Will Rogaine help me recover from TE? I’m just 19 years old.

Question

For the past three weeks have been shedding hair extremely. Never had any type of hair loss or thinning before. Was tested for thyroid levels and iron levels and everything came back okay. Doctor said I more than likely have TE. My hair is now very thin. Will Rogaine help speed my recovery?

Emrah Cinik, MD · Answer

Rogaine is a good treatment. It is also suggested to use an alternative treatment with rogaine like laser comb.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

This needs an in-person evaluation. I suggest seeing a hair loss expert now to go over your condition and provide you information about your best treatment options. There are great non-invasive options like prp/progesterone which can help with hair regrowth and/or hair transplantation. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Rogaine might help a person experiencing a telogen effluvium- however the best treatment for TE is to actually treat the underlying cause. If it truly is a TE it might be possible to stop the Rogaine in the future too. However, one needs to keep in mind that if your shedding is not really a sign of TE but rather it actually represents the start of androgenetic alopecia, Rogaine could still help. However, in this situation the use is lifelong- and any attempt to stop can lead to more shedding again. I make this point because the early stages of balding and telogen effluvium can look very similar. If things don’t improve or you have any concerns be sure to see an expert.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

To find out what you have, you need to have a doctor make a diagnosis and then recommend treatment.

Will Rogaine help me recover from TE? I’m just 19 years old.

Answers (4)