Why is it that some users of minoxidil claim to never recover from the initial shed? Can minoxidil cause more damage than aid?

Question

Some frightening stories exist online describing a never ending shedding process once starting minoxidil. As someone looking into the treatment and who is yet to have noticeable hair loss (as of yet), this all sounds discouraging. I've also heard claims of frequent periods of shedding due to minoxidil's synchronization of hair follicles, whereby all hair follicles under the drug's effect come to form, grow, and subsequently die together (all at once). What are your thoughts on these claims?

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello,Minoxidil is effective in protecting the non-transplanted hairs by keeping them in anagen phase for longer.  Patients often times need a blueprint for maintaining native hairs so that future procedures are not necessary.  Transplanted hairs have been reported to grow faster with minoxidil.  Evidence has been reported by several studies with limited numbers including at a Consensus Report at the 9th Annual Meeting in 2002.  The main downside of minoxidil is irritation which is often mitigated by the use of foam.
Best,
 Dr. Anil Shah

Emrah Cinik, MD · Answer

if you use minoxidil for a long term, when you stop taking it, there might be some hair loss. But it is hard to tell if these hair are the extra ones or the newly growings. İf you have a dermatit situation than this can effect the extra hair as well

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

You shouldn't believe everything you read on the Internet.  You are trying to ask for validation to "frighting things you read".  If you have hair loss and want treatment options see a doctor in person for a proper exam and obtain a diagnosis.

Camilo Diaz, MD · Answer

Patient can experience hair shedding in the early stages of using minoxidil, normally around 6-8 weeks of use. Is this permanent? As a rule no it isn't and the hairs would make way for new hairs to grow through. The use of Minoxidil is for Hair Loss, so patient using it are suffering with MPB and so if hair loss continues then it may be that the Minoxidil simply didn't work for them.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Minoxidil can cause shedding in some users over the first 6-8 weeks. The dormant hairs are shed to prepare for new hairs to come in. Is it possible for someone to use minoxidil, get a shed and then wind up with thinner hair than before they started? Yes, it is. But fortunately it is not all that commonMinoxidil does not help everyone. Genetic hair loss can still move along at whatever speed it was intending to go regardless of whether minoxidil was appliedIf a person is a "non responder" to minoxidil (Rogaine) and has active genetic hair loss (meaning it is in an active phase of shedding and miniaturization, then yes - the individual may end up with less hair than they started. It is not common and most nonresponders regrow shed hair and find they look the same 6 months later

Why is it that some users of minoxidil claim to never recover from the initial shed? Can minoxidil cause more damage than aid?

Answers (5)