Minoxidil really that good for hair loss?

[imane]

I'm in my thirties and have been using minoxidil for many years now. (In my case, the 5% strength generic available from Eckerd drugs rather than the pricier brand-name Rogaine). At least accoring to my barber, it certainly seems to have arrested a pattern of thinning on the crown that caused me to start in the first place.

[TokyoRumble]

I'd say I have a Norwood III and I'm currently using minox 5% so hopefully it helps while I grow it out.

[claesson]

I started to use Minoxidil 5% one year ago and I saw some effects, nothing miraculous by the way. If you want to keep the situation stable Minoxidil is a good alternative to Finasteride, that can have some collateral effects.

[Vladimir]

(11-01-2013 05:29 AM)TheMensHairForum Wrote:  

(11-01-2013 05:19 AM)jonx06 Wrote:  Thanks for the advice I will probably just to for rogaine better to be same than sorry.

Good choice. Like Barber said before Rogaine is the standard for minoxidil but then you have other choices for minoxidil like the ones we talked in the thread referenced by Barber.

But remember, minoxidil regardless of brand takes at least 3 months to yield results so buy the 3 month pack and if you think it's worth your money, the 6 month pack. Ideally, use minoxidil for 6 months instead of 3 months so you can truly gauge the results. Using minoxidil is very easy, just apply it after showering and you're good to go

I mentioned the 6 month pack in the OTC hair loss medications from Barber but here is the actual product in Amazon again (6 months pack, and in foam form which is the easiest way to apply minoxidil ) I think they only have 1 left (they had full stock a couple of months ago as it sells like candy), if you find that they run out of stock, let me know and I can suggest another Amazon source to get a good Rogaine product deal

since I started the thread some time ago I wanted to give you all a follow up. I have been using the Rogaine that TMHF recommended to me above for almost 6 months now.

Results??... fantastic!! the thinning has stopped and I am growing some of the loss of hair that I had gotten over the previous year. The first 2 months there was not much of a difference and it kinda makes you question the whole hair loss treatments and products but I knew the guys here mention that the Rogaine I got and Rogaine in general takes up to 4 months to really start showing good results. So I waited, waited... and starting the 3rd month I noticed my hair fuller and less of the thinning. The biggest change was on the back of the heads top... vertex as the guys call it which is the area of the scalp that thins and loses air the fastest. Also the temples which had been receding super fast stopped receding.

Be cause I was checking on the mirror every day I have a feeling that I did not realize the effects in the first 2 months but when i realized by the 3rd month the effect was too visible for it to have happened overnite lol I went on holidays though and I wasn't tracking the changes but was still applying the Rogaine. I am really happy with the results and with how hair that I thought was gone for ever has grown back.

OFC this is not like I got back the hair I had in my teens. You can still tell that my hairline has receded but regular people cant tell that I was balding since the vertex is covered with the regrown hair and the hairline just looks like a high hairline. The regrown hair on the vertex is just as good as the rest of of the hair so I can style it and grow it. I used to be scared of growing my hair a little because the baldness of the vertex makes it look like I had a hole there when Id grew my hair a a little lol but now... I can grow my hair a little and have enough length to comb and part my hair!!

(11-16-2013 08:41 AM)Xavier Wrote:  I've noticed that Minoxidil has become much more available now over the counter - testimony to its efficiency?

Totally worth it bro although not all men respond to the Rogaine with the same results. Perhaps I am a very good responder to the Minoxidil in the rogaine but even for bad responders they still get good results like really slowing down the hair loss. For the price of the Rogaine I got (see the link in the quoted post above of TMHF), that Rogaine is really worth it imo and imd

[Vladimir]

(03-24-2014 12:19 PM)claesson Wrote:  I started to use Minoxidil 5% one year ago and I saw some effects, nothing miraculous by the way. If you want to keep the situation stable Minoxidil is a good alternative to Finasteride, that can have some collateral effects.

I have heard good things about Finasteride for the treatment of male pattern baldness but some men experience some real bad side effects and some never fully recover apparently. That and you need a doctor prescription and also some serious supervision ideally like blood tests. Minoxidil is otc and needs no doctor supervision or prescription and I am loving it but I may look in the future into Finasteride if the Minoxidil no longer cuts it.

Have you tried Finasteride and if so did you get any of the bad effects that we hear all the time??

