| Author | Message | ||
     Advice |
Hi All, I am in my early 20's and I have seen gradual thinning for the past couple of years. First, it started with a receding hair line but now I am not so worried about that. I am mainly concerned now about the rest of my head. It is extremely noticable now. I wear my hair fairly short but not too short so the top is looking thinner every time I get my hair cut. I have tried using Rogaine off and on for the past year or so. So far, no real luck. I just switched to the generic version (Minoxidil 5%) and I will try and stick to it this time. Am I wasting my time with this crap? Besides, Minoxidil, is there anything else that I can do to slow down? What about vitamin suplements? Has anyone had any luck? Are there any particular styles I should consider? Maybe, a buzz cut? Will that show more? What about growing my hair longer? Thanks all and I look forward to hearing from you. | ||
| arutha |
You say that you've been using minoxidil off and on. When using minoxidil, it's important that you use it every day. I've been using it for close to two years now and have had good results. The only time I've missed doses have been occasionally in the morning and for about five days when I went to the hospital for an organ transplant. I wouldn't say minoxidil has been a waste of time--it's been worth it to me. Of course, some people have limited to response to minoxidil, and others don't respond at all. Some also have issues with skin irritation. Probably the best thing to supplement the minox would be Propecia, since they're both proven effective and work by different mechanisms. I haven't tried Propecia myself--I've stuck with minox and have added various drugs to complement the treatment (12.5% minox with Retin-A, standalone Retin-A, shampoos with herbal DHT blockers, and so forth). I just ordered some topical Spironolactone. I also recommend the scalp exercises. My main reason for trying it is my belief that it may aid in the delivery of the topical medications. ~arutha | ||
| Advice |
OK, how long would it take for Minoxidil to show a difference? I used it for a few months and saw no improvement so I stopped. Now I started again just to see if it makes a difference. Should I continue? Any other advice? | ||
| arutha |
It takes at least two months for the minox to show a difference, although it can take much longer in some cases. For me, I started noticing regrowth in the front after about two months (a very thick terminal hair started coming in way down low on my forehead, then the hairline started to fill back in). It probably wouldn't hurt to try it again, making sure you're being very regular about using it. If cost is an issue, you can get a 4 month supply at www.costco.com for about $20. You may be one of those people who doesn't respond to minoxidil, though. I'd seriously think about trying Propecia. As for herbal supplements, for a while I was on something called Prostaguard, which is a mishmash of numerous herbs, many of which are rumored to be DHT blockers. Some consider it an alternative to Propecia, although there are no studies to prove it and it isn't marketed as such (it's designed to promote a healthy prostate). I got off of it and never got around to starting back up again. I've heard a few people say that it works well as a natural supplement to Propecia. If you have good results with the minoxidil, and you're brave, you might want to try one of the high-dosage minoxidil/Retin-A combinations (Xandrox, Remox, etc.) Retin-A isn't a hairloss drug, but there's some good literature suggesting that it greatly enhances the benefits of minoxidil. Also try to use a shampoo that's gentle. I'm currently using the Revivogen shampoo (the treatment system is questionable, but the shampoo is OK and reasonably priced) which works pretty well and contains some anti-DHT ingredients. In general, I'd say be open-minded and willing to try new things and adjust your routine, but do research on anything before you try it. | ||
| ? |
Is the generic minoxidil OK? It should do the same as Rogaine, right? | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
?: The generic stuff is fine. It'll do what Rogaine promises to do at a much lower price - and you will not lose additional hair worrying about high prices. | ||
| Advice |
OK, thanks for the advice guys. I will try and stick with it for a few more months. I just hade a few other quick questions; I also have a slight dandruff problem. Is it Ok to use head and Shoulders with Minoxidil? Should I be using a special shampoo with Minoxidil? Minoxidil seems to make my head itch. IS this normal? Also, is it possible that using Minoxidil might actually make my hair loss worse? Just want to be safe. Thanks guys. | ||
| arutha |
