Minoxidil question

Ok I have a bit of a problem here...

I decided to get a Hair Transplant in January 2012 with what is considered to be the best surgeon available right now (Rahal).

I'm getting FUE done to minimize scarring and I only need hairline work since my loss is fairly minimal (norwood 2).

My big problem is that the doc attributes some of his early growth and consistent yield to the post op use of minoxidil. I don't want to use minox but at the same time I want a great result and want to make sure I do everything I can to make it work!

My main fear with minox is the formation of wrinkles and the aging of my face. I've read studies that show minox acting on collagen formation... not good

Can anyone chime in and help me out here? I use biosil for collagen and skin, would that counter the effects of minox? I would only use minox for a couple months post op and then drop it.

Would be curious to see what your thoughts are on this CS!

Thanks

It gave me more wrinkles on my forehead definitely. Not saying it's bad stuff, but it did!

Erm, I wish I could help you more man, could you quickly remind me of your age MPB started and your health? Sorry, just want to help if I can.

On the minox... you may be ok if you counteract it somehow but you'd have to really do that down the same pathway it's harming collagen through. A couple of months really isn't long though.

I wonder if you could use Folligen or something instead and get comparable results?

Prophétie auto-réalisatrice. Seriously Hoppi, I don't think minox can cause wrinkles in such a short period of time, or even cause them at all. You heard that minox causes wrinkles, so now you suddenly see wrinkles on your forehead. I'm not saying that because I'm still using minox huh. Hell, I'm only using it 3 times a week now so...

Hoppi no offense but I don't think you really know what you're talking about. You seem to jump from theory to theory and act like some kind of expert, I don't mean to hate but I can't take anything you say seriously.

Fred, how long have you been using minox for? The science behind minox inhibiting the collagen pathway seems accurate so I don't think it's a self realising prophecy. It could definitely age the skin.

Interested in the opinion of CS as he would know the science better but thanks for the input (even you Hoppi haha)!

when i was taking minoxidil something definitely happened in my face..i started to look older. not only did i notice deeper circles under my eyes, but also wrinkles on my forehead. minoxidil is awesome when it comes to hair regrowth, but has definitely some side-effects. if you take it for a few months you won´t notice any changes, but i wouldn´t take it for too long.

Thanks Dadon, how long did you take minox? Did you face improve after you stopped using it?

Icanbeatthis wrote:Thanks Dadon, how long did you take minox? Did you face improve after you stopped using it?

Yeah seconded! Did the wrinkles go? I keep looking at the ones I got hoping they will. Earlier today I THOUGHT they might be fainter but... it's so hard to tell. I don't look at them often but of course I get a bit self-conscious.

Well, in one month, it will be 2 years, 2 years I'm on the minox, isn't that marvelous? I know, I try not to lie to myself: minox gave me wrinkles, under my eyes. I'm still using it, but 3 or maybe 2 times a week sometimes. I know it's a poison. I know it's not good for me. The truth is that I'm scared, scared of what could happen if I stop it cold turkey. In fact, I know exactly what will happen: a big big shed, and I don't want this shed to happen, not now, maybe never.

My opinion is that drugs can be beneficial, when the damage is done.

My sups (Ecklonia Cava notably) and some argan oil cream definitely helped to fade the wrinkles. People thought I was 30 some months ago, and now, I look my age again .

Any input CS? I'd really like to know what your thoughts are on this!

I use to be on minox liquid for a year and i noticed an increase in forehead wrinkles/bags under my eyes.

It gradually went away after i stopped using it though, which im very grateful for especially when i read other peoples horror stories.

Some people get sides and some people don't or they just tolerate them better. It's a gamble.

Hey theseeker86, did you shed much after stopping Minox? Were you on the 5%?

How long ago did you stop?

Addicted wrote:Hey theseeker86, did you shed much after stopping Minox? Were you on the 5%?

How long ago did you stop?

I was on the "regaine extra strength 5%" formula, they call rogaine regaine here in Australia.

