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

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

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

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.

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.

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

Dr. Internet always has horror stories that will scare you. Meet with a hair restoration specialist that can give you the facts. Simply once you stop using Minoxidil you will continue to lose hair as well as possible hair you have regrown.

The shed from minoxidil is not common and you must remember, people who do not have hair loss problems don't need minoxidil, so if the hair loss continues after using minoxidil it is probably the underlying condition that is causing it

There are no studies to suggest that minoxidil causes more damage.  The shed that some people experience may be due to the normal loss of the existing hair even if minoxidil was not used. Minoxidil is powerful FDA approved medication that has been used by our clients for many years now.  Usually after discontinuation of minoxidil, some people experience shedding and it is normal.