Solution 1: Be patient Hair regrowth is a slow process, so don't be discouraged if you don't see results straight away. In fact, it usually takes 2-4 months of continuous use to notice a reduction in hair loss and the regrowth of new hair when using minoxidil.
You may get better results if you have been losing your hair for a short period of time or have little hair loss. However, for some men minoxidil foam (minoxidil) Topical Aerosol, 5% may not work.
Tell your doctor if your hair loss continues after 2 weeks. Also, tell your doctor if your hair growth does not increase after using minoxidil for 4 months.
This medication must be used on a regular basis for your hair to regrow. It may take 2 to 4 months of regular use before you notice any improvement. It is important to continue to use this product to maintain regrowth of hair. Once you stop using it, the regrown hair will usually fall out within 3 months.
After 16 weeks of administration, minoxidil has been found to promote hair growth in approximately 35% of individuals in clinical trials [3,4]. While 30-40% of patients in physician-guided studies reported success, this percentage is dramatically lower in subjects who self-administer minoxidil.
So, by measuring SULT1A1 activity with a simple hair sample, we can tell if you have the enzyme necessary for successful growth—without any invasive tests or procedures. Ultimately, the Minoxidil Response Test is your best bet for determining if Minoxidil will work for you.
In conclusion, while it might seem alarming, initial hair shedding after starting Minoxidil is a temporary and expected part of the treatment process. This early hair loss occurs as weaker, thinner hairs are pushed out to make way for new, healthier growth.
Some people may not respond to topical Minoxidil as they lack the correct enzyme in their hair follicles to activate the medication from Minoxidil to Minoxidil Sulphate (the enzyme that activates Minoxidil is called sulfotransferase).
The 5% minoxidil solution was judged very effective in stimulating new hair growth by 7.5% of the men, effective by 55%, moderately effective by 31.3%, and ineffective by 6.2%.
Minoxidil will only work if there are hairs roots present in your scalp. On a bald area, this medication will be of no use. If there are no roots on the scalp or there is complete baldness, then minoxidil will not be able to convert the hairs into the telogen phase.
If you've been using minoxidil for 2-4 months with no success, then you may want to consult a doctor to find out why that might be. There could be an underlying reason why it hasn't been effective, so it's best to get professional medical advice if it does not work for you after a few months of continuous use.
Why Am I Still Losing Hair (Shedding) After 6 Months on Minoxidil And Finasteride? A: It is a bit long to still see shedding, but from my experience, either the medications are working (and you are still in the shedding phase) or you are not responding to them.
However, stopping minoxidil use may result in some people's hair loss returning if the underlying cause is not addressed. Minoxidil only works as long as people use it; it doesn't address the underlying cause of hair loss. Therefore, hair loss may continue or even speed up when people stop using minoxidil.
Ketoconazole has antifungal and anti-androgen properties and can also reverse baldness. Some treatments for male pattern baldness include a combination of minoxidil and ketoconazole. Ketoconazole shampoo is among the best shampoos to use with minoxidil.
Minoxidil 5% is thought to yield superior results compared to both minoxidil 2% and minoxidil 10%. While minoxidil 10% produces similar results to minoxidil 2% and 5%, it causes a marked increase in side effects without increasing any benefits.
Enter: Retinol, but specifically Tretinoin, which is only offered as a prescription. This form of retinol can used topically on the scalp (before minoxidil) and helps raise sulfotransferase levels to boost the efficacy of minoxidil. In fact, one study reports that levels were raised after 5 days of using tretinoin.
In this case report, we describe the case of a 23-year-old man who presented with complaints of dizziness, blurred vision, general malaise, fatigue, and feeling pre-syncopal while standing after applying large amounts of topical minoxidil solution for three days in a row.
Minoxidil helps to nourish and “regenerate” hair follicles that have shrunk as a result of MPB. However, if an area of the scalp has completely lost its follicles, and there is complete baldness, then Minoxidil hairline restoration won't work.
If Minoxidil is working for you, you might notice some positive signs like initial shedding, increased hair length, and the feeling of thicker hair. If your hair responds to Minoxidil, you should see signs of progress within 3-9 months.