Why every dermatologist recommends Minoxidil if you can't stop the treatment?

[red_man]

Hey guys,

I have early male pattern baldness, with intense shedding and I went to 3 doctors, all of them prescribed Minoxidil for 6 months. But on every internet forum I read that if you start minoxidil, you have to take it your entire life otherwise you'll lose hair like crazy.

If that's so, those 3 doctors are so stupid that don't know that? 2 of them were from clinics specialized on dermatology alone and also do hair transplants.

Reading everything online about it, i'm afraid to start using it. My hair is still thick and can't see any sign of balding if you don't pay attention on the sides.


Here are some photos. I think it's nw2-3. What do you recommend? Follow doctors advice or take finasteride?

 

[red_man]

I'm just afraid of the horror stories of guys stopping to take minoxidil. I don't even know if it works...but I stillhave good hair and don't want to lose it because of a mistake.

 

[paulie72785]

Mine said apply minoxidil for 1 year and then its gonna maintain itself but don't continue it coz 1 year is enough.Sadly i couldn't coz it gave me some itching on application with dry hair.If you wanna do something for your Androgenetic Alopecia then hop on finasteride and if you experience sides lower the dosage or increase the dosage interval like every other day or every 2nd day.Not in any way should you continue finasteride if you still get the sides.Best of luck and happy new year man.- - - Updated - - -

I'm just afraid of the horror stories of guys stopping to take minoxidil. I don't even know if it works...but I stillhave good hair and don't want to lose it because of a mistake.

Ma man nothing comes with no side effects.It does work for sure IF your hair thinning period has been about five years or less(personal exp).I was able to regrow some of my temples with about 2 months of use i think but then it gave itches on my head with dry hair.Had to quit and now i have started on finasteride. Will wait till september for some regrowth or any maintainence.If this is not working then dutasteride is my only option till CB0301 comes out.You can try topical cetirizine and its easy to make.Just search it on google.

 

[SayifDoit]

Minoxidil definitely isn't perfect but it doesn't have the same repercussions as the likes of finasteride...
Most people don't even consider minoxidil to be worth using, with the fact of extreme shedding that can occur initially for months before you see regrowth or actual improvement, the whole process of applying the stuff every night + morning can also be a pain. Then you have to think it's short term, it stops being effective after a couple years. It doesn't stop male pattern baldness, it only camouflages it with minoxidil hairs.

Honestly I would not even consider taking minoxidil unless you have intense thinning or bald spots.
I'f say just use finasteride, by the way how old are you?

 

[red_man]

Minoxidil definitely isn't perfect but it doesn't have the same repercussions as the likes of finasteride...
Most people don't even consider minoxidil to be worth using, with the fact of extreme shedding that can occur initially for months before you see regrowth or actual improvement, the whole process of applying the stuff every night + morning can also be a pain. Then you have to think it's short term, it stops being effective after a couple years. It doesn't stop male pattern baldness, it only camouflages it with minoxidil hairs.

Honestly I would not even consider taking minoxidil unless you have intense thinning or bald spots.
I'f say just use finasteride, by the way how old are you?

I'm 25. Shedding started about 10-12 months ago, but since i had a very thick and dense hair, i observed only 6 months ago in the mirror. I was shedding a lot, but I thought it was just stress...i couldn't even consider balding on how much hair i had.

So do you recommend jump on finasteride? The first 2 doctors said i'm too young for finasteride because of the sides and the last one said, start with minoxidil because it's early stage and if doesn't work...get on finasteride.

 

[paulie72785]

That's just a lie.

He did and asked me to oil my hair with castor oil and keto for maintaing it......At the first appointement he prescribed me fluconazole for 1 month

 

[paulie72785]

@Fred
Dude mine is just ignorant i guess.He is slick bald but has no problem with people making fun of him.Could be that sweet governtment paid apartement and clinic with a 4grand per month on appointment and additional 25 grand for his day job mumbing his senses i guess.BTW a question about your transplant.Do those donor areas hurt anymore or itch or anything uncomfortable??

 

[Aesthetic]

@Fred
Dude mine is just ignorant i guess.He is slick bald but has no problem with people making fun of him.Could be that sweet governtment paid apartement and clinic with a 4grand per month on appointment and additional 25 grand for his day job mumbing his senses i guess.BTW a question about your transplant.Do those donor areas hurt anymore or itch or anything uncomfortable??

my doctor is bald too thats why i refuse to go to him for finasteride or even ask him for a script, he wil probably say i dont need it ect

 

[paulie72785]

Atleast he would say something.When i asked if i can take anything else like finasteride or topical cet, he went all incredible hulk on me.Said that those who consult drom the internet are just too ignorant for him to deal with.Now whenever i see him, i just smile at him and style my hair a bit.The look on his face is priceless man so damn angry.......

 

[hellouser]

You're better off getting advice from anyone who's spent more than a 2 years on one of the hair loss forums. Dermatologists know fvckall about treating hair loss.

 

[red_man]

Thanks guys. I will start minoxidil for 6 months...and if nothing, i will start finasteride.

Judging my hair(first post), how much time can I keep that hairline/thickness if minoxidil and finasteride works....and if not?

 

[paulie72785]

finasteride will keep your hair majntained for long IF you don't get scared of minimal changes that would happen to your body as you are slowing down a hormone in your body.As for minoxidil it WILL help you regrow some hair but don't get too optimistic on it.Try to measure any sucess you have on finasteride and minoxidil.As for how long, their is no way to know for sure but, keep up your regimen.Good luck

 

[red_man]

What happenes if I take minoxidil only once per day?

 

[shreyaskini]

yeah it'll work well even if you apply once(at night). Recommended is twice but the results are more or less the same. Best thing for you to do would be to buzz your hair or keep it short coz then it can easily be applied on the scalp.

 

[paulie72785]

Totally with you shreyas about buzzing your hair.minoxidil does gives you dry hair.As for twice the day application , you should try to do it twice.

 

[IB41]

He did and asked me to oil my hair with castor oil and keto for maintaing it......At the first appointement he prescribed me fluconazole for 1 month

In this book "The Complete Book of Hair Loss Answers" fluconazole is actually a drug that can cause hair loss. My dermatologist prescribed me fluconazole for candida (but she is not sure if I have candida )), she only suspected after some treatments for folliculitis/acne with antibiotics.

red_man you have a nice hair, 7-8 years ago I was like you, now I'm close to this guy http://images.idiva.com/media/content/2013/Mar/15895036211.jpg