Need Advice Badly, Thinning Like Crazy Just Days After Starting Minoxidil

[FJKJK]

18M in the early stages of male pattern baldness. Recently prescribed 12.5% topical minoxidil with Azelaic Acid.

I started using it last Thursday and my hair is getting annihilated, can't tell if my hairloss is naturally rapid or not but either way my hairline is taking a beating. I apply it once a day before bed and started using it only last Thursday, literally only applied it 4 times. Please can people give me some advice, is this level of loss normal? I know some shedding is expected but I feel like this is unprecedented.

my crown was not thinning prior to Minoxidil and still isn't after (although I dont apply it to my crown)

First 6 photos pre meds, ones after few days after starting.


Thanks for the help.

 

[Retinoid]

It is good you are being diligent about hair loss but I do not see anything noteworthy? Minoxidil will cause a lot of hair to shed for a few weeks and in my experience a larger than average continuous shed after. Most people/researchers state that the people who shed a lot respond better. It essentially restarts the hair follices so a lot come out to then start the anagen process.

 

[Alphalete]

Sometimes I seriously wonder if people read anything about the medication they take. Minoxidil causes an initial shed, these are the basics...

 

[FJKJK]

Sometimes I seriously wonder if people read anything about the medication they take. Minoxidil causes an initial shed, these are the basics...

I was aware that it causes an initial shed but I didn't think it would be a dramatic change and I wanted to get opinions to see if maybe the minoxidil was too strong or something, didn't mean to make a pointless post.

 

[Alphalete]

I was aware that it causes an initial shed but I didn't think it would be a dramatic change and I wanted to get opinions to see if maybe the minoxidil was too strong or something, didn't mean to make a pointless post.

It's normal to shed within the first 1-2 months in my opinion. I don't think there's anything for you to be worried about. Question; Why opt for 12.5% minoxidil instead of 5%?

 

[FJKJK]

It's normal to shed within the first 1-2 months in my opinion. I don't think there's anything for you to be worried about. Question; Why opt for 12.5% minoxidil instead of 5%?

It was what was prescribed to me, honestly I think The Belgravia Centre just give it to everyone that walks through their door. Supposedly it has a DHT blocker in it so it does both. What actually is the practical difference between 12.5% and 5?

 

[Alphalete]

It was what was prescribed to me, honestly I think The Belgravia Centre just give it to everyone that walks through their door. Supposedly it has a DHT blocker in it so it does both. What actually is the practical difference between 12.5% and 5?

I honestly don't know the difference between 12.5% and 5%. How much did you have to pay?

 

[Retinoid]

It was what was prescribed to me, honestly I think The Belgravia Centre just give it to everyone that walks through their door. Supposedly it has a DHT blocker in it so it does both. What actually is the practical difference between 12.5% and 5?

Azelaic Acid is a weak DHT blocker and 12.5% may be marginally better than 5% (just like 5% is better than 2%) however the higher you go there is diminishing increased returns.