Need help assessing my situation

rkim · Dec 9, 2007

Ok, I'll try to be brief. I know there won't be any definitive answers here but I'd like some feedback from some that know more than I. A little background on the situation:

I was on minoxidil for 6 or so years. I decided to stop about 3.5 months ago because I felt it wasn't working any longer and I never stopped shedding after switching to 5% (on it for 2 years). 3 weeks after quitting my hairloss stopped - from a few hundred hairs in the shower to about 5. About 2 weeks later hairloss returned and has since fluctuated but never as much as with minoxidil. Since quitting I've also had my Seborrheic Dermatitis return on my scalp - irritation, flaking, itching, etc. (?)

So I started up again with minoxidil yesterday since I didn't really see a difference in my hair's overall appearance, as far as fullness. It even seems thinner. And I figured 3.5 months was enough time to assess. This morning in my shower I had HEAVY hairloss, a few hundred hairs, looked like clumps of hair. Now I know this isn't shedding cause it's too early, right? 1 day. So what can cause this? minoxidil irritation? I'm wondering if I should continue use or not. Is it more likely the seb derm, inflammation, etc? However it was a sudden increase. Coincidence and the minoxidil hairs are finally falling out? I also used a topical corticosteroid for the irritation but I doubt it's that - hairloss isn't a side (however hair growth is).

Thanks and I appreciate any feedback, opinions or experiences.

IBM · Dec 9, 2007

You need a 5ar blocker like propecia.
You've been using minoxidil 6 years? That's interesting. As long as it worked you maintained relative to your baseline? How much you used minoxidil daily? And what's your age? You should create your own story to share your minoxidil experience.

rkim · Dec 10, 2007

Thanks IBM. Can't take Propecia, tried and had serious sides.

It may actually be closer to 7 years, not sure, I wasn't keeping a journal of this stuff back then as I do now. I was applying 2% twice daily. For the first few years I maintained pretty well. Had regrowth and hair looked fuller, especially in the crown, though my temples continued to slowly recede. I switched to 5% (twice daily) after a few years and continued to shed and thin. The shedding has picked up over the past year or so, so I thought I'd try to give it a break. Now I'm just trying to figure out what the next move is. I remember reading stories of minoxidil users taking a break and having results again.

At this point I think I'll wait until my scalp is in good condition and try it again. If hair falls out right away I'll have to assume it's affecting me badly. Seeing clumps of hair fall out is not a good thing. Maybe I could start with 2% and work my way up?

What is the normal time frame before it looses effectiveness?

Thanks.

IBM · Dec 10, 2007

rkim said:
What is the normal time frame before it looses effectiveness?

Thanks.

Thanks the question i'm also looking for. I saw a chart that in 8 years you return to your baseline. I also read that the skin become saturated of minoxidil after some time. I'm using 5% only once a day to maintain but how long it will work i dont know.

Kirk Hammet (lead guitar play of Metallica) use Rogaine. But we dont know how agressive is his hairloss nor the regimen he's taking or taken. I admit that he maintained pretty well.