What can I do to fix this mess?

My currently maintenance.

Proscar 1 mg daily (2 weeks)
Revita daily (6 weeks)
Nizoral 1% every other day ( 2 months)
X5 Laser 30 min. every other day ( 3 weeks)

I was using Spectrol DNC for 4 weeks then switched to Equate 5% minoxidil for 2 weeks and have since decided to stop due to horror stories of shedding and mixed opinions on use. It just seems to questionable with too many negative issues. Plus, there is no way I can apply it daily. It makes my hair look far worse and dusty/dry not to mention over an hour to get it to dry.

For the past 5 years I have been thinning very slowly. Slow enough to not bother me. Last year I tried Procerin and quit after about 8 months use, since I didn't see any improvement. Now, It seems as though hairloss has excellerated big time over the past 3 months. Really messing with my social life.

When I think back, I wonder if the Procerin was actually controlling additional loss since I noticed no real change. I was off it for about 4-5 months before things took a turn for the worse.

Any thoughts or advice?

photos

You said it there mate, it was working!

A shred is a TEMPORARY process, its not permanent. Its probably worse if you dont shred, as it means your body isn't reacting to minox!

Get back on propecia, take 0.5mg in the morning 7am and taking 0.5mg 7pm. This gives your body a more levelled finnasteride level (just like bodybuilders eat more smaller meals to control fat and energy).

Add minoxidil!

forgot to say, why only use the laser every other day??? Use it every day, use it multiple times a day!

Sometimes i use my hairmax 4 times a day on the front, its not going to sizzle out your brains. If you believe it works (i think mine has helped), then get the most out of it!

I cant say enough about minoxidil though!! You may need to cut your hair short in order to make sure it can be rubbed in. it WILL grow hair, give it time!

From your photos, you have exactly the kind of thinning "diffuse" that responds well to minoxidil. To solve the drying time problem, use 2% minoxidil in the AM. It drys much quicker than the 5%. Use the 5 percent at night.


When applying minoxidil, do not rub if you have long hair. A lot of it ends up in the hair where you don't need it.

To apply minoxidil, Poke the dropper through hair until it touches the scalp. With feather light pressure on the squeeze bulb, drag the dropper through the diffuse areas. Do not rub! If it puddles up and is about to roll off, gently spread it with your finger tips.. otherwise don't touch it! The minoxidil will spread in the scalp. It is not critical to cover every sq centimeter of your scalp. Takes abit of finesse. But with practice it can be done quickly and efficiently. This keeps most the minox off the hair and puts the drug where you need it.

For those who are not getting results from minox, you may want try the above.


Though you may see results sooner, you must use minoxidil for at least 16 weeks to determine if it is working.

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http://www.hairlosshelp.com/websites/Harry%20Balls/

I was NOT on minox for 8 months. I was taking Procerin (saw palmento). I was only using spectro-dnc/minox for about 6 weeks (no sheds). I'm really nervous about having to become dependent on the minox. another reason besides the sheds and 1 dose a day was that my mother gave it a try many years ago and it did nothing for her. So I kind of assume similar results would result for me.

Also, i've never really had sheds or daily hairloss like many describe. At most I see 3-4 hairs in my hands after showering and 2-3 maybe in the sink after combing. I look close and still see many hairs. they are just extreemley thin and near invisible.

Harry,

My hair although thin, is long and is impossible to apply minox without getting on the hair. As shorter cut really makes it look worse and just can't live with it that way.

Also, I never went off propecia/proscar. I've only been on it for 2 weeks. Please reread my post.

Thank for all the advice.

You have diffuse thinning.

STAY on the Propecia.

I would say go BACk on MINOX, use the foam since you say you cannot use the other ones due to certain issues, either taking too long to dry or leaving residue on the scalp. I can agree on the drying factor, but the residue is maybe because you're applying too much or getting it ON the hair and NOT the scalp.Don't believe the horror stories you see here or on the web!

99 % don't have pics to prove anything. Yes shedding is a GOOD thing, because it's speeding up the process of the hair cycle it's ejecting the weak hair that's there. If you want to have some gains, you MUST go through this process.. if you want a treatment that requires no shedding, then shave your head because you will shed on Minox and even Propecia, in the end it's up to you because Minoxidil is very safe and it's good for your type of hair loss, along with Propecia and Nizoral 2 % you should be a decent responder.

Again I repeat STAY on 1 version of MINOXIDIL, FOAM seems like the ONLY option since you say it doesn't dry quick enough.

Also if you believe Procerin was slowing your hair loss, I have a bridge to sell you

I've read even more horror stories regarding foam. If I just can't seem to get past the day application due to hair appearance, will I benefit at all from just 1 a day applications? I will say this. I have stood in front of a mirror for half hours at a time trying to apply the minox. I don't care what anyone says, there is absolutely no way possible to not get it on my hair. When I look real close, I still have a lot of hair. It is just extemley fine. Maybe I will wait until summers over to time my potential shed in the fall or winter.

I have a couple other concerns: Is it typical for MPB to intensify all at once? As I stated earlier, I was doing ok, while still thinning slowly, until about 3 months ago when things started progressing at a far more rapid pace. I try and think back to any changes. I'm just throwing this out. Could the sudden change be a product of hospital meds. Reason I ask is because about 3 months back I threw my back out very bad and spent the night in the hospital. They pumped me with all kinds of meds. morphine,vicatin, steroids and others. I was on the vicatin and steroids for about 14 days. Been off and on pain killers and muscle relaxents since.

Also, I have read several opinions regarding not mixing minox and lasering. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I have to agree here. I think Minox will help you a lot. If you don't want to use the foam use Dr. Lee's. He charges a one-time consult fee for $20 but it lasts FOREVER no hidden charges.

