Minoxidil - more shedding??????

[hair-today]

Hi,

I've heard a few people say they think minoxidil actually caused more hair loss. I know you can initially shed when you start using it, but what are your thoughts on this topic?

I ask because, I grabbed the minoxidil the day I realised my thinning was noticable. This was only the small patch at the very front. Soon after I started shedding behind. I thought oh crap, and wasn't sure if it was the initial shed from minoxidil. However I wasn't applying it to that part of mt head (I know some will run over onto it).

Anyway, I decided to continue using it on all my scalp. I gnerally don't put much on the top, but mostly at the very front and just let a little run backwatds/rub it in there.

The shedding has continued.....for a year and a half now. Fast forward to today, I have stopped using it in prep for my HT and four days after I stopped I noticed a massive reduction in the amount of shedding I had in the shower. The least there's been since I started using it.

I feel this can't be a coinicendance, but on the other hand I know minoxidil works for me as I used it to get my beard and it did help the patch at the from of my scalp a little.

I'm nervous to try going without it, as I won't know if i do actually need it until I start losing too much again and this is ireversable.

Any thoughts? I don't know what to do. Thanks

 

[Bigmac]

I have heard of permanent loss while using minoxidil. It’s rare but it seems it does happen. Not everyone responds to the meds. Have you thought about Finasteride?
Did you take pictures to monitor your hair?
I would ask Dr Reddy his opinion when you see him tomorrow.

 

[hair-today]

Thanks Bigmac. So it's possible, albeit rare! Hmmmm. I can't take finasteride, as I'm trans and it messes things up hormonally.

Yes I was going to ask Dr Reddy when I see him.

I've take loads of pictures but I've been concentrating mostly on the very front as that's the noticable area. That patch doesn't appear to have gotten any worse since I started Monoxidil. Perhaps I need to look back and see how many of the pics cover the top/back as well. I have defintely thinned on top as I always had really thick hair. It's not to the point where it looks thinning, but for example I have a mole and I can see that through my hair, where as before it was very much hidden even if my hair was very short on top.

 

[Bigmac]

I see, no Finasteride for you then. Oral minoxidil might work better for you, again, Dr Reddy is the person to ask. Ask him about thyroid or other possible causes too.

 

[hair-today]

I see, no Finasteride for you then. Oral minoxidil might work better for you, again, Dr Reddy is the person to ask. Ask him about thyroid or other possible causes too.

Yes, he has suggested oral minoxidil for immediately after the procedure until I can can continue with liquid.

I recently had my thyroid tested and all normal there.

 

[Bigmac]

Ok, well hopefully you respond well to it. Remember though, shedding can last for months before your hair adjusts and stabilises.

 

[hair-today]

Ok, well hopefully you respond well to it. Remember though, shedding can last for months before your hair adjusts and stabilises.

Re the initial shedding, I've been using Minoxidil for 19 months, and the shedding on top/back started very shortly after starting and has been doing so ever since, it literally only just seemed to slow down recently, 4 days after stopping Minxidil in prep for my HT tomorrow.