This patient and his doctor pushed the FUE number above a reasonable limit that reflected his normal donor density (https://newhair.com/resources/#tab-id-4). He has a see-through donor area and significant donor site depletion. Now he might have hair on the top of his head but he is bald in the donor area. Even with long hair, he can’t address this problem. The only solution is Scalp MicroPigmentation (https://scalpmicropigmentation.com/scar-covering/)
I am a 33 year old female who has been using 5% minoxidil for the last 2.5 years. The minoxidil has helped hair to grow in the thin/bald areas of my head and has been very sucessful.
I want to try and have a baby this year. I know it is not advisable to take minoxidil during pregnancy but my question is to when do I need to stop. Is it OK to be using it while I am trying to conceive and to stop as soon as I know I am pregnant? I’m worried that if I stop now and don’t conceive for a long period then I am going to have to suffer the bald patches again.
Thank you
Topical minoxidil has small absorption from skin that can potentially affect the baby during pregnancy. There is not enough information on humans for the use of minoxidil during pregnancy, but animal studies showed some side effects on babies. To be on the safe side you should not use topical minoxidil during pregnancy. Of course, stopping the drug may cause reversal of the benefits in a short 3 month timeframe. Using minoxidil during lactation is thought to be safe. The good news is that your hormonal balance during pregnancy is toward protecting hair growth and strengthening hair via a surge of estrogen. Your hair loss may be affected adversely after pregnancy (telogen effluvium) and during this period you can restart taking topical minoxidil.
A joint Russian-American research team has found a genetic mutation that causes an unusual kind of baldness. The discovery may offer a path toward preventing the more routine kind of hair loss, they say.
Read the rest of the article at Forbes.com – Baldness Gene Identified in Russian Families. It’s just another piece of the puzzle.
2006-11-13 10:35:582006-11-13 10:24:46Baldness Gene Identified?
How long before hair follicles become dependent on minoxidil?
Only the hair that minoxidil grows, is dependent upon minoxidil. The normal terminal hair will not become minoxidil dependent.
I’m a 23 year old male I have been using 5% minoxidil for 2 months. I’m noticing an increase of hair in my face as well as my juvenile hairline. I’ve read in previous posts that minoxidil isn’t supposed to work on this type of hair. My questions are that if I’m seeing increased hair in my face does this most likely mean it is also working in my scalp? Will I eventually loose the hair that is regrowing in my juvenile hair line and do you think this hair will grow long enough?
I do not know! It may, but since I do not have the luxury to examine you in person, I couldn’t begin to guess. That being said, I don’t believe minoxidil will completely regrow your juvenile hairline… particularly in only 2 months.
Hello Doctor,
I want to thank you for a great blog that I visit nearly daily. I visited your offices around 5 months ago and had a consultation with Dr. Pak, who was very informative and understanding. Since then, I’ve been on a daily regimen of Finasteride 1.25 mg/day but am going to wait until the follow up appointment before I make any judgments (superstition does that to you).
I have two questions. I already know that Finasteride does not completely stop hair loss. It just provides its patients an outlet for growing old gracefully (under my impression). Have you seen or heard of any patients who took Finasteride while also including Minoxidil in their regimen to maintain for longer than 10 years with good results?
My second question is how big a part does diet factor into the MPB process? I’m already exercising 6 days out of the week even before MPB hit me but diet (what kind of foods to eat) has always escaped me. I would like to know if there is any information a professional such as yourself can provide pertaining to what kind of diets would promote hair growth and what kind of diets work best in conjunction with Finasteride and Minoxidil to maintain hair.
I apologize for the long message and sincerely appreciate all the help you have given.
Best regards!
I believe that for some people, the use of both Propecia and minoxidil has value when used in combination, but that may depend upon a variety of factors including age, appropriate use of the medication, where the minoxidil is applied, and where on the head the balding is that you are treating. The crown generally does better with combined treatment compared to the frontal hairline. I have seen patients using both medications with good results after a decade of use.
I do not believe that any particular diet works better than another, provided that the diet is well balanced.
2010-04-26 12:34:352010-04-22 12:30:52Best Diet with Finasteride and Minoxidil to Maintain Hair?
I read about a compounded minoxidil solution called Formula 82M.
I have been using Minoxidil 5% for more than six years and I think I am losing the battle against baldness. Can the above solution give me much needed reinforcements?
Can you also please suggest any additives to minoxidil that can help in better hair growth?
Genetic hair loss has no cure. Topical minoxidil can help but there no scientific evidence that any additives or reformulations will help. Many compounding pharmacies and entrepreneurs will re-brand and add extra ingredients to promote a product. It works to generate interest and sales but it really has no clinical significance in overall improvement of growing hair. I always have states it is a buyer beware market. They may be no harm in trying different products other than the financial drain.
Hi Dr. Rassman , I have been taking one Tab. Beta sitosterol (375 Mg containing Total Plant sterols at 1000 Mg ) along with Propecia / Finasteride ( 1 Mg )every day daily , as I wanted to combine the Natural with the Prescription , Please note that I am taking Generic Finasteride .I have been doing this from the pat 4 months in the effort to Stop my Hair Loss , recently last few days I am Noticing quiet a bit of “Hair Shedding” in my shower , I am quiet Upset , Can you please tell me if the Beta sitosterol and Finasteride combo is Lowering the DHT Too Much and that is in effect worsening My Hair Sheds? OR do you think they both have No Connection with each other in terms of Action and Pathways of blocking DHT are different !? Can Too Low DHT cause the hair follicles to shed OR as Beta sitosterol Lowers Cholosterol also , Maybe the Lower Cholesterol is causing the sheds? Please Help me on this , I am in Real Distress !
According to WebMD, “Beta-sitosterol is a substance found in plants. Chemists call it a “plant sterol ester.” It is found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. It is used to make medicine”. It is not a drug.
In general hair loss in men is genetic and there is no stopping it. There are medications such as Propecia (finasteride) to slow it down, postpone, or even grow hair in the short term, but in the long term the genetic predisposition will win out. This time course is variable for each individual.
I do not think drug interaction has much to do with genetic hair loss. Sometimes people try to explain or blame their hair loss with certain events or medications, but the most obvious cause is that it is just the way you were per-programmed when you were born with the genes. If you want to take this any further, the best recommendation is that you seek a doctor for an examination and possible treatment options.
2015-02-16 06:06:002015-03-19 08:23:50Beta Sitosterol and Propecia
I am 19 year old girl..started using minoxidil when my hair started falling at tremendous rate…i used it for around 3 months and then stopped using it…again hair started falling….and I again switched to minoxidil. Now, I have been using it for around 3 months. I read many stories about “after quitting minoxidil effects” and it really freaked me out. If I stop using it…will I really lose all my hairs…? Pleasssse someone answer my question… Is there any teeny tiny possibility of growing them back…?
Pleassse do reply…
When you use minoxidil and it grows hair, the hair that it grows will require the minoxidil to be used every day or the hair will fall out. Minoxidil grown hair is dependent upon minoxidil so once you get it working for you, you must stay on it.
