Minoxidil receding hairline question

[xenophobe]

Damn, It seems like every hair treatment available is for the crown area only. I just bought some generic minoxidil 2%. The problem is my hair is receding in the temple and frontal area at the moment. Will this work, or will it be detrimental.... maybe just plain pointless? If not what will help?

I really appreciate any comments. I have got to do something about this.

Thanks,
Xeno

 

[The Gardener]

Minoxidil can be very effective on the front part of the hairline, but of course this varies from person to person.

If you are serious about fighting your hairloss, and given your posting and the fact you bought minoxidil you appear to be, then I hope you didn't buy an expensive three-pack of the 2% stuff. The fact you bought a generic is just fine... generics are just as good as the name brand stuff. 2% is a waste for a male hairloss sufferer, as further studies have shown that the 5% "Extra Strength" version is just as safe and has a much higher probability of success, MUCH higher. This is why 5% is now available over-the-counter without prescription, and also why some drug stores don't even carry the 2% stuff for men anymore. It's a waste in my personal opinion. I believe the FDA study cites something like 70% of users not only maintain hair... not only regrow hair... but regrow cosmetically acceptable hair. If you are going to take the time each day to apply minoxidil, might as well use the concentration that has the best opportunity to have a positive effect for you.

Of all the treatments that a hairloss sufferer might choose from, I am glad that you chose minoxidil and not one of the 'snake oil' cures that are out there. Of all the hyped hairloss products you hear about, it is important to keep in mind that the FDA has only proven two as being effective in regrowing hair, Minoxidil and Finasteride (Propecia). You made a good initial choice, if you are serious.

I very strongly suggest that you peruse this forum for a while. There are a lot of people here who know an awful lot more than I do about hair loss and how to fight it. Just browse the forums for a while and please ask questions whenever you have one. It's a raucous but very friendly and respectful bunch, and you will learn a whole lot about how to put together a successful and complete hair loss-fighting strategy that fits your lifestyle and your budget.

The one immediate thing I suggest you add to your routine, in addition to bumping your minoxidil up from 2% to %5 is Nizoral shampoo. It helps a lot of people with some of the irritation that Minoxidil causes, but more importantly is good for the scalp of a hairloss sufferer and some studies show it helps with hair follicle thickness. It's a basic building block of most all of our hair loss programs. Use it 3 to 4 times a week, followed by a good conditioner because the chemicals in it tend to be a bit drying on the hair.

Lastly, add in a good multivitamin, pay attention to your nutrition, and if you smoke then QUIT the smokes if you are serious about not looking like a premature old man. If you smoke, quit tomorrow morning. Today, clear out all of your old bad vices, your ashtrays, your junk food, wash your car, buy a multivitamin, some fruit to eat throughout the day, and toss everything before you go to bed. Make a commitment to health, youth, and saving your hair. When you wake up, begin day one. No more excuses, do it, be serious about this.

Take care

 

[Andrew]

Thanks garderner (six million dollar man),

Your advise has been very helpful to most people in this forum.
If you remember me, my name is andrew and you replied to one of my question on the minoxidil dependency issue.

Did what you asked and now going into my third month on minoxidil.

My nice hair growth is all thanks to you.

Cheers mate.

 

[DontWannaBeLikeMike]

I have mainly hairloss on the temples and the front. Use minoxidil...I'm on my third month and I see little hairs. I was hurt when I read the minoxidil box and seen it only works for the crown....but it works everywhere for some people. I am very pleased. Good luck man. And when u start applying minoxidil to the front, you will probably get flaking and irritation. I use lotion, any type really, just massage in the lotion about 30 min to an hour after applying minoxidil. Helps alot with irritation.

 

[NilesTilden]

I've had good results using minoxidil in front, many have. They only studied the vertex for the fda trials so can only make a claim about that area. Once again I gonna post the minoxidil study showing good results for 1/3 of people using minoxidil for the front. Who knows, another 20-30% might at least maintain the front.

________________________________________________

"Increased Frontal Scalp Coverage and Frontal Hair Regrowth with 5% and 2% Minoxidil Topical Solution"

Elise A Olsen, M.D.; Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; David A. Whiting, M.D.; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Jeffrey J. Miller, M.D.; Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA

Frontal and vertex areas of the scalp in men with androgenetic alopecia (Androgenetic Alopecia) were assessed and treated in the pivotal clinical studies with 5% and 2% minoxidil topical solution. The efficacy and safety of 5% and 2% minoxidil topical solution have been demonstrated in target areas on the leading edge of vertex balding in a 48-week, randomized, placebo-controlled study of men with vertex pattern 3, 4, 5, or 6 hair loss based on the Savin Male Pattern and Density Scale (Olsen et al, 2002, in press).

Patients were instructed to apply 5% or 2% minoxidil topical solution or placebo to the frontal/parietal areas of the scalp twice daily.

In order to assess the effect of 5% and 2% minoxidil on change in frontal/parietal scalp hair coverage, an independent panel of 3 blinded experts retrospectively reviewed photographs of the frontal scalp from patients who participated in this study. Photographs from 139 patients in the 5% minoxidil topical solution group, 142 patients in the 2% group, and 71 patients in the placebo group were reviewed and scored to determine changes in scalp coverage and central hair part width.

The photographs consisted of standardized, reproducible, digitized views of Polaroid photographs taken of the superior frontal/parietal scalp at baseline and at weeks 16 and 48. Change from baseline in scalp coverage was measured on a 7-point categorical scale. The median of the Global Panel Review scores from the 3 independent reviewers was reported.

Scores for patients in both the 5% and 2% minoxidil topical solution treatment arms at weeks 16 and 48 indicated significantly greater frontal scalp coverage compared to placebo (p<.001).

Frontal scalp coverage for 33% of patients in the 5% group, 15% in the 2% group, and 6% in the placebo group at week 16 was rated as moderately or greatly increased. At weeks 16 and 48, frontal scalp coverage rating scores were significantly higher for patients in the 5% minoxidil topical solution group compared with the 2% minoxidil topical solution and placebo groups (p<.001).

The findings of this retrospective analysis provide useful information for clinicians who monitor and treat patients with Androgenetic Alopecia.

________________________________________________

Ebay is a good place to get 5% minoxidil. 4 month supply for around $35 incl. s/h, and some sellers ship everywhere.

 

[RalphyWiggum]

This topic gets brought up at least once every two weeks. My advice to Kevin is to add something about this in the FAQ section.

Just as Niles has stated the reason Merck or UpJohn cannot make any claims for the hairline is because the studies they conducted weren't on the hairline.

The reason they didn't conduct them on the hairline was because the hairline DOESN'T respond as well as the vertex to treatments. However, the fact that it doesn't respond as well DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T RESPOND.

I know from personal experience alone that minoxidil can work quite well on one's temples/hairline (that happens to be all I use it for currently).

Add that to the numerous posts I've read here where people have claimed similiar results and I'd have to say you can rest assured that you can use these products specifically for you hairline/temple-related loss. 8)

 

[xenophobe]

Thanks for the support everyone! I am already using a multivitamn, nizoral, and head and shoulders for the people who were wondering.

So should I use the 2% I have or just start at 5? I'm in Canada, so I might put an order in.

Thanks again to everyone who responed. I am very serious about my hair loss and am glad to know this treatment will work for the hairline also.

 

[NilesTilden]

No need to waste the 2%, you can use it in the morning and the 5% at night until it runs out. Then just continue with 5%.

2% minoxidil has 30% propylene glycol, 5% minoxidil has 50% pg. This means 2% should dry considerably faster than the 5%, thus using 2% in the morning should be best.