Debra asked this question on the “calling all thickening shampoo” thread, but I decided to repost it here so that other women can have the opportunity to find it easier and perhaps comment as well.
She Wrote:
I love reading these comments. I started loosing my hair about 3 months ago. My family doctor recommended I go see a dermatology. Dermatology told me to use Rogaine for women. I had to stop after a few weeks as I noticed i was loosing more hair. Than I had the biopsy done. Now he is telling me to use Rogaine for men! holy cow. What to do? Need your help please?
Hi Debra-
Welcome to the site!
I am not a doctor so I can’t give medical advice, but I’ll give you the information I’ve found out over the course of the last 8 years losing my own hair.
Did you recently go on or off birth control pills or any other medication? I don’t think I a personally agree that the dermatologist you saw should have advised you to go on Rogaine after only 3 months of hair loss. 3 months is a very short amount of time and you could have just been experiencing shedding caused by any number of factors.
It is not uncommon at all to start shedding more hair after beginning any hair loss treatment such as Rogaine. The hair shedding should be temporary. After a 1-2 months if the treatment works, new hair should begin to grow, hair growth works in cycles. When Rogaine causes hair shedding it may induce the hair shaft to fall off, the follicle would then enter a dormant phase in the cycle (temporarily) while the matrix is restructured for future growth, hopefully with a thicker and stronger hair shaft. In the meantime through you may lose more hair, but after waiting for several months you may have thicker and stronger hair with any new hair growth, assuming the Rogaine works. I have heard this process referred to as the “dread shed.” By the way it is not exclusive to Rogaine, any hair loss treatment can “temporarily” cause shedding. The problem is Rogaine doesn’t work for all women and they still get the extra shedding from it. As was my case, on top of that I was left with an itchy oily scalp.
What did the biopsy reveal? Rogaine for women and Rogaine for men is the same thing, the main difference is the strength of the product. Rogaine for men is 5% minoxidil and is propylene glycol based and the Rogaine for women is 2% and is alchol based. If I’m not mistaken I think the proplyene glycol is suppose to provide a better vehicle for the minoxidil to penetrate the scalp, however it an also cause allergic reactions.
I think you should see another doctor and get a second opinion before jumping into anything. Women’s hair loss is not as cut and dry as it is for men. There are plethora of factors that cause women to lose their hair, and sometimes it is just temporary. I’d hate for you to start jumping in the treatment game without feeling 100% comfortable with what your doctor is prescribing. I have heard a lot of complaints from women who say that their doctor knew nothing, rushed them in and out of the office and shoved a bottle of Rogaine them.
I wish I could help more. I’m sorry you are going through this.
Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair shedding, minoxidi, rogaine, scalp biopsy, womens hair loss
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
julie 09.20.07 at 1:09 pm
When you are suffering from hair loss, you might also want to see a nutritionalist, endocrinologist, allergist and a family doctor. Any tests that were done or whatever records you have should be with you at all times when visiting with these doctors.
Personally, I also feel that maintaining a positive attitude will shun Murphy’s Law! Things will go wrong in any given situation, if you give them a chance…anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Using Rogaine for a day may even cause excessive hair loss. I noticed my hair loss worsened once I stopped using Rogaine. Some dermatologists recommend using Rogaine with Spironolactone, birth control and other combinations to lessen the chances of risking more hair. I think you really need to know what you are lacking as far as nutrients to have a complete thorough assessment and knowledge of your hair loss. Once you’ve established that, I think it would be safe to proceed in researching different options for yourself.
beth 10.05.07 at 11:28 pm
I keep reading conflicting reports of Spironolactone — some say it increases hair loss, others say it helps with hair loss. Are both true?? I’ve been dealing with hair loss for 10 years, and now acne (I’m 38). My dermatologist prescribed Spironolactone and after taking it for 2 weeks I’m freaked out that it will increase my hair loss.
admin 10.06.07 at 12:15 pm
Hi Beth, the truth is every effective hair loss treatment can cause you to shed and depending on who you ask every hair loss treatment will have its proponents and opponents as well. It really depends on the person, for myself, I did experience increased shedding upon beginning Aldactone (brand name of spironolactone) but it did subside after a few months. The general consensus in the hair loss world is that if a treatment causes you to shed then it means it is working, but at the same time the absence of shedding in not an indication that it isn’t working. It is my understanding that it all depends at what point you are catching the hair cycle when you begin the medication. If your hair is on the uptake and a lot of the hair follicles are going into an anagen phase then there is a good chance that the medication will just help improve that process, however, if you are in a catagen or active telogen phase it could expedite that as well and increase shedding.