I noticed when i first used it (which was the biggest fucking mistake of my life, i was only 18 and in highschool) i shed a lot of hair straight away then when i kept using it the shedding slowed down.

I've been off minox for almost 7 years, when i first stopped i didn't notice any unusual shedding, not the type that a lot of people report when stopping minox anyway.

My God..

I decided to start Minox 5% in early september.. I used already 2 x 2oz bottle, which are supposed to lenght 2 months.

Last week while taking the elevator, I had an horrible vision like I never had before.. The elevator have a mirror and a strong shit-light who always make me look kind of ugly. But this time I suddenly noticed the skin on my cheeks being totally "dead", litterally faded like the cheeks of a 80 years old. No joke. I was kinda scared by what I saw but I did not make any relation with the Minox.. The skin looked exactly collagen depleted..

I just start to shed a few week ago. But I think I'm gonna stop the Minox immediatly.
Something REALLY hurted my skin.. Thank you guys for this thread.. I'm sure it's the Minox.

i dont know if its related to minoxidil, but my health went straight down in the last 1 1/2 years. for years i always looked the youngest and i remember one woman at the liqour store in australia said i´d have a babyface. now, noone says this anymore. a few months ago my best friend said that he´s wondering why i matured so fast in the last few years. it was probably partly due to the stress of traveling and malnutrition ( and minox???)

the last few months were hard, really hard. i felt old, sick and my hair wasn´t improving anymore like it used to..in the last 2 weeks i even found a few gray hair on my bed and on my body. i have no idea why my health is fucked up like this, but i think minoxidil didn´t help to improve it. i stopped taking minoxidil a few weeks ago and the shedding was PAINFUL. it has slowed down and i think regrowth is on its way, because i introduced a new regime. but you should expect soome shedding. and dont be shocked if you cant recognize yourself in the mirror anymore

I been doing the Minox for a good 8 years now. Way to long. I was on the 5% most all of that time, up until about 6 months ago now I upgraded the poison to a more lethal dose of 15% as the 5% seemed to not be so effective any more. Looks like the 15% made some improvements but not a big deal. Now I want to stop this more than anything but am also concerned about the hairs that have been saved due to the minoxidil usage.

I guess it's the possible shedding to come that bothers me. I never used this twice daily as suggested though, only once a day and at night time. This stuff never makes your hair look very good if you apply it on and head out for the day. It's also very drying. Thankfully I have only use it on the crown, so If and when I do stop, it shouldn't affect me on the front or top, only the crown area.

Of all my years being on this stuff, I didn't notice any accelerated wrinkling or aging of the skin. Nor did I ever have any other bad sides. But I am getting close to being ready to take this on using a more natural approach and getting away from the pharmaceutical junk.

I have already started skipping applications. Applying this topical only 1 time every other day now. We'll see how this turns out. I thought maybe it would be best if I cut the dosages back down to 5% first then down to 2% rather than kill it cold turkey from the 15%.

If it makes any difference....

It's really sad for me to see all these replies regarding aging of skin, etc. I've posted regarding minoxidil in the past... I'm 28 and have been on and off minoxidil 3-4 times now in the last 5 years.... Every time I have been on minoxidil, I have encountered the same bad side effects time and time again - puffy eyes, dark circles, visible veigns, puffy face, rapid heartbeat, dry skin and increased wrinkling... The skin on the face just looks overall haggard and dried out.

In the past, I quit minoxidil due to the sides and after about 6 months things did start getting better... But unfortunately, my hair went to shit which was so depressing that I ended up getting back on the stuff.... I recently quit the stuff (almost 4 months ago) and have lost 40-50 percent of my hair (not kidding). I can no longer cover my temples with longer hair like I used to and i have major thinning now throughout the middle of my scalp that is very apparent. I was expecting a shed but nothing this bad... Also, major dandruff and oily hair like never before... I believe this is a shock reaction due to quitting cold turkey, but I've decided that no matter what I'm never getting back on the poison. I'm done with it regardless of what happens to my hair...

