New to this. Some very basic rogaine questions

[luciano24]

Im 25 and recently going through what I believe to be Telogen Effluviom due to a medical condition. My hair has been shedding for almost 3 months now and i'm getting frustrated.

I plan on starting Rogaine before taking a chance with propecia. Please help with these questions...

1. Which strength should i use?
2. Foam or liquid?
3. I only like to wash my hair every other day. will that be acceptable to leave rogaine in my hair for extended periods of time? Im assuming rogaine must be applied everyday. does it have to be washed out a few hours later or could it stay there for up to 48 hours?

thanks!!!

 

[Agahi]

Definitely foam if you only want to shower every other day. The liquid will leave your hair (especially if long) looking pretty poor for like 2 hours after use.

I would recommend 5%, higher does is not proven to do more, and I've heard people get low blood pressure with higher doses.

Also rogaine foam alone will likely only help for 6 months or so, you need to find an androgen blocker (whether topical RU or spironolactone w/e) or pill (dutasteride or finasteride) for real effectiveness.

 

[luciano24]

rogaine really loses its effectiveness that fast?

i was thinking i should start small in the beginning before messing with finasteride...hoping maybe i wouldnt need to

 

[Agahi]

There are some topicals that may or may not work as good as finasteride, which likely wont have sides, or at least less.

Best thing you can do (if you don't wanna start mixing RU topicals) is talk to a Doctor, and see about finasteride(or dutasteride). You may get sides, but you can die from Tylenol so as always with any medications it is what you are willing to risk for the reward.

The rogaine effectiveness thing is just what I heard (someone on here has some graphs ect, forget who). finasteride works best as a preventative so the more hair you have when you start the more you can maintain (aka start asap if you are going to )

 

[luciano24]

so is it ok to be applying rogaine foam and not washing it out until the next day? or does it have to be washed out that day?

 

[Agahi]

When I use foam only I only shower every other day. With liquid it has to be every day. Remember try to go at least 4 hours after application before a shower.

 

[luciano24]

thanks agahi you have been helpful.

is it safe to assume im going thru a legitimate Telogen Effluvium shed given the fact that hair is also thinning on the sides and back of my head , places one normally wouldnt experience balding?

 

[Agahi]

Possibly. I didn't shed when I started rogaine foam (I was barely losing hair at that point), but I have heard others did.

 

[Winter]

When I started Rogaine (liquid), I did not experience any kind of shedding, it just got thicker and more terminal around my temples. I even grew some hairs back that wasn't there when I started.

 

[Jack82]

When I started Rogaine (liquid), I did not experience any kind of shedding, it just got thicker and more terminal around my temples. I even grew some hairs back that wasn't there when I started.

same here!

 

[knowingyou]

When I started Rogaine (liquid), I did not experience any kind of shedding, it just got thicker and more terminal around my temples. I even grew some hairs back that wasn't there when I started.

Same for me as well! But as said before, if you only wash your hair every other day, then the foam may be better for you cosmatically.