Regaine/Minoxidil users support thread

[MargotMoon]

I've just started my second month's supply of Regaine 2% and I'm trying to hold my nerve because the shedding over the last couple of weeks has been a bit alarming, although I was expecting it.

I'm using the liquid and applying once a day at bedtime but using double dose, as can't apply morning and evening as it makes my hair so greasy. Have ordered the foam to try next month to see what that's like, but that's a once a day formula anyway.

Please tell me it will get better!

[thedogdaysareover2]

@WeAllHaveWings thanks so much for this. She looks great. I have private medical insurance but I've never claimed on it so not sure if it will push my monthly payments up. Don't care! I'll check it out and get a referral to see her. Thanks again

[WeAllHaveWings]

@thedogdaysareover2

@bluetongue thanks. I'm in Scotland and don't think there are any dermatologists I could see on a private basis for my hair loss. I've had a look online and can't really find much. I took photos tonight when I came out the shower and I'm really shocked at my hairline. It's really worrying me.

https://bhns.org.uk/index.php?/dr_susan_holmes.html/

Ds saw this Dr at Ross Hall if you are in Glasgow . Got it through a referral and my work private health insurance. The bill to the insurance company was £140 for a consultation 5 years ago, GP gave me a copy of his blood results to give them. She couldnt do much as he basically had premaature male pattern baldness, but it was good to know there wasnt anything sinister going on. She did get our gp to prescribe him minoxidil and a shampoo to try, but neither worked.

[thedogdaysareover2]

@bluetongue thanks. I'm in Scotland and don't think there are any dermatologists I could see on a private basis for my hair loss. I've had a look online and can't really find much. I took photos tonight when I came out the shower and I'm really shocked at my hairline. It's really worrying me.

[MargotMoon]

I had to come off the spironolactone as it was messing with my kidney function and I had kidney stones a few years ago - not an experience I want to repeat!

I've kind of given up on it all now and accepted my thinning fate!

[bluetongue]

@thedogdaysareover2

Really sorry to resurrect an old thread but I'm getting a bit desperate with my hair loss. I am menopausal-started HRT age 43 and I'm now 48. I had covid 3 months ago and I think my hair loss has accelerated since this.
I got my bloods checked by my GP last week and my ferritin was 44 and haemoglobin was 139. I have an underactive thyroid which is medicated and my levels were normal at my blood check.
I've just ordered minoxidil 5% lotion and hoping this will work miracles! I take biotin but haven't noticed any improvement-I've been on this for about 1 year.
My hair is really thinning at the temples and on my middle parting. I'm constantly finding big balls of hair in the shower, on my hairbrush and in the carpet 😭
Can anyone else advise on what else I should do? Thanks

Get yourself to a dermatologist pronto.

You can get telegenic effluvium after an illness such as Covid but your hair loss pattern sounds more like female pattern hair loss. It’s actually possible that the post Covid general hair loss has uncovered the underlying female hair loss.

The good news is that it can get better. The post Covid TE will likely get better by itself with time and there are treatments for female latter hair loss. I’m taking oral minoxidil (after not responding to topical) and spironolactone which is an anti androgen. My hormone levels are normal but the issue is that for some people their hair is extra sensitive to normal levels of androgens. I’ve had hair grow back on my temples and my part is much better.

Good luck.

[thedogdaysareover2]

Really sorry to resurrect an old thread but I'm getting a bit desperate with my hair loss. I am menopausal-started HRT age 43 and I'm now 48. I had covid 3 months ago and I think my hair loss has accelerated since this.
I got my bloods checked by my GP last week and my ferritin was 44 and haemoglobin was 139. I have an underactive thyroid which is medicated and my levels were normal at my blood check.
I've just ordered minoxidil 5% lotion and hoping this will work miracles! I take biotin but haven't noticed any improvement-I've been on this for about 1 year.
My hair is really thinning at the temples and on my middle parting. I'm constantly finding big balls of hair in the shower, on my hairbrush and in the carpet 😭
Can anyone else advise on what else I should do? Thanks

[MargotMoon]

I have noticed that I get vertigo quite a lot now, but not to a great degree.

I've been taking spironolactone about that long and iron for a couple of months. Going to get my bloods checked tomorrow. The shedding is quite heavy and hasn't slowed down (yet..?)

