Will the regrowth stop?

[Riddick]

Hi there, I've just registered but I've been following these forums about 4 months. I read many topics and learned many things. Thanks to you all.


I started using Rogaine %5 4 months ago after visiting these forums. I had very good results at first. I saw new vellus hair on my temples at the first two weeks and some of them became darker just before 1,5 months. I'm a little bit confused with the norwood scale, but i believe I'm something between 2 and 3. And I have thinnig in the form of 5. (does that scale show completely bald areas or just where thinning / shedding occurs?)

Before I started using Rogaine, I had terrible itching in my scalp which even woke me up from sleep. Then I started Rogaine and applied olive oil to my scalp every weekend. Olive oil (this is what I believe) helped me get rid of itching and made me feel better.

Now, at the 4th month of my simple treatment, I can say there's some thickening on crown area and there's some new hair on my temples.

What I'm wondering is that, Minoxidil speeds up the life cycle of hair follicles so that regrowth occurs but it does not stop balding process. On the other hand, I know that each hair follicle has a life of 2-3 cycles (I'm not totally sure about this). Now, doesn't that mean if only Rogaine is used (no propecia), one will get bald earlier, but will have hair until that day? And then there will be no follicles left to treat with other solutions (propecia etc)?

Altough I read a lot, I still don't know much about the balding process, treatment strategies etc. I maybe making a mistake somewhere. Thats why I'm requesting help.

Thanks in advance,

 

[CCS]

I'm not a minoxidil expert, but I know that if minoxidil just sped up the cycle, your hairs would not grow longer. I thought it shortened the telogen period and lengthened anagen. In fact, it has to lengthen anagen or your hairs could not grow longer. Even if it sped up the growth rate while shortening the cycle, anagen included, the total length would be the same, unless anagen was only shortened a little and the speed of growth sped up a lot. So I'm pretty sure it just lengthens anagen and shortens telogen.

As for the hair cycle, people get more than just 2-3. The cycle lasts 2-7 years, and we live more than 21. Balding hairs have fewr cycles left than non-balding hairs, but 2-3 is not right. I think you read that balding hairs have a cycle that lasts 2-3 years. Taking Rogaine will not shorten the time before you loose your hair. DHT is the main determining factor there. But Rogaine does more than just push hairs into anagen longer. Some of its benefits may actually lengthen the total time before you go shiny bald.

As for the itchiness, congrats on discovering olive oil, if it works for you. But try Nizoral 1% shampoo. It is about as effective as the 2%, is great for releaving itchiness (I heard on this site), and may help block a small amount of the DHT in your scalp. It is $15 for 7 ounces, but at once every 3 days it should last a long time if you pre-wash your hair with something else and just use a little on your balding area and let it sit for 5 minutes while you wash the rest of your body.

Don't worry about the norwood scale. Just be happy that mildly thinning hair grows back easier than the smallest ones, which makes you a prime candidate. If you are really curious, the Norwood 2A and 3A have a cluster of dots in the frontal area to show thin areas, so probably the white means nearly shiny bald areas. But we know that there is a spectrum of densities, so classify them how you want. Notice that there is no norwood for someone with a hole in the crown but a perfect hairline in front, even though I've seen real people with natural hair like that.

 

[Riddick]

Thank you for your impressive reply.

It's clear that I have a messed up knowledge about the subject. But after your message things are getting clearer.

I always tought Rogiane (minoxidil) was a temporary treatment that lasts 5 to 10 years. But now as far as I understood, Rogaine (minoxidil) is a life-time treatment that has no theoretical duration. And one can use it as long as it improves / stabilizes his condition.

I don't want to risk my health with propecia, so I want to stick with minoxidil.

Is it a bad idea? I mean will there be another reason that will stop the benefits of minoxidil treatment?