Some Hair Loss Treatments can actually stop or slow down hair loss but there are many products that are simply not effective. Your GP, Dermatologist or Registered Consultant Trichologist will advise you if a product is available to help with your particular hair loss type. Asking an expert is certainly recommended.
Recent research shows that using Minoxidil (normally 2% for women and 5% for men) can help with slowing down the loss of hair. I have spoken to some people who say that using Minoxidill has made a difference to their hair. Interestingly enough, if you choose to discontinue using the product then any benefits gained will be lost within a few months.
I would be interested to hear if anyone has had either a good or bad experience with this product.
Hi
I used minoxidil (regaine) solution, the 5% version which should only be used for men, but I was told by the dermatologist when I was 14 that the female version would not work on me.
Unfortunately I didn’t really notice much of a difference. It made my hair greasy, which in turn made my scalp shiny and I think that made the problem worse. I used it for 2 years in the hope it would start to work but it never did.
Thanks
I used minoxidil 2.5 years ago as I suffer from female pattern baldness. Unfortunately, I shed an excessive amount of hair which never grew back thus worsening my condition. The company advised me to stop using it and my dermatologist confirmed that this has happened before to others.
Thanks
I have been using Minoxidil for nearly three years. At first i was using a 4% solution and then after a year up it to 5%. There was an initial thinning stage but this got better and for a while i thought it was working. I have now moved onto a 12% dose which is a cream! Horrible it has made my hair fall out more and given me a horrible itchy scalp! I am literally at the end of my tether!! I have no idea what women can do for this. Its just such a horrible situation and there is no one and nothing out there that helps!! If you hear of anything let me know!
Persevered with minoxidil for several years. Greasy, pricey, inconvenient and totally ineffective! I think minoxidil is one big marketing con aimed at suckering in vulnerable people desperate enough to try anything.
Minoxidil is one of the many treatments that I tried – it appeared to work but caused me further scalp irritation (soreness). When I stopped using it the hair gained fell out and when I resumed using it about a year later – it just didn’t work again – although the scalp soreness and palpitations returned. Not worth it.
My hairloss started when I was in my mid-twenties (I am now 41) and it has had a devastating effect on my life. I now know that it was initially just simple alopecia caused by a combination of stress and traction baldness from wearing extensions. Unfortunately it was incorrectly diagnosed by then my GP whilst I was a student at UCL and I was given Canesten to treat what she decided (just by looking at it rather than comissioning any tests) was a fungal infection. It not only didn’t work but also resulted in my scalp breaking out into sore patches and pustules which in turn led to scaring alopecia. This meant that I not only had increased hair loss as a result but also a damaged scalp where the scaring had resulted in loss of a lot hair follicles. The mis diagnosis sensitised my scalp to pretty much anything else and led to years of misery with extended hair loss, scalp breakouts and sore scalp conditions.
I’ve since visited a series of dermatologists and have had periods when hair loss seemed to have stopped – during which time I tried the Minoxidil.
Unfortunately, my hairloss is multifactorial and since the medics haven’t been able to come up with anything convincing – I have finally called a halt to dealing with the medical profession over my hair loss and have resorted to shaving what’s left of my hair, washing my hair with a medical shampoo and I’ve just started wearing a wig.
My hair started to shed after the birth of my third child. It has affected my life beyond belief. I never thought of myself as vain, but when it happens to you, you become so self conscious about what you look like it takes over your life. I have consulted numerous people, was told I had androgenetic alopaecia by a dermatologist (male pattern baldness) which means most of my hair loss is at the front, so I will get a receding hair line like a man. It is something I wake up to everyday. I spend hours looking at other womens hair wishing it was mine. I also visited a hair loss specialist in London and was sold Minoxidil and various other products, which I haven’t used. I was told, like everyone else, that once you start using it you have to continue for ever. Didn’t sound like something I wanted to do, so I haven’t even opened the bottle. I have had my iron levels done, hormones tested etc etc. I really can sympathise with all the women out there who are suffering. It’s a terrible thing, especially when they can’t really pin point why it has happened. Before my third child I had a full head of hair. Now I dread washing it as it’s then I realise how much hair falls out.
I was told to use regaine 5% as I have male pattern hair loss I used it for two years, it initially caused me a “dread shed” it was horrendous I lost tons of hair which nearly caused me to break down. the hair never returned, it made my head itchy and sore and I got horrendous dandruff, two years on I was still losing hair on teh temples and I just decided I would rather save my money and use it for cosmetic replacment, Hair loss has ruined my life, I dont even consider looking at a man or trying to get into a relationship at 35 I have resigned myself to staying single and not having much of a life, my hair loss is from a hormone imbalence I cannot have kids and am losing hair like a guy … its enough to cause someone to end it, thankfully I am on a high Anti Depressent and things are feeling more positive.
Personally I dont think Regaine works at all
My fine-ish hair starting falling out as female pattern baldness in my mid 30s – probably due to stress/genes. I saw a private dermatologist after my GP just laughed at me – I had to beg for a letter of referral. I used 5% minoxidil which when prescribed privately is very different to the over the counter stuff (which i had tried initially). It’s not greasy. I have to say I had excellent results with it and good regrowth, though it was costly. Ironically, I was diagnosed with breast cancer three years later and lost the lot due to chemo – which also brought on an early menopause. Oddly, I wasn’t bothered by being totally bald although it had previously been my biggest fear. chemo is a legit reason to be bald. Overnight baldness is easier to handle than constant thinning wispy hair. My hair grew back wavy and strong after chemo – a common occurrence. So I ditched the minoxidl – and then, sadly, my thinning started all over again about two years after chemo finished, probably partly due to the menopause. HRT hasnt really helped. I went back on minoxidil but second time around, it’s not working and has made my scalp sore. Am getting to the stage where my thinning is noticeable and am seriously considering intralace system.
Yes, im glad to be alive after surviving aggressive cancer (7 years so far) but fully appreciate the horrific loss of self esteem that comes with hair loss.
I HAVE TRIED REGAINE AND INDOXIL AND SCALP THINNING CREMES NOT WORKED AYE A LITTLE BIT I GAVE UP THREE YEARS AGO IT WAS COSTLY AND MADE NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME I KNOW WILL BE VISITNG YOU TO SEE IF YOU CAN HELP ME HAD THIN HAIR FOR ANY MANY YEARS HAVE THROIYD PROBLEMS
Hi, There should be more support for female hair loss. I have always had long hair fair and fine in texture but not thin at scalp, until a mix of stress/menopause caused thinning at front and top of scalp. My GP was unsympathetic but in the end told me to buy “minoxidil” which I did but feel more hair now falling out. I have found there are women`s toupee-style hair-pieces on the market which fix to your own hair, and blend in. Not ideal and wide variation in price…do not buy off internet as colour needs to be a good match.I hate this condition and feel rubbish also ashamed as ,well, I have not lost hair due to chemo.! Have never been a vain person but hate how I look.Single, low income, no hope of cure.Future is hats and hairpieces.Accept and get on with life.Go glam and use make-up and sunglasses etc ! Minoxidil etc.is a rip-off with little chance of good result.