How much shedding to expect when stopping minoxidil?

[wparett]

I have been using minoxidil and finasteride for several years, but a few months ago decided to stop minox (while continuing with fin) because of the bad effect on my skin. I did see a big improvement in my skin when I stopped but I also saw some shedding and I seem to have lost some hair at the front. This spooked me and I restarted applying minoxidil for about a week, and then I changed my mind again and stopped using it. What worries me is I'm not sure if this shedding is just a temporary effect of stopping minox or if this really means that minoxidil is needed to stop my hair loss. Anyone else had experience with this?

My only piece of evidence is that my brother has a very similar hair loss profile to mine and he uses only fin and I think his hair loss is stabilised (though he admits he doesn't really pay attention).

 

[Bigmac]

It is possible that you’re losing hair via shedding while not using the minoxidil. Is it the liquid you’re using? If so, what brand?

 

[wparett]

It is possible that you’re losing hair via shedding while not using the minoxidil. Is it the liquid you’re using? If so, what brand?

I was using liquid minoxidil from the Belgravia Centre. Years of minox usage has left me with unnaturally dense hair and presumably if I stop it has to return to the natural density determined by genetics, so a fair amount of shedding seems commonsensical.

Yet when I ask Belgravia hair specialists about this they are annoyingly evasive. "I have read online that if you use minox for long periods your hair becomes dependent on it and you will shed when you stop." "You can't trust what you read online." "Minox has had a very bad effect on my skin. When I stop for a few weeks I look years younger. I think I should stop using it." "That's very unlikely. That's not a known side effect." I seem to be getting nowhere with these conversations (partly what motivated this forum post).

 

[E Curry]

What about trying the foam versions? Why do you purchase it from Belgravia when it is available without prescription from various stores?

 

[Bigmac]

As mentioned above you could try the foam or a non alcohol version that’s not as harsh on the scalp. Maybe oral minoxidil would be better. You can now get minoxidil and Finasteride as a sprayabke solution. A few options if you wish to try something else.
Do you have a before picture and one showing your hair now?

 

[wparett]

As mentioned above you could try the foam or a non alcohol version that’s not as harsh on the scalp. Maybe oral minoxidil would be better. You can now get minoxidil and Finasteride as a sprayabke solution. A few options if you wish to try something else.
Do you have a before picture and one showing your hair now?

Before stopping minox:

(17th September 2021)

(23rd October 2021)



After stopping minox:

(21st March 2022)

(23rd March 2022)


I think I stopped using minox around late November so I've gone about 4 months without it (not entirely true, I applied some minox at the end of february/beginning of march because I got worried). I definitely seem to have lost some hair at the front. If it's stable from now on then that's a price I'm willing to pay if that means I can go without minox long term, but I kind of want to have a hair transplant soon and that's obviously a bad idea unless you know the hair loss is stabilised. But if I wait to see if it's stabilised that just means I could lose more. I'm in a bit of a bind. Even today (24th March) I shook my hair and 4 or 5 hairs fell out.

 

[Bigmac]

It’s difficult to see what’s been lost. If you want to retain your hair, Finasteride imo is the best thing to try. There is the possible sides that a small percentage of people experience which you’ll need to read up on. You could go for a minoxidil/Finasteride combo topical treatment which should work a lot better.
We all lose a number of hairs per day which unless very excessive is quite normal.