Hi All.
I really hope you dont mind me posting here. Bit desperate and ladies section is dead. Please help.
I am female and have a few questions regarding upping minoxidil strength and/or adding 200mg spironolactone. In 2004 following ceasement of the bcp and weightloss I experienced mild minaturisation coupled with constant and excessive shedding for 3 years straight. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16 ( am currently 32) and so attributed it to that as I was aware that Androgenetic Alopecia was a possibility with my pcos diagnosis. In 2007 I went to belgravia centre in London and they started me on minoxidil 4% + MPG to which I responded very very well with fantastic results. I grew hair everywhere. It made me hairy as a gorilla lol and gave me very nice eyebrows and lashes too. At this point I had never seeked advice from a derm due to responding so well to the treatment. Fast forward, I have now used minoxidil for over a decade, however, in the last two years minoxidil has become ineffective. I believe due to a combination of two things:
•A sudden hormone shift which has caused very oily acne prone skin. I have always had the pcos characteristics such as irregular periods, hairloss, infertility, weight issues, hirutism. However never skin issues. And now minoxidil not working. I am leaning towards a possible thyroid issue since birth of my daughter in 2014.
• Fertility treatment last year including clomid cycles which sped up the Androgenetic Alopecia (I believe) and caused a heavy Telogen Effluvium.
In Dec 2018 I visited a endocrinologist primarily to address the hairloss and he undertook a range of hormone tests which came back normal despite my symptoms. My testosterone was within range but high normal. He gave me BCP and discharged me. Last month I seeked advice from a derm as was also concerned that I was losing eyebrows and eyelashes plus slow body regrowth. He checked my scalp and reported he could see mild minaturisation and volume loss around the vertex and anterior line. He diagnosed me with mild Androgenetic Alopecia and has asked me to increase minoxidil to 5% from 4%. Gave me spironolactone 200mg.
My questions are:
1. Has anyone upped minoxidil alone and received results?
I worry about an extra shed for absolutely no reason. I still see very little regrowth currently and see alot of minaturised hair falling out everywhere as well as terminal hairs. Its as if my body is rejecting all the minoxidil dependant hairs that it grew.
2. topical minoxidil V oral minoxidil - which is superior?
The derm suggested oral but as I was already using topical just told me to increase it but its a possibility to switch I guess?
3. spironolactone - I dont know if I should take the plunge with this one. He seemed adamant it could work for me given my other symptoms that it could address i.e. oily skin and scalp. he said although my testosterone was normal.. its upper range and also my androstenedione levels were upper range of normal.
Any advice or experiences on spironolactone?
I have scoured the internet and FB pages and I seem to not be reading such great results with spironolactone hence my reluctancy to start it. I am sorry this is long but I wanted you guys to have clear picture of my hair history so you can help me with my above questions.
Thanks so much all!
I really hope you dont mind me posting here. Bit desperate and ladies section is dead. Please help.
I am female and have a few questions regarding upping minoxidil strength and/or adding 200mg spironolactone. In 2004 following ceasement of the bcp and weightloss I experienced mild minaturisation coupled with constant and excessive shedding for 3 years straight. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16 ( am currently 32) and so attributed it to that as I was aware that Androgenetic Alopecia was a possibility with my pcos diagnosis. In 2007 I went to belgravia centre in London and they started me on minoxidil 4% + MPG to which I responded very very well with fantastic results. I grew hair everywhere. It made me hairy as a gorilla lol and gave me very nice eyebrows and lashes too. At this point I had never seeked advice from a derm due to responding so well to the treatment. Fast forward, I have now used minoxidil for over a decade, however, in the last two years minoxidil has become ineffective. I believe due to a combination of two things:
•A sudden hormone shift which has caused very oily acne prone skin. I have always had the pcos characteristics such as irregular periods, hairloss, infertility, weight issues, hirutism. However never skin issues. And now minoxidil not working. I am leaning towards a possible thyroid issue since birth of my daughter in 2014.
• Fertility treatment last year including clomid cycles which sped up the Androgenetic Alopecia (I believe) and caused a heavy Telogen Effluvium.
In Dec 2018 I visited a endocrinologist primarily to address the hairloss and he undertook a range of hormone tests which came back normal despite my symptoms. My testosterone was within range but high normal. He gave me BCP and discharged me. Last month I seeked advice from a derm as was also concerned that I was losing eyebrows and eyelashes plus slow body regrowth. He checked my scalp and reported he could see mild minaturisation and volume loss around the vertex and anterior line. He diagnosed me with mild Androgenetic Alopecia and has asked me to increase minoxidil to 5% from 4%. Gave me spironolactone 200mg.
My questions are:
1. Has anyone upped minoxidil alone and received results?
I worry about an extra shed for absolutely no reason. I still see very little regrowth currently and see alot of minaturised hair falling out everywhere as well as terminal hairs. Its as if my body is rejecting all the minoxidil dependant hairs that it grew.
2. topical minoxidil V oral minoxidil - which is superior?
The derm suggested oral but as I was already using topical just told me to increase it but its a possibility to switch I guess?
3. spironolactone - I dont know if I should take the plunge with this one. He seemed adamant it could work for me given my other symptoms that it could address i.e. oily skin and scalp. he said although my testosterone was normal.. its upper range and also my androstenedione levels were upper range of normal.
Any advice or experiences on spironolactone?
I have scoured the internet and FB pages and I seem to not be reading such great results with spironolactone hence my reluctancy to start it. I am sorry this is long but I wanted you guys to have clear picture of my hair history so you can help me with my above questions.
Thanks so much all!
