Hair falling out with minoxidil topical solution

[Alcyone]

I've been using Equate brand minoxidil 5% for about a month. Before using it, I could not see my scalp through my hair. Now, my hair has about a third of the density it had be fore (only in the area the topical solution was applied) and my scalp is very noticable.

What's worse, immediately after applying the solution, tons of hairs start falling out. After the solution dries, the hair stops falling out.

I'm afraid I've done permenant damage.

FYI, I've been on propecia for about 4 months.

I've heard sheeding is normal and a good thing, as thiciker hairs will regrow in their place. However, I'd consider my shedding to be extreme, to say the lease. It makes me think that I could be having a bad reaction to either the drug itself or tha aclohol they put in the solution.

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice? I'm extemely depressed because of this.


Thanks

[HairLossFight.com]

Hi Alcyone,

When you say that "immediately after applying the solution, tons of hairs start falling out" what do you mean by that exactly? I have never heard of an immediate shed occurring right after applying a topical.

I obviously haven't seen your scalp and your hair, and only you're in your own shoes, but I find it difficult to think that there is any immediate effect whatsoever, growth or loss of hair, after an application of minoxidil.

Having said that, I have a few questions:

1) How do you apply the minox? Do you tend to do a lot of rubbing?

2) How are you monitoring the amount of hair you lose? The reason I ask this is because (speaking from my own experience) whenever I LOOK for hair loss, I FIND it. I'm sure you're probably aware that even non-balding individuals lose about 100 or so hairs a day just from the normal hair cycle. Whenever I applied a topical and looked at my hands or in the sink, invariably I would notice some hair that were lost, that at first appearance may have looked like I lost them from applying the topical, but in reality these hairs had already fallen out and I just noticed them after applying the topical.

3) Do you experience any itching, redness, soreness, flaking, or inflammation of any sort after applying the topical?

4) How much do you apply per day? And how many applications?

When you say you have 1/3 the density you had before, are you saying that you've lost the 2/3rd's since starting minox?

The problem here is that 1 month is not enough time to determine whether it will work for you. You may have experienced the dreaded sheds, and these may grow back eventually, or you may have just seen a progression of your hair loss that would have taken place even if you had NOT started minox or Propecia.

While it is true that you can be sensitive to either Minoxidil or the vehicle, and that can worsen your hair loss, for most people this is not the case.

If I were you I would give it more time, at least 6 months, if there is no inflammation or itching obviously occurring from the minox. use.

A few days back, a member of these forums named Gaga posted his before and after pics after using minox and propecia for a year. The pics showed his frontal hair line and the regrowth was amazing!

Gaga, if you're reading this please (pretty please) repost your pics!!! People need to see what they can expect in a good responder.


Alcyone, if the minox is really making you uncomfortable, and giving you tons of stress, you may want to consider just using the Propecia. If I were you, I'd give the Minox a proper chance to work however.

Regards,
Sam

[Alcyone]

Hi Sam,

Thanks very much for your timely reply in this state of crisis I'm in.

When I say that my hairs a falling out after application, what I mean is that immediately after applying the topical solution, I can run my hands through my hair, or run a brush or comb through it over the sink and see long, thick strands falling out over the white sink. Bunches or bundles are not coming out, but lots of stray, thick long strands are to the point where it seems abnormal. Then, when the minoxidil solution dries, and when I again run my hands/comb/brush through my hair, I don't see any hairs falling over the sink.

I apply the minoxidil with an applicator, then rub it in with my fingers. I've only been applying it to the top/crown area of my head where I've been losing excess amounts of hair over the last month.

My rapid hair loss over the last month is totally obvious and even a friend has comented. It's easy to monitor/notice and it's not just a case of me looking harder for it and taking more notice of what was already there.

The only other side effect I'm experiencing is minor soreness/a slight burning sensation, but it's not what I would consider uncomfortable. No redness, itching, or anything else.

I am (or was) applying about 1.7 mls per day. .7 ml in the evening to my crown area, about .7 ml to my crown area in the morning (not rubbing it in) and about .3 ml to my face in an attempt to attain thicker facial hair.

As for the desnity. Yes, I've lost about 2/3rds of it in the area of application over the last month.

If I am having an allergic reaction to the minox (even though you say it's rare) and if this allergic reaction has resulted in my newfound loss, will it grow back?

Also, I know this sounds totally stupid and paranoid, but could some sick individual have laced the bottle I pucrhased with something that would cause this? Has there been anything in the news like this that you can recall hearing about? Again, I know this sounds stupid but at this point, I'm examining all possibilities. Also, another interesting thing I've noticed is that after the minox dries, it leaves a kind of dusty residue on my hair. Is this normal?

Thanks.

[Alcyone]

After hours of research today, I've come to the conclusion that I should continue using the minoxidil.

I've learned that minoxidil topical solution is notorious for excessive initial sheads, that the this is a positive sing the drug is working. In addition, the lost hair will return thicker and fuller, hopefully.