His minox is good stuff.

You might also want to consider Zix. Many diffuse thinners have claimed success with it and it stops sheds fairly well. Do a search on here for it and you'll find tons of info.

Can I make another suggestion? Cut your hair short. At the length you have it in those pics it makes the thinning look obvious. Plus you have blonde hair and cutting it short won't make the thinning as obvious if you had black hair.

Good luck!

Try some Toppik or something equivalent as a thickening agent until you hopefully get re growth. It works great for me at the vertex. Sprinkle a little on your top and it will do wonders. But use a little just to thicken things up.

Most of the foam stories are from people who transitioned over from liquid to FOAM, I haven't seen many stories regarding people who used FOAM only. Also realize there was NO PICS from the horror stories, and no real proof.

Seems to me you must make use the foam or NOT, you keep mentioning horror stories, yet you take propecia and don't mention the horror stories you read on that. I say this because it seems as if you either are looking for a reason to justify not using rogaine, or you don't want to shed, here's the bottom line, if you're unwilling to accept the shed you don't belong having the hair.

This is part of the hair loss regimen process, we are all giving you the proper advice for success in treating your hair loss, rogaine works well for diffuse thinners, using that along with propecia and Nizoral, is your best chance.

I think you should really think what's the reason why you keep finding ways to not use rogaine, FOAM dries, yet you find an excuse by saying you read horror stories, JWM gave you another option, buy it from DR lees and it dries quickly... so you have TWO OPTIONS.

DO you want hair regrowth or not? If so, take action and get on FOAM OR Dr LEES Quick drying one, Remember USE ONE KIND, don't switch back and forth. If you cannot see yourself applying minox 2X a day, DON'T bother 1X can only be pulled off once you've been using rogaine long term, to GROW hair you need to use it 2X a day for at least a year. I personally use it 2X a day and if I had to I would do it 1X a day but 1X a day is not truly proven to maintain, only user feedback.

The choice is yours.

Read my regrowth.com topic. Reading on that forum has given me the Minox concerns.

And, I'm just looking for advice here. Not really looking for someone to judge me and my concerns. This is not any easy situation I'm going through here.



Thanks

I don't go on other sites, No one is judging you, you ASKED what to do to fix the mess your in.

Of course it isn't easy, but reading posts about horror stories which have no valid merit behind it, will only make your decision harder.

It's as easy as... foam or dr lees, do I want a chance at regrowth or not.

THIS is the best advice you're going to get, FOAM or Dr Lees quick drying version, there is no other option besides not using it. This advice is based on what you stated residue being left on hair (foam won't do that unless you over use it) and well everyone knows Rogaine liquid takes a while to dry Dr Lee has one that dries quickly.

Myself and others are merely giving your your best options for treatment. I know hair loss is painful I just completed 6 full years so I know the pain and know it's NOT easy.

Good luck,
Rich

Yankee:

First off, I'd discount any comments in regard to Minoxidil posted on regrowth.com the site is highly anti-Minoxidil. OMG arrogrant response to your post is all the evidence you need.

I've been using Finasteride in conjunction with Minoxidil for years with excellent results. Finasterdie used in combo with Minoxidil works much better then either/or used alone. My hair has regrown and thickened throughout, including the frontal areas, but it takes time and patience to see how well Minoxidil treatment may work for you.

One of the things with Minoxidil soutions is that they are not all the same in terms of how they cosmetically leave you hair after application. Rogaine and over-the-counter generics are very greasy and take forever to dry.

However, Dr. Lee's Minoxidil solutions, particularly his standard 5% with or without Retin-A [#500 & #501], and 6% Plus, are very clean, non-greasy, and dry within 5 to 10 minutes. Dr. Klein's Remox and Promox solutions are also very clean, non-greasy, and fast drying.

Another thing with Minoxidil is that you have to learn how to apply the stuff, in the most hair style friendly fashion. The trick is to get as little of the stuff in you hair as possible.

My suggestion is to dampen your hair slightly and comb it striaight up. Hold you hair up with one hand while applying Minoxidil with the other, and keep whatver kind of application device you are using very close to your scalp at all times. After you've finsished you application tilt your head back, and from side to side, to keep the stuff from running off.

Finally, it's not necessary to massage Minoxidil into your scalp. But, if you choose to do so don't use your fingers. Instead rub the stuff in with a hair pick comb, the plastic kind with the rounded tips. You'll get a lot less Minoxidil in your hair with this method.

With a bit of practice, coupled with a hair style friendly Minoxidil solution, your hair will end up looking as if you applied nothing whatsoever!

Now be fair Sandman. You were banned for being a shill for Dr. Lee and anyone on this forum can search your posts and see you are a shill for them. Everypost just about you recommend his products and THAT is why you were banned and should be from here too. If you are going to sling mud you will get it right back.

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www.510spaces.com

where was sandman banned from??

I dont think he is a shill. He uses Kliens stuff anyway.

Minoxidil is the way to go. Look at my pics, no horror stories here! Practice with the application of minoxidil. It takes me less than a minute. And sometimes I have to use more than 1mg, most or the time 1.5mgs to get it all on my head, no biggie, I buy the cheap stuff off of ebay. 9 months supply of 5% for $35. Oh, and use it TWICE a day, not once, you will be wasting your time. Doing this and dealing with the shed it WORTH IT!!!!! Anyways thats my two cents.. Good luck!

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PERSONAL WEBSITE!!! http://www.hairlosshelp.com/websites/peninsula/

OK we heard you !

You dont need to keep on about Sandman, if Farrel shared ure view's then Im sure he wud do somethin about it






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Spiro Cream 5%

Shampoo: NANO and Nizoral