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Well, I've been using Rogaine for just a year and it's been mostly OK, with an itchy period at about 4 months. I just found that Kirklands is available where I am, and it's way cheaper, so I'm trying it now.

I was reading about semen, on Scientific American, as you do, and came across this: Bering in Mind: An ode to the many evolved virtues of human semen Is this at all relevant to our interests?

And are there any problems with switching brands? I know the active ingredient might be the same, but surely the formulation differs in some ways...?

OK, but what about side effects like skin irritation?

I've been using Rogaine 5% liquid for about a year now, but the place I buy from has Kirklands and it's a bit cheaper, is Kirklands decent/good/OK? Of the big commercially available brands, is Rogaine the best? If not, what's better? PS: Just talking about liquid 5%, I don't like the foam.

I know a lot of people here are skeptical about laser combs anyway, but what I want to ask is whether it's worth getting a cheaper, generic one? I figured Hairmax charges more for their own R&D and because the forked out for FDA approval... surely the comb itself doesn't cost anywhere near that much to produce? If I get a 3rd party one, will it be just as good?

I took finasteride (1.25mg) and got side effects, so I stopped. Took me around a month to return to normal. I think most people are 2-6 weeks recovering. I haven't re-tried it, but I may do, one day. I'm using Rogaine now, I'm pretty happy with the results, but at around the 5 month mark I started getting a really itchy head. Revita shampoo helped a little (I ordered it off the internet, but I think you have other ketaconazole options in Australia). It also started itching when I switched back to the liquid after a month on the foam. I think I'll still stick with the liquid though, I really didn't like the foam. Another guy here said the laser comb helped reduce irritation, and that his hair count improved when he started using it along side finasteride and minoxidil, too. Hope this helps.

Why not just get it off the internet?

I had a few spots on my head that had some kind of plasma coming out, but I realised it was the places were I had scratched raw, like a kid who can't leave his mosquito bites alone and scratched the tops off them. I just force myself not to scratch or when I do, I do it with the pads of my fingers, and not the nails. It's still getting irritated, but the broken skin is easing up. I'm thinking about switching to the foam, though. I hope I don't get anything too serious like cracks in my head.

I don't think Minoxidil works on the principle of irritation... Well the thing is I had already experienced a reasonable amount of regrowth (especially noticeable around the temples) and after the initial shedding, I had been losing far less hair. Irritation had not been a problem at all. But since switching back to the liquid, the irritation has started and I've noticed a lot more hair falling out again.

I haven't tried Spectral, but I guess it'll itch too, since it's also going to be using alcohol for the solution. If I can get this itching under control with balms or shampoos, I might give Spectral a try, because it has so many anti-hairloss ingredients, but some people on here said it makes your head look orange because of the colours staining your skin. I guess I might have to switch to the Rogaine foam, which seemed to be what kickstarted the irritation (I tried foam for a month then went back to solution).

Personally, I don't really like the effect it has on my hair making it all soft and fluffy. It does make my scalp feel more soothed, since Rogaine has been making it itchy lately.

My crown shows no loss, but I use it on the frontal area and temples. I have seen some improvement. I've also noticed my body hair has increased slightly, but I was always rather hairless, so a slight increase is not really a problem.

I started on Rogaine liquid about 4 months ago and I was totally happy with it, but with my last order, the supplier threw in a free can of foam for me to try. I started using it and was unhappy with the texture and application methods. After I finished the can of foam I went back to the liquid, but since I started that, I found my scalp became really itchy and I've been suffering a bit of dandruff, which has NEVER been a problem I've had in my life. I got some Revita which is helping a bit, but I'm still waking up at 6am wanting to scratch my scalp uncontrollably. This morning, I just slapped on some soothing aftershave balm that I got for my birthday and never use. I really don't like the foam and don't want to switch over to it, although the price is the same as the liquid for me. Has anyone had this problem before? Any recommended soothing products?

I don't think you need so much of a lather with Revita. A lot of cleaning/grooming products put SLS for extra foaminess/lather because people wrongly associate bubbles with better cleansing. Revita doesn't contain SLS (perhaps it used to), and it's better off for it.

OK, got some and I've used it once. Head feels less itchy (but I've given the Rogaine a few days off). Seems good, but I don't like the dispenser. I know it's all hi-tech, but a normal nozzle would be fine, too.

Are there a lot of people who agree? Also, does it also contain ketoconazole?

I know it's named as one of the "big 3" but has no shampoo-maker managed to surpass Nizoral thus far? After spending a month on Rogain foam, then going back to the liquid, my head has started to get mildly irritated on top and I want to start using a shampoo. I'm looking at a different ketoconazole shampoo that also has a 2% formula, but I'm wondering if there is something that's significantly better I should be searching for.

Shedding is usually a good sign. I don't like the foam. Like you, I still have hair, it's just thinning. I find that the foam clings to the hair and leaves residue that can go flaky and look like dandruff. I use the liquid, which I find to be much more discreet. You should try finasteride. If it works, and you don't get sides, it's the best hairloss drug you can get.

I see. Well, I hope they can come up with something that can inhibit DHT/5ar just locally in the scalp so I can take it without side effects, in the next few years. I guess I've got another 4-5 years (with minoxidil) before it'll be really obvious that I'm losing hair.

Well, my hairloss was very minor, I was barely NW2. So I wasn't trying to revitalise follices on shiny spots that had been dormant for years or anything.

Just curious though, what's the difference between the follicles miniaturising and hair thinning? I thought thinning hair was the follicles shrinking and the hairs get finer? Right now, Minoxidil seems to be reactivating/reversing that, first growing vellus hairs which have started to thicken up. If those hairs start to get fine and the follicles close up, isn't that the same as the Minoxidil stopping working?

OK, well I guess I'll see how the Minoxidil it helps me hold out. When it goes, it goes, and I suppose I'll just shave it all. I'm not prepared to have surgery.

Some people report good results with lasercombs, like the Hairmax comb. Others say they're totally useless. I guess they have some merit, but are not as universally useful as drugs like Finasteride of Minoxidil.

Well it depends on the person and if they respond well. Personally, I have had quite satisfactory, visible results of regrowth from Rogaine. I agree it's not the easiest thing to use, but it takes me less than a minute to apply, and that's it. I don't really know about all the trouble other people complain of. Of course taking a tablet would be better. But if I had the choice, I'd take both.