What are the risks of a woman using men's Rogaine? (photo)

It is best to follow your doctor's advice before starting any medication.  Many women use 5% Rogaine.  Higher strength may be associated with higher side effects.

Hello, You  should have a thorough workup including the following:
Trichoscopy- identify type of hair loss Extensive history and labs- rule out other forms of hair lossWe use ARTAS with regenerative techniques with women such as Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and growth factors to help improve overall results.  Although ARTAS is not FDA approved, it can be used off label for this purpose.  
Best,
Anil Shah

Minoxidil can be used to treat hair loss in women but at a lower concentration . In most cases in men 5% minoxidil is used and in women 2% is the preferred concentration. I would also consider other treatment options like PRP.

Hello there!  I am sorry for your distress.  You can absolutely use rogaine effectively as a female.  Be aware there is often an initial shed that occurs when starting any minoxidil product which is transient.  Meaning you will have an initial shed which leaves the hair ready to grow thicker and healthier.  
I will often combine minoxidil with an oral medication called spironolactone for my female patients with hair loss.  Finally, I would definitely consult with a hair specialist to make sure you are on the right treatment and to look for any reversible causes of your hair loss.

Many doctors recommend the 5% strength for men AND Women.  There are a number of treatment options, and Minoxidil (the generic name for Rogaine) is one of the least expensive ones and is considered safe.  There are several possible causes for female hair loss, so it's very important to try to identify the underlying cause.

Usually 2% Rogaine twice a day is prescribed for women. But 5% Rogaine once a day is also being prescribed off label by a lot of doctors. You can continue to use that if there are no side effects

Although only 2% minoxidil (Rogaine) is FDA approved for androgenic or pattern hair loss in women, many women use the 5% solution off label as it is more effective especially for once a day usage.  Other than occasional irritation or unwanted hair growth in adjacent areas, 5% is considered safe for use by women by most physicians.  It is important to determine the cause of your hair loss, whether hormonal, genetic, aging and to rule out any related medical conditions.  It is also beneficial to consider other proven treatments such as finasteride (Propecia), red light phototherapy and platelet rich plasma.  Be sure to speak with an experienced professional who is familiar with new and proven options in hair loss treatment.

Prior to 2014, there was a thought that 2% rogaine was better for women and 5% is better for men. It is pretty universally agreed now that 5% is best for all. The FDA has since approved 5% minoxidil for women. Good luck!

Rogaine (minoxidil) is FDA approved at the 2% concentration for women and 5% for men.  I often recommend a trial of off label use of the 5% in women with androgenic alopecia but advise it be used only once daily.  You should wash your hands after applying the 5% Rogaine before touching your face to minimize the risk of facial hair growth, though I have not had any patients experience this.  Hair loss is a time sensitive condition, so I like to be thorough and aggressive in treating both men and women.  Unfortunately, many patients are only offered Rogaine at their initial evaluations for hair loss, though there are several other viable options like PRP (platelet rich plasma) for which they may be candidates.  See a hair restoration specialist for the most complete evaluation and discussion of treatment options for your individual case.

There are 3 main problems with Rogaine/Minoxidil as follows:

1. It is only a mild hair growth stimulant being that it works on only one of the follicle growth receptors. Also it has only been proven effective for about 20% of people who try it.

2. It is required to be deployed in an alcohol base to work.  This unfortunately causes scalp irritation in many people.  Something we see pretty regularly in our practice in new patients unfortunately.

3. It doesnt actually stop the CAUSE of hair loss as it is only a growth stimulant.  this means that unless you have first stopped you hair loss cause you are taking one step forward and two back and your hair loss will eventually catch up and overtake the regrowth anyway.  Effectively you are just delaying your hair loss temporarily.

I recommend that you see a hair loss specialist to 1st determine your cause or causes of hair loss and have them create a personalized hair regrowth program for you which will first stop the hair loss and then work to regrow your hair with a more effective solution than Minoxidil.