hair. Applying it to hair that's still relatively "normal" probably increases the thickness of the current hairs. Discontinuing the minoxidil reverses those effects after a while.

By the way, the original poster seems to be worried about what the effect might be if he misses a minoxidil dose occasionally by not applying it to every place on his scalp that he normally does, every single time. I think topical minoxidil has an effect of spreading-out a bit when applied to the scalp, so I wouldn't live in fear of not applying it religiously to every single spot that I normally do.

 

[Going2beBald?]

Bryan you got the idea, thanks !