my feedback of two yearsworth

[boatsnsun]

Thought I'd try to help a few with my success. I was told once that in a year, a mickey mouse plane could land on your head. My hair was wet then at the beach. Rogaine kept it from falling out and provided slight regrowth, (5 years ago). Finally listened to a guy named rocky on this sight and stuck with the (what they are calling now) the big three.

Propecia, Rogaine, and nizoral. All I can say is that it works. Been a year and a half (with the propecia). I also use nizoral way more often than the recommended dosage, practically every day.

I never had a bear skin bald spot, but it was close in the making, very thin round spot, and real obvious when my hair was dirty/greasy or wet. Now, I don't even think about it anymore, it's virtually gone, not noticable anymore. Can let my hair grow long again without seeing a big gapping hole in it.

Side effects? 1. scalp irritations ceased once I stopped using "useless" Nioxin products (clashing with rogaine). 2. SEX... I feel like propecia does degrade my sexual desire some. Could be from past emotional scars somewhat, however there are two products that are incredibly effective sexual enhancers: VIGA and STAMINA-RX. I think the FDA have taken both off the shelf, b/c they actually work, but I still see STAMINA-RX from time to time in convenient stores and, of course, both are on the internet. They really work...lol!

What I'd like to know, Can I quit using Rogaine now if I stay on Propecia?

FYI, i've never tried the other products we hear about other than nioxin and saw palmetto which definitely DO NOT WORK. I used Minsaw-A for a long time, which has 2 or 3% monoxidil with Retin-A. Didn't work any better or less than 5% monoxidil. Pure monoxidil, I feel, was my best choice.

Lessons learned: If I would have actually used Rogaine twice a day from the start, it would have helped speed the process. If I would have started using propecia way earlier than a year and a half ago, it would have saved me years of freaking out in front of the mirror and feeling sorry for myself. (started thinning five years ago).

 

[ShedMaster]

wow, great post! In my opinion you can not have enough positive posts on this board about individual successes. Too many people who have issues make posts and it makes it seem as though none of these treatments are worth it. Thanks for the update!

 

[mortac8]

Dear god...I would strongly recommend you NOT stop Rogaine. I was on Rogaine for about a year to try to strengthen my temples. Then I went on Propecia and quit Rogaine. I lost a lot of hair. Please don't stop the Rogaine especially if you have no scalp irritation.

There is a study showing a dramatic decrease in hair counts when patients stopped Rogaine. I don't know where to find it exactly...you'll find it if you dig around.

 

[VoRteX]

thanks for feedback. You didnt like retin-a? It is supposed to decrease number of androgen receptors in scalp and also increase absorption of all topicals. You didnt find it beneficial?

thanks again for all your feedback. I quit propecia not because it wasnt working but because I didnt care for even mild side effects.

 

[Lizzad]

Good post mate!

 

[Mr T.]

Any hair that you regrew with minoxidil will likely fall out once you stop using it. That's what all the blokes here say, and it sounds right to me.

Cheers.

Jeremy

 

[fuzbucket]

great post! =) I think I will start minoxidil if I dont see some good results with propecia after 6 months. (4 months now).

 

[jblig]

Im in the same boat In-Valid, I think Im going to add minoxidil if I dont see any results at the 6 mos. mark.

Boatsnsun, glad to hear that it worked well for you, I always look forward to finding positive posts, hopefully im on the same track as you, good luck

 

[boatsnsun]

rogaine

Mmm, interesting responses about rogaine. I know if Rogiane is the only thing I'm using, then you can't stop using it. However, been using it for 3.5 years, then started propecia, now totaling 5 years. Propecia is the difference for sure. What scares me about quitting rogaine now is you people that replied and said you are on propecia and thinking about starting monoxidil. (but you've only been on propecia for 6 months), takes more time really to start filling in thin areas.

Sounds like I better not stop using rogaine.

About sexual side effects. I'm not sure if it's really propecia. I had to go through a horrible divorce as my hair was falling out. I was at an all time low. I'm fine now, it's all mind over matter. It's really hard to suppress your sub-conscience voice.

 

[boatsnsun]

You didnt like retin-a? It is supposed to decrease number of androgen receptors in scalp and also increase absorption of all topicals. You didnt find it beneficial?

voRteX,
No, I didn't find Retin-A beneficial. I used Minsaw-A which has 2 or 3% monox with retin-A for 9 months. Retin-A is suppose to be the conductor for monox also, but I couldn't tell a difference in Minsaw-A and 5% Monox.

From my point of view of all the given research available to us, if you don't stop the DHT first, then the growth stimulators will do very little.

 

[muii]

are you yousing 2% or 1 % nizoral?

 

[boatsnsun]

nizoral

I'm using 2% Nizoral, about 6 times a week.

 

[youngguy_uk]

boatsnsun, how do u mean propecia makes the difference? have u ever used propecia by itself. how long did it take to start filling in thin areas, and did u experience loss untill this happened?

just wondering bcos im seeing a trichologist tomorrow and hope to get started on some propecia

 

[elguapo]

Glad to hear about your success, boatsnsum. Very encouraging for the rest of us, thank you for your post.

To the other guys who are just on propecia and thinking about starting Rogaine after the 6-month mark, I have 2 suggestions:

1) If your hairline or temples are receding to any extent whatsoever, I would buy just one bottle of rogaine 5%, and smear a thin layer on your hairline and temples the recommended day and night. At first (and too much rogaine does this) my forehead was peeling/flaking, but using Nizoral and putting on less made this go away- now I don’t flake at all. This will give you some indication whether or not rogaine will work in this area, and your hair won’t be greasy while you test it out.

I’ve been on propecia for 3.5 months now, and rogaine for 3 weeks (hairline and top scalp, diffuse thinner). And I swear I am seeing much peach fuzz come in already, with a few hairs in my hairline and left temple getting darker and long. Might just be the propecia, but I think the rogaine is helping there.

2) Many people say that regrowth due to propecia occurs around the 9-10 month mark, or even at the 12-mo mark. So if you truly want to see what propecia can do alone, might want to wait longer than 6 months. But I understand, this waiting game isn’t easy, and sometimes you just gotta have a plan a stick to it.

Just suggestions. Good luck.