[claesson]

(03-28-2014 11:39 AM)Vladimir Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 12:19 PM)claesson Wrote:  I started to use Minoxidil 5% one year ago and I saw some effects, nothing miraculous by the way. If you want to keep the situation stable Minoxidil is a good alternative to Finasteride, that can have some collateral effects.

I have heard good things about Finasteride for the treatment of male pattern baldness but some men experience some real bad side effects and some never fully recover apparently. That and you need a doctor prescription and also some serious supervision ideally like blood tests. Minoxidil is otc and needs no doctor supervision or prescription and I am loving it but I may look in the future into Finasteride if the Minoxidil no longer cuts it.

Have you tried Finasteride and if so did you get any of the bad effects that we hear all the time??

No I haven't, but my doctor told me that it's better to not use Finasteride especially if you are young due to side effects on genital organs. Some say it are reversible some say it aren't, so it's a personal choice.

How do you apply Minoxidil? Do you just spray it on the scalp or do you use the fingers to rub it?

[TheMensHairForum]

(03-29-2014 10:38 AM)claesson Wrote:  No I haven't, but my doctor told me that it's better to not use Finasteride especially if you are young due to side effects on genital organs. Some say it are reversible some say it aren't, so it's a personal choice.

How do you apply Minoxidil? Do you just spray it on the scalp or do you use the fingers to rub it?

This is true and it is better to be safe than sorry. While the pharmaceutical companies say that those affected with the side effects are complaining and simply looking for lawsuits, it is true that the side effects have many doctors worried, and especially with the hormonal, mental and sexual side effects. I personally would not touch finasteride if younger than 40 or if wanting to have kids, and that medication needs thorough supervision from a good doctor.

To use the Rogaine (assuming you are using that minoxidil-based product), just rub the foam onto the scalp and let it air dry alone, the Rogaine foam absorbs really fast. Make sure you have your scalp clean (i.e. shampoo) prior to applying the Rogaine and that you have washed the shampoo thoroughly.

[claesson]

(03-29-2014 11:17 AM)TheMensHairForum Wrote:  This is true and it is better to be safe than sorry. While the pharmaceutical companies say that those affected with the side effects are complaining and simply looking for lawsuits, it is true that the side effects have many doctors worried, and especially with the hormonal, mental and sexual side effects. I personally would not touch finasteride if younger than 40 or if wanting to have kids, and that medication needs thorough supervision from a good doctor.

To use the Rogaine (assuming you are using that minoxidil-based product), just rub the foam onto the scalp and let it air dry alone, the Rogaine foam absorbs really fast. Make sure you have your scalp clean (i.e. shampoo) prior to applying the Rogaine and that you have washed the shampoo thoroughly.

I use a liquid Minoxidil (Carexidil) not the foam, is it the same?

[TheMensHairForum]

(03-29-2014 11:54 AM)claesson Wrote:  

(03-29-2014 11:17 AM)TheMensHairForum Wrote:  This is true and it is better to be safe than sorry. While the pharmaceutical companies say that those affected with the side effects are complaining and simply looking for lawsuits, it is true that the side effects have many doctors worried, and especially with the hormonal, mental and sexual side effects. I personally would not touch finasteride if younger than 40 or if wanting to have kids, and that medication needs thorough supervision from a good doctor.

To use the Rogaine (assuming you are using that minoxidil-based product), just rub the foam onto the scalp and let it air dry alone, the Rogaine foam absorbs really fast. Make sure you have your scalp clean (i.e. shampoo) prior to applying the Rogaine and that you have washed the shampoo thoroughly.

Should be, although I am not familiar with that brand. I have heard of some people complaining of irritation when using the liquid version of Rogaine, which is why foam is better and is also easier to apply. But other than that, it's the same ingredient being used (foam/liquid) to cause the positive results.

How strong is the one you're using? (i.e. % of minoxidil)
I use a liquid Minoxidil (Carexidil) not the foam, is it the same?

[claesson]

(03-29-2014 12:13 PM)TheMensHairForum Wrote:  Should be, although I am not familiar with that brand. I have heard of some people complaining of irritation when using the liquid version of Rogaine, which is why foam is better and is also easier to apply. But other than that, it's the same ingredient being used (foam/liquid) to cause the positive results.