I don't think dandruff would affect the minoxidil any, so I would think H&S shampoo would be OK. Actually, there's a dandruff shampoo called Nizoral which some people use because it contains ketoconazole (sp?), which is rumoured to fight hair loss. I tried it back in '99 and stopped because it caused massive shedding. Minoxidil may well cause shedding in the short term--most successful treatments do. I think I had a bit of shedding myself when I first started, but it wasn't really that bad. There are a small number of people who have an adverse reaction to minoxidil, but it's very rare. | ||
| Advice |
OK. Thanks for the info. I think I will just stick with the topical treatment for now. I am not sure I want to use Propecia or anything like that. I am 22 now but I guess I noticed the thinning a few years ago, probably when I was about 18. What is the likelikood that I will keep the hair I have whith Minoxidil? Like I said, I used off and on for a while but never more than 3 months ata time. I will try and stick with it a little longer and see what happens. Also, is there anything that will cut down on the scalp irritation that minoxidil causes? Thanks | ||
| arutha |
Everyone responds differently to minoxidil, but since you're young and the hairloss is relatively recent, I'd say you have a decent chance. I'd say maintaining what you have now is probably a reasonable goal. Several Web sites such as www.minoxidil.com and www.physicianshairgrowth.com sell custom minox formulations that are made to be a little more friendly to those with sensitive scalps. These will cost a bit more, though. I personally haven't had any skin irritation with minox (the retin-a is another story, though... yikes!) | ||
| Freddie |
If you are using minoxidil, put it on after a shower while your towel dried scalp is still wet. Wait a while then comb it. Don't touch your scalp for the rest of the day. Don't put it on a dry scalp. If your scalp is like mine, it will get irritated. I shampoo daily so I don't see any flakes. Then again, I don't use minoxidil daily either. Minoxidil is a royal pain to apply once a day let alone twice daily which the bottle recommends. Most of it lands up in the hair. The makers of Rogaine (Upjohn) were supposedly coming out with some minoxidil easy-to-apply foam to solve this problem. But I haven't heard anything since. I would not go for high concentrations of minoxidil. If a little is good, it does not necessarily follow that a whole lot is better. It could be worse for all we know. | ||
| Advice |
Hi Arutha/Freddie, Well, is 5 years considered recent hair loss? Just wondering cause it is definietly noticable. My temples are receding and the thinning on the top of my head is exrememly noticable. Anyway, I thought you were only supposed to apply minoxidil to a dry scalp? Will it reduce the effectiveness otherwise? Also, I need to do something. The itchiness is getting really bad. When I wash may hair I can't help but to scratch my scalp. Today, while washing my hair, I noticed a lot more hair coming out. Is this normal after using Minixidil again for a few weeks? I have used it before in the past and didnt notice this much. Maybe, I should decrease my dosage a bit? Advice? | ||
| arutha |
I suppose recent is relative. I just said that because minox tends to work better with people who have just started thinning. My experience was different, however... I started losing around 1990 (when I was 16) and tried 2% minox briefly in 1996. I gave up on it when it didn't seem to work very well and left my hair too greasy. I tried Nizoral in late 99-2000 and it did BAD things to my hair... made it look about 50% worse. I started minox again (5%) in 2001 and have had good results. Itchiness.... I'm guessing that will wear off eventually. If not, you might want to try one of the formulas I mentioned. Give it a chance, first... the itching may wear off. | ||
| Advice |
Hi Arutha, Maybe I will decrease the amount I use when I apply it. Like Freddie said, a lot of it does end up in your hair anyway. Do you have thinning all over, including your temples? What else do you use besides Minoxidil? Like I said, I am using 5% now. I have used it before but I stopped after a while because I didn't think it was working. The whole reason I started using it now is because I noticed it getting worse. I just want to be sure I am not wasting my time and not making anything worse. Any other advice? Thanks again! | ||
| arutha |
