Balding Blog

Long time reader, first time poster. As an avid reader of your excellent blog i just wanted to post a few pictures and get an indication of where you think my hair loss is? I have been receding for a while now however over the last year I have become very concerned with the progression of my front hair loss. My father is essentially bald with a small island of hair in the middle of his scalp. My mothers side of the family also has been deal the unluck card male pattern baldness. Now I was on propecia from 20 to 25 then got off it for God knows what reason.. I guess I was just worried that I wasn’t going to be able to have kids one day (fertility issues have always been a major question for me with regard to finasteride), I guess this stems from the fact that there are no clear studies indicating if this is the case or not? And if it is then I am none the wiser. I am currently taking minoxidil tablets aswell as applying minoxidil to my hair line (I know that it is not that effective on the bi-temporal area, however I just thought I’d give it a go.. This coupled with the minoxidil tablets could be a start in my quest to beat MPB). I guess if this doesn’t work I can always go back to finasteride.

Thank you for being a avid read of Bladingblog. I generally do not give diagnosis or opinions on hair loss. We are however planning to start a new website AmIBalding.com where you can post your photos for anyone to comment. If you want a doctors opinion, you need to see a doctor (in person).

Finally, you really need to see a doctor before experimenting with drugs. Minoxidil tablets is not something you take to treat male pattern balding. It is a blood pressure lowering medication when taken orally. So for a normal person without high blood pressure, taking a blood pressure lowering medication such as oral minoxidil (by mouth) can have severe life threatening consequence and even death.

[May 2019 Study] Effectiveness and Safety of Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil in Male Androgenic Alopecia:

TL;DR – 2.5mg and 5mg dose of oral minoxidil found safe and effective in 41 male patients. 90% of patients had marked improvements.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE

Of 41 male patients (mean age, 33.3 years; range, 20–55 years) with androgenetic alopecia who received oral minoxidil monotherapy (2.5 or 5 mg daily) for a minimum of 6 months, 37 patients (90.2%) had clinical improvement, which was marked in 11 of them (26.8%). Only 4 patients (9.8%) demonstrated stabilization of their alopecia; however, none of these patients experienced worsening of the condition. Adverse effects included hypertrichosis (24.3%), lower limb edema (4.8%), and shedding (2.4%).

Results of this retrospective study indicated that oral minoxidil at 2.5 mg and 5 mg daily can be an effective therapy for male androgenetic alopecia, with a mild side-effect profile.

– InYoung Kim, MD, PhD

https://www.practiceupdate.com/content/effectiveness-and-safety-of-low-dose-oral-minoxidil-in-male-androgenetic-alopecia/83335

Moving from 2% to 5% topical min … will the shedding phase start again?

When changing the dose for minoxidil, the shedding phase rarely repeats.

My situation is that I used minoxidil for 1.5 years, so imagine all that time I wasn’t a responder. Can it make my hair worse since I’m just applying alcohol all the time? I’m asking about my situation cause I have been on fin and min and my hair is worse.

If you used topical minoxidil, only 40% of men have the enzyme in their scalp to convert minoxidil to minoxidil sulfate, the active form of minoxidil; however, if you have taken it orally, 100% of men should get some response to the drug because the liver creates minoxidil sulfate, the active form of the drug. If you had no response to the oral, then you are not a minoxidil responder.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5028441/

A patient wrote: “Minoxidil does strip the hair color. I am on my second bottle of women’s Rogaine and I have noticed that it does remove the dye from the hair roots when applied along the part. My stylist has stopped coloring my hair because the Rogaine strips the color off.”

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 doctor I am a 26 yo French guy who has been taking minoxidil & dutasteride for 6 years now. I am a special case because I have an identical twin who is not taking the minoxidil . I have developed hypertrichosis and dark circle from minoxidil . Does someone who develop hypertrichosis should get scalp result from the minoxidil? the dark circle and hypertrichosis under eye are 100% from the minoxidil because my twin doesn’t have those. Will it last if I keep taking the drugs? thanks a lot doctor

Stop the drug and the side effects should go away in time.