How strong is the one you're using? (i.e. % of minoxidil)

I use 5% Minoxidil, and infact I am experiencing a bit of irritation and dandruff. My doctor said that I have to use Trosi DS for irritation and Minoxidil 5% mixed to Hairgen Spray for the hair loss (I can't mix Hairgen with the foam right?).

[TheMensHairForum]

(03-30-2014 06:53 AM)claesson Wrote:  

(03-29-2014 12:13 PM)TheMensHairForum Wrote:  Should be, although I am not familiar with that brand. I have heard of some people complaining of irritation when using the liquid version of Rogaine, which is why foam is better and is also easier to apply. But other than that, it's the same ingredient being used (foam/liquid) to cause the positive results.

How strong is the one you're using? (i.e. % of minoxidil)

I use 5% Minoxidil, and in fact I am experiencing a bit of irritation and dandruff. My doctor said that I have to use Trosi DS for irritation and Minoxidil 5% mixed to Hairgen Spray for the hair loss (I can't mix Hairgen with the foam right?).

Yes, irritation (more like itching) is an issue with the liquid form, I believe the irritation and itching is because of liquid minoxidil preparations containing propylene glycol (an ingredient used in the product). Your best bet is to switch to the foam version of minoxidil, whether you use Rogaine or any of the other brands. The 5% concentration is a good strength, so that's good.

As an alternative to Rogaine 5%, the Simply Right minoxidil is pretty good and is both in in foam version and 5%. Rogaine can get expensive, and the Simply Right above is a really good alternative (after all, what you want is the minoxidil!). Another brand that is good Kirkland; they have this 12 month pack of minoxidil foam (5% minoxidil!). There are other preparations in the market, but have a look at those 2 as they are pretty good alternatives.

Just saying the above in case you want to consider others (or for any other readers). However, the one thing is that unfortunately the liquid version or anything with propylene glycol can produce irritation/itching as a side effect, it's not a widely-occurring side effect, but for those that it happens to, it can become quite distressing.

[Machado]

(11-01-2013 05:29 AM)TheMensHairForum Wrote:  Good choice. Like Barber said before Rogaine is the standard for minoxidil but then you have other choices for minoxidil like the ones we talked in the thread referenced by Barber.

But remember, minoxidil regardless of brand takes at least 3 months to yield results so buy the 3 month pack and if you think it's worth your money, the 6 month pack. Ideally, use minoxidil for 6 months instead of 3 months so you can truly gauge the results. Using minoxidil is very easy, just apply it after showering and you're good to go

I mentioned the 6 month pack in the OTC hair loss medications from Barber but here is the actual product in Amazon again (6 months pack, and in foam form which is the easiest way to apply minoxidil ) I think they only have 1 left (they had full stock a couple of months ago as it sells like candy), if you find that they run out of stock, let me know and I can suggest another Amazon source to get a good Rogaine product deal

Fwiw and since Vladimir updated the thread i ended getting my father the Rogaine foam from Amazon that TMHF recommended in this post and so far he is doing great with no irritation. Results are starting to become visible by end of month 2 but he is so wanting to continue thru to month 6 as thats when the rogaine is supposed to really show the results. He likes to browse this forum so maybe will convince him to update on it too lol

[claesson]

(03-31-2014 04:01 PM)TheMensHairForum Wrote:  ...cut..

Ok, thank you for the advices!

[edu1987]

im looking to buy some rogaine myself but struggling because im not too sure if it helps with a receding hairline

[buddhaseeking]

(06-12-2013 02:11 PM)Vladimir Wrote:  All I read on Minoxidil is like from people with a financial interest, can any member here tell me if Minoxidil is going to work for my hair loss pls and if its that really good for mens hair loss?
I think I'm a Norwood III with hair loss in the crown. No lies just honest answer pls.

No need for lies, when one gets older :-) I have tried Minoxidil on and off at various stages of my balding. It worked, as long as I continued to use it, but the receding hairline returned when i stopped using it. I used it once a day, liberally. You should be aware that it starts showing result only after few weeks/months, and it depends on what stage of hair-loss you are in. When i was younger, this product worked faster on my hair and now a days, i find that it itches a lot more than showing results :-)

I also think that many of the "balding hair products" out there use minoxidil as part of their formula, and market it under different name for sales. Accept the inevitable, and life gets happier - lol.