My thinning started in the vertex. Shortly after that, it also started in the front--I had the fairly unusual baldspot at the front and center of my hairline. I also developed some diffuse thinning throughout the rest of the horseshoe area. Some frontal recession also occured, but I didn't even realize it until I started using minox and reclaimed some lost territory. I was in severe denial throughout most of this time. I use Retin-A in addition to the minox, and I just order some topical finasteride. I'm also considering ordering one of those dermarollers. Something I just started doing is wearing gloves when applying the topicals and gently rubbing the meds into my scalp. The idea is to get even distribution without having any of it get lost in my fingers. I would recommend documenting your progress to keep track of what you're using and what results you're having. It might be helpful in identifying trends, especially if you make adjustments. What would also be neat is if you photographed your progress--that's an idea that didn't occur to me. | ||
| Anonymous |
Arutha, what are dermrollers? Is there a Web site where I could find information about this? Thanks | ||
| arutha |
They sell it at lipoxidil.com. It's a device that you roll over your scalp when applying topicals. It's supposed to poke tiny little holes in your scalp, allowing it to soak up the meds like a sponge.  I'm still debating it, myself. | ||
| Freddie |
Anything that pokes holes in your skin leaves you with the risk of infection. Your hair follicle is not far from the surface of your skin (no more than 1/4th of an inch below the surface). Usually meds like minoxidil are partly comprised of alcohol to aid the absorption of the active ingredient. On a damp, towel dried scalp, it absorbs through the surface of your skin quite easily. In fact, its sometimes absorbed so well that part of it goes through the scalp and into the blood stream (systemic absorbption). Which is why some people get dizzy while using minoxidil. I would advise you against using any gadgets or gizmos which claim to 'enhance' absorption or 'penetrate into your roots'..etc. Its pure nonsense. | ||
| Advice |
I am curious about Freddies comments. Should Minoxidil be applied to a damp scalp? Will that help? I am still experiencing scalp itchiness while using minoxidil which I guess is considered normal. I decided not to use a full ML but instead about a 1/2 - 3/4 of a ML, since most of it just ended up im my hair anyway. Will applying it to a damp scalp help? Can Minoxidil still be affective in a diluted state? Also, I am curious about the various ages people started to expereince thinning hair? Any comments from anyone? Thanks :-) | ||
| advice |
Well, I finally broke down and made an appointment with the dermatoligist. I will be seeing him on Wednesday. I couldn't stand the scalp irritation anymore and thinning is looking pretty bad. Is there anything in particular I should ask when I go? | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Advice: The first thing you will want to know is what type of hair problem you have. Is it male pattern baldness, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium? After a diagnosis is made, which may be postponed till tests are done, you can then discuss treatment options and time frames. If the dermatologist just gives you a quick suggestion to go out and get some Rogaine, you will probably feel (and rightly so) a little cheated. | ||
| Anonymous |
Hi, I'm 20 years old and in the last couple months went from a full head of hair to a very thin area on the back, side of my crown. The rest of my hair is still thick including my hair line. I was taking out clumps of hair in the shower but that has seemed to subside in the last couple of weeks. People tell me my scalp has a reddish tint to it in the thin area. Any theories? | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Anonymous: If you're losing hair rapidly in just one spot and that spot is not symmetrical - "a very thin area on the back, side of my crown" - there's a possibility that you have a form of hair loss called alopecia areata. Most dermatologists think this is caused by an autoimmune reaction. You might want to see a dermatologist about this unless you see that the lost hair is now filling in. | ||
| pennyboop |
I started to have a gradual hair loss when I was 24 in abroad.I always loss a lot of hair in the shower.At first I thought it's the weather coz it's my first time to go and live in abroad.Then one time I had a hair cut and the hairstylist told me I have two bald spots at the back and she showed me.I was so shocked!I was in total denial!It couldnt be happening to me!I used to have a full thick hair when I was in college.I consulted a dermatologist and she prescribed me this Minoxidil.Ive used it for 4 months And Ive stopped it.It didnt worked.I juast wanted to know if this is caused by stress in living abroad cause I cant think of anything else why.Im a healthy eater too.So pls give me some idea and advice coz Ive got a new big bald spot.Sorry for the spill.Im so confused. | ||
