new thread
Hi,
Long time lurker, first time poster. Many of my friends are longhairs and after many years of being too afraid to grow mine out too (I had a very short buzzcut for 10 years), I started on my hair-growing journey in June of 2006. I am nearing my 14th month of growth, and things seem to be going as well as can be expected... except for I noticed back in Jan 2007 that I had thinning in my crown area.
I went to see a doctor about it, and he said that I had a "mild" case of MPB (I have no frontal receding or loss), and that I would benefit from Propecia. I started taking the Propecia in Jan and noticed some filling in in the area in the first 3 months, but then I decided to start Minoxidil as well (the 5% stuff) in April to give it an extra "boost".
Now, the area that was thin is pretty full and I am happy with the results. It looks pretty much like the rest of my hair now.
Here is the problem: I am apparantly allergic to the Minoxidil. I get hives/itching/swollen lips, etc. when I use it, so I have had to stop it. Someone had suggested that I am not actually allergic to the minoxidil itself, but the delivery liquid and other ingredients, and that I should use the foam, which I have not tried yet.
Here is my question: By stopping the Minoxidil, and staying on the Propecia, will the hair I grew back in that area all fall out now? My common sense and MOST of what I have been reading online, says that it is the Propecia that has been most helpful and not the Minoxidil. I have asked 2 different doctors about this, and both say that the Propecia is the major player here, and one said that stopping the Minoxidil will not cause any problems at all. The other one was not sure, and told me to keep an eye on it in the near future.
Has anyone here had a similar situation? Do I really *need* the minoxidil? The propecia seems to have little to no side effects and I have been on it, so I don't have to go off it.
Any suggestions?
Thanks for reading. I'll try and post some photos of me soon.
Matt
I'm a girl, not a guy. But I have been using the generic finasteride (which is what Propecia and Proscar are) to treat the virilizing effects of having an intersexed condition called Adrenal Hyperplasia. I tried that monoxidil stuff years ago, when I first showed signs of MPB, as I am one of the small number of females who get MPB or androgenic alopecia. It didn't do diddly-squat for me. Not to mention that it was a pain, and yes, it irritated the heck out of my scalp.
The finasteride has been doing wonders for me all on it's own, so I don't really think you need to do both. Some people get better results with both. I had the hair loss reverse itself, and have experienced a lot of new growth. I can't see any reason why stopping the monoxidil will result in hair loss, since the Propecia is responsible for keeping it there.
You could always take a vacation from monoxidil, and see if any changes occur. If the hair loss occurs again, then you could try the foam. But I agree with the doctors, the Propecia is probably the most responsible for the new growth, plus it helps you keep existing growth, and prevents further loss. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Carol
I thought Finasteride was dangerous for a woman, but yea.. I have started the "vacation" from minoxidil, but I am watching it very carefully.
Thank you for your input!
Matt
It isn't that it's dangerous for a woman, it's that it's dangerous for the developing fetus, should she become pregnant. Women of childbearing age are strongly urged to not use it, and those for whom it is prescribed for a condition such as mine, are responsible for taking measures to preventing pregnancy while using the drug.
Carol