I apologize that I panicked and posted, I should have done more research before freaking out over 1 post. I guess I wasn't prepared for such a drastic shead and change in cosmetic appearance.

Thanks.

[timallen]

Hi, I read your experiences with Minoxidel. I had similar reactions. My hair began falling out in great amounss and my scalp seemed a heck of a lot less healthy. My hairs were turning a lighter pigment and just didn't seem too healthy. My scalp was quickly becoming noticable. I stopped after two and a half weeks. Scalp was just itchy, and quite frankly un healthy. Tried Propecia although was a felt quite stupid while on it. Could not think clearly. I was very upset for a while considering I couldn't handle it. Desperately seeking more options that have shown success. Any recommendations? I do however use Nizoral. TRY Revivogen? Any advice?-Tim

[Alcyone]

Timallen,

Just wondering how long you've been off the minox and if the hair you lost ever grew back (if it's been long enough).

Thanks.

[timallen]

Hello, been off Minoxidel for about 8 months. Don't know if my hair ever grew back but my scalp and hair did seem a little healthier after about a month or 2 of not using it. Lately, i've been losing a lot of hair and would treally like someones advice. Propecia and Minoxidel are a no go for me unfortunately. Any advice?-Tim Timallen45@hotmail.com

[Alcyone]

Thanks for the reply. I've never heard of propecia making people feel stupid as a side effect. The only side effect I've noticed is a possible increase in sex drive.

There's something called Dutasteride/Avaodart. I don't know much about it. Perhaps others can share some insight or you can reasearch it.

[Alcyone]

After careful consideration, I've decided to quit using minoxidil on my scalp. The rapid thinning of my hair over the past several weeks, feeling the urge to look in the mirror every chance I get and the fact that I'm spending most of my time at work browsing hair loss forums have all been too much for me to handle. Hopefully, it shouldn't be more than 4-5 months before I recover from the massive shed.

Everyone I've talked to says they can't see a difference in my hair, but nobody will notice hair thinning before the person actually experiencing it. I could have people who I know very well lose half their density, for instance, walk up to me and and I'd never even realize it.

I'll continue to use minoxidil on my face in an attempt to gain thicker facial hair. Hopefully, enough will be absorbed into my system such that I might experience some scalp hair regrowth as well, but my days of using topicals on my scalp are over. Plain and simple.

Sam, I'll be happy to take pictures as we discussed if you're still interested. I plan on continuing the minoxidil on my face as well as the 1mg of propecia everyday. I think it would be interesting to document facial hair regrowth with 5%. Please let me know.

An interesting note: The minox solution seems to do wonders for my facial complexion. Not sure why, but it does. Also, I've noticed my facial hair grows back at a much more rapid rate than before applying minox. I'm starting to notice those 5 oclock shadows much sooner than before. Still haven't noticed any extra facial hair growth, but it's only been 1 month.

[HairLossFight.com]

Alcyone,

I wouldn't use minox on my face if I were you. That's not what it's intended for.

Regards,
Sam

[Jacob]

I dunno Sam. It might say "face it" somewhere in the literature

[Alcyone]

I feel obliged to say this. So please read!

It has been suggested by members on other forums that I have experienced a severe allgeric reaction to the drug. A shed, for instance, into the first two weeks might be considered normal, but an instant shed seconds after applying the solution IS NOT!

My advice to people who consider using this product. IF YOU NOTICE TONS OF HAIRS FALLING OUT INSTANTLY AFTER APPLYING MINOX SOLUTION, STOP USING IT AND THOROUGHLY WASH YOUR HAIR OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm stopping the minox alltogether and will not apply it on any part of my body from here on out.

[HairLossFight.com]

If indeed you had immediate loss from minox, that would be extremely rare. For the vast majority of people this will not occur.

I know you have good intentions by sharing your thoughts and experience, and I am sure you're being truthful, but I want to make sure that people don't panic.

Regards,
Sam

[Alcyone]

I understand completely.

To clarify the situation. Before stopping, I stood over my white bathroom sink. I continuously and harshly rubbed my hands through my dry hair with no minox in it. Guess what? Nothing came out at all. I then applied minox and rubbed it into my scalp with my fingers without harshly rubbing my hair. Guess what? Massive amounts of hair all over the place within secons after application and everyone on every forum telling me a shed is normal and "don't worry about it".

So for clarification. Is a shed normal? Yes.

Are massive and suddon amounts of hair falling out seconds after rubbing minox into your scalp normal? No.

That's the difference.

Most likely, I'll recover from the reaction, but I wanted to warn people should this very specific situation occur with them, not make them panic over what may be a normal, yet cosmetically noticable shed.

Thanks.

[Alcyone]

Sam, from what I've been reeding, allergic reactions to minox result in things like irritated scalp, tingling in hands, dizziness, rapid heart rate, etc. But I haven't run accross anything describing what I've experienced. Since you seem to be knowledgable about minox, could what I experienced possbibly be an allergic reaction (as rare as you say allergic reactions are)?

[HairLossFight.com]

Alyone,

I wouldn't be able to say. I think you should see a doctor.

Sam