Have you any idea, where is the threshold for the loss of minoxidil-dependent hair?

[WarLord]

This is a question that is very important for me.

Two years ago, I started to experiment with high-strength minoxidil in my temples. 15% minoxidil ED didn't help much even after 6 months, and it even devastated my hair, so I switched to 10% EOD. This switch didn't change much even after 6,5 months, so I quitted it completely and returned to my usual application of 5% minoxidil. I expected that my hair would simply return to its original state. What a mistake! Within 4 months, my hair was virtually annihilated everywhere, where I had applied the 10% minoxidil. A loss of minoxidil-dependent hair! And it hasn't regrown back!

Now, during the sudden loss, uncertain of its origin, I preventively started to mix my 5% minoxidil with 15% minoxidil to achieve a 6% concentration. Now I am at 6.3%. But due to the less stability of the 15% version (possible fluctuactions in the concentration) and the uncertainty, as for its future availability, I would like to return back to 5%. Furthermore, now I also take finasteride and dutasteride, so I don't need such a high percentage anymore. But I am scared like hell of a possible new losses of hair, despite such a "minute" 1.3% difference, because this time it would be on the whole scalp. I feel like if I were caught in a trap.

It is curious that a drop by 33% (from 15% ED to 10% EOD) didn't do anything that would be noticeable, but a drop by 50% (from 10% EOD to 5% ED) was a disaster. Therefore, I would like to compare my experience with others. I have no idea, what fluctuations my hair can tolerate.

 

[marcster]

Just my perspective here, but I think that once you are on a regimen that works for you, you should just stay on it indefinitely. Forever.

Hair loss is such a strange thing, and even the top doctors in the field don't seem to fully understand it.

What we do seem to know is that DHT blockers, like Propecia and Dutasteride, work well for hair loss and are reasonably safe. Side effects with finasteride are about 1% and I think the profile for dutasteride is similar. Minoxidil seems to work well too and is relatively free of side effects.

If you can get on these two drugs and get stabilization + some regrowth, then really...that is great.

I think what is to be gained from tweaking these things too much is outweighed by the potential losses, by using a concentration of minoxidil that is too high or finding yourself cut off from access to higher concentration minoxidil while 5% minoxidil is readily available.

My personal path is to stick with rogaine + propecia, the two drugs which work and we have ready access to.

Temple balding...eh, mine are stubborn too and haven't gotten as much regrowth as I've had on my forelock and top of my head.

I think that given the state of the science today, we must all consider that hair transplants may be the only way to satisfactorily address those problem spots that seem resistant to drug therapy.

Although there is the new dermaroller thing that seems to show some promise. Maybe some dermarolling and 5% minoxidil can awaken the resistant follicles at the corners.