Will your hair you shed while using Rogaine grow back?

[JMay83]

About two and a half months ago, I (25 year old male) noticed I was slightly thinning out on the top of my head. I decided to try rogaine foam. I applied it to the front, mid and crown of my head. About a week or so later I noticed that I was really starting to thin out on the top of my head but mainly in the front. I got online, read alot of information about rogaine foam, and found about half and half of really good results or miserable results. Some people said that Rogaine was growing hairs back for them (never mentioning a shed of any sort), and some people were saying that Rogaine caused them to lose lots of hair that never came back for them. I quit using the Rogaine on the front and mid of my scalp after a week or so, but now I have a fear that I've permanently damaged the front of my hair, which doesn't make any sense to me since Rogaine is FDA approved. I couldn't see the FDA putting out a product that has the potential to permanently damage your hair after only using it for a week/two weeks. And I couldn't see how there wouldn't be a disclaimer in the Rogaine package that would say something along the lines of "Caution; if you start using this product there is a chance that you won't regrow the hair that Rogaine has caused you to shed." All I know is that I now have a lot worse hair than what I've ever had my entire life, and that it started when I started the Rogaine foam. I heard it can take at least three to four months before that hair that shed would start to grow again, but waiting it out is killing me. I've never had a problem with my hair my entire life, except I straightened it earlier this year (I normally have wavy hair), and could tell I had started to thin out a little. I took rogaine foam for about a week or so and it devestated my hairline. and I've been to a dermatologist who told me Rogaine wouldn't cause shedding. He basically called me a liar. But I have heard the same scenario with a number of people online. I just can't believe that if Rogaine has the potential to do that, that a bigger deal is not made of the possibility that can totally devesate your hairline. Anyone can buy Rogaine at Wal Mart! That's just crazy to me.

[JMay83]

Also, does anyone have an idea about how long it takes for your hair to become dependent on the Rogaine? I want to quit using it on my crown (I've started taking propecia a month ago, and I've been using Rogaine on the crown for roughly three months). I would prefer just to be on Propecia, but I'm afraid of shedding alot of hair on the crown where I have been using the Rogaine.

[Mark]

Hi JMay,

In the vast majority of people, Rogaine doesn't cause any side effects at all. Some men report irritation of the scalp. However, shedding has been reported in a small number of users, and it usually subsides and the hair grows back in time. I don't believe that I've ever heard of anyone losing hair permanently due to shedding.

Out of curiosity, were you applying the medication in the proper amount? Rogaine isn't typically used on the hairline.

Also, I think I should point out that no drug can be guaranteed to be free from side effects. Every single drug out there has the potential to react differently with different people. I always recommend that people experiencing side effects from any FDA approved drug report them to the FDA. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/

As far as minoxidil dependency, you shouldn't be having any of that after three months. That's more for people who have been taking it for years. Basically, when start taking drugs like Minoxidil or Finasteride, they end up retaining hair over time that would have been lost otherwise. If you stop taking the drug, you end up losing all the hair that you had maintained. 3 months of use should not have maintained much, if any, hair. It's just not a long enough period of time in the hair growth cycle.

-Mark

[JMay83]

I had read by many people about getting results on the hairline from using Rogaine, and my doctor advised me to do the same. I'm just worried that the hair I shed won't grow back. Do you know about how long it can take for hair to start growing back after it has shed?

[Mark]

I had read by many people about getting results on the hairline from using Rogaine, and my doctor advised me to do the same. I'm just worried that the hair I shed won't grow back. Do you know about how long it can take for hair to start growing back after it has shed?

Typically about 9 months to a year. Hair grows quite slowly and it takes a long time to grow back to full length. If you cut your hair short, it will grow to even length with the rest of your hair quicker.

-Mark

[JMay83]

Thanks so much! this forum has been very useful.. I think it's great what you guys are doing!

[mandy]

I have the same question as you...its been almost 5 months for you. Can I ask you if you see any regrowth in the shedding caused by minoxidil? I do not take any other medication since stopping the minoxidil.

I'm only 21 and this has been causing alot of distress to me.