[bluetongue]

[quote Shihtzu]@bluetongue this is good news. Can I ask, did you get any side effects from the medication at all? I’m into week 8 of HRT, still hoping for improvement, specialist says will need 6 months 😮[/quote]
I do need to pee more often but usually had to get up once a night before taking the medication anyway so it’s no big deal. Some people get dizziness with the spironolactone due to lower blood pressure but my blood pressure has always been a bit high so that’s actually a positive side effect for me

Some women get extra unwanted hair from oral minoxidil but I haven’t noticed anything.

[bluetongue]

[quote MargotMoon]@bluetongue Also, can I ask how long you have been taking the spironolactone and iron? And has your shedding stopped?[/quote]
I’ve been taking the iron since early May and the spironolactone since mid May. I seriously have enough shorter hairs growing for a thin fringe if I have my hair up.

My shedding was never heavy but looking back I was always brushing hair off my clothes. I also wash my hair every day. It was really just the thinning temples that prompted me to get medical advice,

[Shihtzu]

@bluetongue this is good news. Can I ask, did you get any side effects from the medication at all? I’m into week 8 of HRT, still hoping for improvement, specialist says will need 6 months 😮

[MargotMoon]

Given that I'm not using minoxidil any more maybe I should have called this thread androgenic alopecia support!

[MargotMoon]

@bluetongue Also, can I ask how long you have been taking the spironolactone and iron? And has your shedding stopped?

[MargotMoon]

@bluetongue That's fantastic news!! 👏
How lovely to feel like something is working Keep us posted!

[bluetongue]

Forgot to add I can now put my hair up in a ponytail again as there is enough fluffy new hair to cover the sparse bits.

My hair does grow very quickly so I suspect this has helped (but also means the grey will reappear quickly as well).

[bluetongue]

I have a positive update!

One of the reasons I made another appointment with the dermatologist is that my left temple which was the better of the two was looking worse in comparison to my right temple, Before my dermatologist appointment I dyed my hair as my temples are about 50% grey. Once my hair was dyed I realised there was actually a whole lot of fluffy hair on my right temple which was hard to see previously as it was grey. Cue me madly staring at this new, fluffy hair in the mirror every chance I got and trying to decide if it was really hair growing back or my imagination.

At my appointment the dermatologist agreed that I had a decent amount of new hair coming through and that I should be happy. My left temple really did look worse because of all the new hair on my right temple.

I’ve been taking oral minoxidil after topical minoxidil didn’t work. On top of this I also take 50mg spironolactone and an iron supplement (ferritin level was 14).

[Sometimesonly]

I'll look into it, thanks.

[Shihtzu]

Sometimesonly are you likely to be peri/menopausal or post menopausal? If so body identical (not to be confused with bio identical as that’s not regulated in the UK) HRT may well help.

[Sometimesonly]

My diagnosis was androgenic alopecia too.

[Shihtzu]

Sometimesonly have you had any diagnosis?
It seems there are so called treatments that are not specific to a condition but have been found to create hair growth in some but not everyone.
The reasons for hair loss are diverse. It’s a minefield

[Sometimesonly]

I've seen a trichologist and a dermatologist but to no avail!

[MargotMoon]

Sorry to hear that @Sometimesonly it's very disheartening isn't it?

I'm beginning to think my problem is low oestrogen as I read that lack of oestrogen makes it hard to manage stress and I've always had a problem with that.

Have you spoken to anyone about it or just been using Dr Google? I wish I'd persevered more with official channels rather than middle through myself for years - not that they've helped much yet mind!

[Sometimesonly]

Just seen this thread. Thanks for posting @MargotMoon - sorry it didn't work for you. I didn't take pictures but I came to the same conclusion - that months of Minoxidil hasn't made a blind bit of difference! I'm taking iron tablets as my ferritin was very low but have yet to see an improvement there either.

[bluetongue]

I’m not happy with my temples still losing hair so I’ve made another dermatologist appointment. Hoping I can up my dose of spironolactone.

Sigh. I should be happy I’m not actually ‘sick’ but rubbish, thinning hair really knocks your self esteem

[Shihtzu]

The specialist has confirmed this is telogen effluvium and post menopausal thinning. He says the HRT I’m on is the way to go but it will take several months. I can only hope it kicks in soon...

[Shihtzu]

Maybe it’s early days. I’m seeing specialist today so will report back. How much hair are you losing each day do you think?