| mike |
propecia/ minox / nizotral / good diet / | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Pennyboop: By abroad, what do you mean? Did you live in India or any country where you had to take antimalarial shots? What do these bald spots look like? Are they small? Other than the bald spots, is the rest of your hair in good condition, or is there some diffuse thinning? Are you a vegetarian? | ||
| Anonymous |
I m losing hair around the temples [since late 2003] - Iv been using minoxidil for about 2 weeks. It is my understanding however that minoxidil does nothing for this area of the head.. Could someone please advise - By the way my hair loss isnt symmetrical I have been and am losing more on my left side - this is really worrying me plz help -iam 24 yrs of age. | ||
| Anonymous |
minox is not going to help you much, and in fact in may make it worse. You need to do some serious research on this site...there are no easy answers. | ||
| honest |
Advice: Go with propecia, eat healthy, do the scalp exercises, get a gentle shampoo. This is what I do, and it has really helped. Minox. is a pain in the rear end. I tried it for a couple months and all it did was burn my scalp, when I would sweat it would run down my face and burn my forehead. I am anti minox. Ive been using Avalon Organic Shampoo, propecia, and Tom's scalp exercises, I have really got this hairloss thing under control because of this combo. The shampoo does not contain any of those nasty chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate and those other floor cleaners. The shampoo claims to help halt hairloss/restore it or whatever, but I just use it because it contains vitamins and more natural ingredients. Just my opinion, good luck ... | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Honest: Is there an Avalon website listed on the label of your shampoo? If there is, pleast post it. "The shampoo does not contain any of those nasty chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate and those other floor cleaners." I like that. I found a great shampoo - or rather five of them - from the same California company. I'm not going to give them space here, though, because I don't like their bullshit new-age advertising, and I certainly don't like the outrageous prices they charge. | ||
| honest |
Tom: here is the website www.avalonorganics.com I did not know we were allowed to say badwords here Tom! | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
honest: You're not allowed to say badwords here. That privilege is only for me. Thanks for the link. | ||
| honest |
Tom, Alright I got it, I'll keep it clean as always. What do you think about Avalon? | ||
| tony New member Username: Need_help Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2006 |
4 yrs ago I used to work out in gym jus to maintain my body for a year with out using any supplements just regular healthy home food.After that i left the gym n got into my studies.. last 3 yrs i am havin a sudden problem of hair fall which started a week before my semester exams may be because of the study load(which i dnt think mite be the reason). my hair grow for few weeks n then fall one of a sudden in large nos enen if i m not having any exam.this is phenomenal n takes place one of a sudden. I generally dnt use any chemicals just a regular shampoo. There is no heridetary cause to this as my dad n n bro all have thick hair which i used to have at times.the desity of the hair is sparse n they r thinning while they grow too after a period but when they start falling they loose the shine n lusture n bicome brittle n easy to break types n also are easily pluckable.. the real reason is not known to me as i m not having any bald patches on my head as there is a regrowth but there is thinning of hair. i am really quizzed as this is goin on frm last 3 yrs n i dnt know the reason why? 1>there is no family history of hair fall 2>hair fall occurs even when i m stress free 3>all my recently taken health report(urine,blood) are normal 4>idont have any other health problem. 5>i am not adicted to any bad habits(smoking or drinking) 6>did show this to the dermatologist he says all is rite jus wait n ull get ur hair back. tell me solution to this plz as its been 3 yrs n this is goin on... | ||
| Tom Hagerty Moderator Username: Admin Post Number: 2959 Registered: 01-2003 |
Tony: I can tell that many people are reading your messages, but because your question is so general there is possibility of a rational answer. My suggestion is to read through some of the pages on my website. Do some studying on your own about the biology of hair loss. If you have specific questions after doing some study, many people here will help you out. |