Gretchen 10.06.07 at 1:15 pm
Hi Beth,
If you can, keep us posted on your progress with Spironolactone. I may have to start taking it in a couple of weeks, and if I do I’ll keep you posted, too.
Thanks! Gretchen
Barbara 10.31.07 at 7:23 pm
You mentioned above that you thought the Women’s Rogaine did not contain Propylene Glycol, but it does. I had been using a generic formulation with great success for the past 3 years. Suddenly I developed a raging case of seborrheic dermatitis from it (probably an allergy to the propylene glycol but maybe to the monoxidil) My dermatologist didn’t even figure out that it was from the Rogaine…he told me I could keep using it. I had to stop using it and am still battling the dermatitis while losing a lot of hair. Supposedly, there is a formulation of minoxidil made without Propylene Glycol, but I don’t know how to obtain it.
Gretchen 11.01.07 at 10:10 am
Hi Barbara,
I’m using Men’s Rogaine Foam for about 3 weeks. So far it’s going pretty good. I only use it once a day, because my lifestyle doesn’t support using it twice a day. I tried using the men’s liquid solution and after using it twice stopped because my scalp was red and itchy. After I stopped using it, my head itched for a whole week! I then called and complained to my derm who said he recommends the foam not the other solutions. So, taking this directly from the package, it says the active ingredients are minoxidil (of course) without propellant. And, here is the list of inactive ingredients in the foam:
butane, butylated, hydroxytoluene, cetyl alcohol, citric acid, fragrance, glycerin, isobutane, lactic acid, polysorbate 60, propane, purified water, SD alcohol 40-B, stearyl alcohol.
Hope this helps!! Good luck!
I am going to keep everyone updated on my experience with the foam. So far, I haven’t noticed much of a difference. I do feel like I’ve experienced some increased shedding (which is expected) and am hopeful that it will eventually slow the shedding down. Then, maybe adding Spiro to the mix will help the hair grow. I did start taking an iron supplement since my ferritin level was 20, so we’ll see if that helps, too.
Janet 12.13.07 at 10:24 am
I have been using Spectral DNC 5% Minoxidl solution and my shedding finally slowed down after about 6 weeks. I have noticed as a side effect increased growth of facial hair, on my cheeks and upper lip and chin area. It’s annoying but it tells me that something is working!! LOL I am also taking Saw Palmetto and Spirodactone 100 mg / day. That is causing me to have irregular periods, I’m hoping that will level off soon.
I do see a thickening of my hair at the scalp. I have my hair relaxed and I’m thinking of letting it grow out because I don’t want to put any chemicals on my scalp that could harm it. I just recently purchased Folligen which has copper peptides which is supposed to help thicken the hair shaft as it grows in. I have resigned myself that its going to take at least 1 year or more before I can make a conclusion about my treatment results.
Any one have good suggestions on facial depilatories? I am grateful because my hairline is coming back in so nicely as well.. I had a bit of traction alopeical as well as AA
Jenny 12.16.07 at 4:10 am
Hi Janet,
I’d love it if you can keep us updated on your use of the Spectral DNC solution! I did some searching and there’s also a Spectral RS solution, which doesn’t contain minoxidil, but contains Aminexil (like the DNC), which is supposed to be very effective (althoughI haven’t read many positive comments in various forums). One of the women in the ‘’sucess stories” found that the Vichy aminexil worked for her. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Janet 12.28.07 at 6:13 pm
Hi Jenny,
I’ll be happy to keep you posted… I’ll be glad when they come out with the Spectral DNC for women because the 5% is definately working…I’m just a little concerned about the facial hair thing… I am going to make extra sure that I’m washing my hands and not getting any on my face when I spray it. It is working too well for me to stop but I may slow to once per day. I am also thinking of using essentail oils at night in case the DNC is getting on my face while I’m sleeping from my night application.
It grew hair in a little bald patch that developed a few years back from wearing tiny braids on my hairline. I was surpised that spot grew back! This stuff is strong though, I would caution ladies before using!!
kris 04.08.08 at 8:20 pm
hi. i had some type of scalp rash last xmas. i saw a dermatologist who gave me a shampoo and solution that made by scalp even MORE irritated and 5 weeks later, the result was thinned hair in the front .. you know right above my brows.. no one knows really if it will grow back or not.. two stylists think it may but we wont know for about 6 month.. meaning 4 mos to go.. long 4 mos.. i am taking large doses of vit c, and b, along with regular vitamins.. trying to go more raw too.
becareful what you are given, the highly touted dermatologist made it worse.. wish i had just gone to my stylist.. now i wouldnt be so freaked.. k