TJ1154

So you think the 5% minoxidil used once a day is almost as effective as using it twice a day? And would you recommend using the foam or the liquid on my hair? I have a strong preference on using the foam because it dries faster, but I am a bit worried that the liquid will get stuck on my hair and not get absorbed into the scalp. If I'm only using it at night, I guess I could manage with the liquid. I hope you are right about the dutasteride. I don't want to go completely bald in 5 years. I don't think I will be, but that would be unfortunate.

Yes, I have just found some stuff on Google indicating that 2-3% minoxidil solutions were proven in 1990s studies to be effective at regrowth, even when used only once a day. It was not quite as effective as twice a day, but it was still effective. Posters responded to those posts by saying, among other things, that because we have 5% minoxidil available to us now (in either foam or liquid), that applying 5% minoxidil once a day with good technique is probably equivalent to applying the old 2% minoxidil twice a day. I definitely would prefer to try to applying it once a day. If it doesn't work, I can always up it to twice. I see what you mean about five years now. I thought you were talking about dutasteride/finasteride. From what I understand, rogaine doesn't actually prevent hair loss, it simply regrows hair but doesn't stop you from balding. So it makes sense that people would see it as "losing its effectiveness" after 5 years as their hair continues to fall out and they drop below baseline. If you combine the rogaine with something that protects your follicles, however, like finasteride or dutasteride, then any regrowth from rogaine can possibly be maintained a lot longer, because it is being protected by a systemic drug which reduces ultimate levels of circulating dihydrotestosterone in the follicle. Without something to block the androgen, however, the hair regrown from rogaine will almost certainly fall out in a few years. For what it's worth, I always heard that it was only effective in the crown as well. I heard the same things about finasteride/dutasteride, and I agree with you that it might be due to the fact that they were only tested in the vertex/crown region. I would love to see the example cases you mentioned. As I noted, my problem is not my hairline per se, but immediately behind it, and basically going all the way back on my head in an Norwood 5/6 pattern. Thanks for messaging me the studies and I will look at them and let you know what I think.

Looking good. Tough to tell if there is thickening/regrowth because your hair seems longer now and longer hair can often provide better coverage. Definitely not worse though.

Thanks for the advice, Matt. If you don't mind me asking, why are you only applying it once a day? Is it just as effective applying it once a day with a double dose vs twice a day of a normal dose? I have heard of some people getting results with 1x per day application but I don't know if the likelihood is as good. Do you think that 5 years is really all I can hope for before I head rapidly toward NW6? I am apparently not a transplant candidate until I thin out more on top (due to shock loss risks), but every year I look in the mirror and expect to see that my maintenance period has ended, and my hair will start falling out again. Nothing lasts forever, and even though dutasteride is quite strong, I still fear it might be coming. Do you think Rogaine foam works well on areas directly behind the hairline and on the top of the head and crown? I won't be putting any on temples or hairline, but starting immediately behind the hairline and moving back toward the crown, most likely.

Hello, Late 20s gentleman who has been on 0.5 milligrams of dutasteride per day for the last few years. I never took finasteride. First noticed hair loss in my early 20s, and ordered dutasteride within a month of noticing that I could see scalp through my hair when I was brushing it in the bathroom. I looked in the mirror after I noticed that my comb was covered in hair, more than was typical. After having been on the dutasteride for this time, it is possible that I might have gotten a bit of regrowth from the dutasteride, but I doubt it. It has definitely maintained my hair for the entire time I have been on it, however, so that's really all I can ask for. Unfortunately do not have baseline pics from when I started dutasteride to compare to the pics I am attaching below (hard drive failed last year and like an idiot, I never backed up), but my physician takes measurements of my hair density at approx 7-8 different locations on my scalp once a year, and he's certain that I haven't lost any hair since starting the medication. I am hopeful that my hair can be maintained for my entire life, but my physician tells me that I will probably start to thin out in the next couple of years or so . Family history of hairloss: Father NW6ish (hair loss started in early 20s, but regular MPB pattern) Brother NW2ish diffuse (hair loss started at age 19, similar pattern to mine) Paternal grandfather NW6 (hair loss started in early 20s, but regular MPB pattern) Maternal grandfather started balding in retirement, is now a diffuse NW4A at 90. Maternal uncle started thinning out starting at age 50, is now a diffuse NW3 at 59. Me: NW2ish diffuse? I think I'm NW2 at least. Maybe not quite there. Strongly considering adding Rogaine foam twice a day as well as Nizoral 1% shampoo 3-4x per week. Have used Nizoral few times in the past and tolerate it rather well, and would be adding it because a couple studies showed that it can regrow hair. But re Rogaine foam: Because my balding is in a diffuse NW6 pattern, I would need to use more than the recommended half a capful of foam for application. I would probably need to use a full capful per application, because I'd have to cover the area starting from directly behind my hairline all the way back to the vertex. Sides and back are quite thick and I believe them to have strong density, similar to NW5/NW6 with strong donor, but I'd have to put the foam on a much larger area than the average person. My physician thinks that I have a decent chance of responding to it because the dutasteride has held my hair and because I don't have any slick bald areas. This will make it tougher for me to get the foam into the scalp, but he thinks that if I'm diligent in applying it twice a day, I could see some strong results after 4-6 months. I am interested to hear what everyone on here thinks about whether diffuse thinners can benefit from Rogaine. Good idea? Bad idea? Is it possible that the Rogaine foam could cause my existing hairs on top to fall out and never return? My physician didn't think this is possible but I have heard some horror stories. I can deal with a shed when starting the Rogaine but only if it is temporary; I don't want to end up worse off from it. Photographic flash makes hair look worse and so does having the bathroom light directly shining on it. Hair looks okay in the daytime, and I do not think most people can tell that I am balding if I am in natural light or normal indoor lighting (unless the light is shining directly on it). I swim a lot, however, and when the hair gets wet, hair clumps together and looks very thin. Generally keep my hair dry because I don't want to draw attention to the fact that I have lost hair, and I keep it relatively short (2.5 inches on top, 1.25-1.5 inches on sides and back as shown in the photos) to camouflage it. I cannot use gel or any product in my hair because my hair density is not good enough on top to support it, and my hair is dark and very fine in texture. Have used concealers before but have not used them in a few years because they're a pain and when it rains outside, it washes out and makes my forehead dirty. My hairline has not receded since I started taking dutasteride capsules. It is roughly halfway between a juvenile hairline and a mature hairline, in my opinion. I took measurements of my hairline this morning and they are roughly the same from when I started dutasteride: the hairline center is located approximately 2.1 inches above my eyebrows, while the right temple and left temple are located 2.3 inches and 2.6 inches above the eyebrows, respectively. Anyway, I have attached some photos. Pics were taken under my bathroom light with flash. Half the pics are taken with wet hair (and labeled as such), and half the pics were taken with dry hair. As I mentioned, my physician thinks my hair will start to thin out in the next year or two and that I will be very noticeably bald (NW5 or so) in the next 5 years. This is a bit scary to me, but I have maintained my hair so far, and I am praying to God that this is not the case.