I am saying all of this not to discourage anyone, but to warn people.. Don't start on the poison in the first place.... If you are already using the stuff, quit it and deal with the consequences if you can... Find a different hair stimulant to use. Personally, I am having nid build me a laser helment and will be attacking my hair loss from that angle + diet.. Whether or not the "natural" route works for my hair, only time will tell, but I will ride it out this time... Either way, minoxidil isn't worth it guys.... It's not worth the haggard older than you junkie look and/or the constant feeling of lethargy due to lowered blood pressure... I wish I had never ever started the stuff and definitely don't intend on ever starting it again. There has got to be a more reasonable way...

Just my 2 cents....

what may be the solution for someone who want to stop using minoxidil after 15 years of use? my fear is to lose all the gains made with minoxidil because it helped me a lot despite the side effects. Unfortunately I can not hear success stories after stopping minoxidil without lot of shedding. To me there is no natural alternative powerful enough to compete with minoxidil. The only way is to accept losing a lot of hair after stopping or continue until we find an effective and cheap alternative.

kery wrote:what may be the solution for someone who want to stop using minoxidil after 15 years of use? my fear is to lose all the gains made with minoxidil because it helped me a lot despite the side effects. Unfortunately I can not hear success stories after stopping minoxidil without lot of shedding. To me there is no natural alternative powerful enough to compete with minoxidil. The only way is to accept losing a lot of hair after stopping or continue until we find an effective and cheap alternative.

Minoxidil can be replaced by salt, potassium, magnesium, calcium supplementation(electrolyte minerals). I spent 5 long minutes to find this post for you, so take it seriously! :)
https://immortalhair.forumotion.com/t3806-questions-for-caustic-symmetry#34134

CausticSymmetry wrote:Nocturnalhorse - Minoxidil only masks the symptoms of elevated aldosterone. To correct this, sodium, magnesium and potassium can be in proper balance. Or managing blood sugar levels.

pancacke wrote:

kery wrote:what may be the solution for someone who want to stop using minoxidil after 15 years of use? my fear is to lose all the gains made with minoxidil because it helped me a lot despite the side effects. Unfortunately I can not hear success stories after stopping minoxidil without lot of shedding. To me there is no natural alternative powerful enough to compete with minoxidil. The only way is to accept losing a lot of hair after stopping or continue until we find an effective and cheap alternative.

Minoxidil can be replaced by salt, potassium, magnesium, calcium supplementation(electrolyte minerals). I spent 5 long minutes to find this post for you, so take it seriously!
https://immortalhair.forumotion.com/t3806-questions-for-caustic-symmetry#34134

CausticSymmetry wrote:Nocturnalhorse - Minoxidil only masks the symptoms of elevated aldosterone. To correct this, sodium, magnesium and potassium can be in proper balance. Or managing blood sugar levels.

Thanks for the link, looks very interesting. is that these ingredients should they be taken together or separately ?

I like this mix......
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1375812

Yes they can be taken together....I would use:
-himalayan salt
-potassium chloride(NOW foods)
-magnesium malate(AOR or Source naturals)
-coral calcium(lifetime or NOW)

pancacke wrote:I like this mix......
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1375812

Yes they can be taken together....I would use:
-himalayan salt
-potassium chloride(NOW foods)
-magnesium malate(AOR or Source naturals)
-coral calcium(lifetime or NOW)

seems to be interesting on the paper but do people have concret results whit thoses ingredients as subtitute to minox ?

No, I don't think so.....there is no money to research stuff that can't be patented

pancacke wrote:I like this mix......
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1375812

Yes they can be taken together....I would use:
-himalayan salt
-potassium chloride(NOW foods)
-magnesium malate(AOR or Source naturals)
-coral calcium(lifetime or NOW)

Is Source Naturals himalayan salt a good choice?

No idea....in this case it doesn't matter much because all you're looking for is the sodium chloride......just don't go for regular tablesalt

pancacke wrote:No idea....in this case it doesn't matter much because all you're looking for is the sodium chloride......just don't go for regular tablesalt

ah ok then, thanks for the reply.

Out of curiosity what brand do you use?