question on applying minoxidil

Re: question on applying minoxidil

Are you saying that if minox was applied to an unaffected area, the hair there would would become dependant on minox and after the initial shedding would return but with lower quality? If that is what you're saying please could you let me know where you discovered this as it goes completely against my understanding of the interaction between MPB and Minox.

Cheers

EHG

Thanks for your reply! I'll try to give feedback on each of the points you made, I'll write in capitals to make it obvious (I know it will look like I'm shouting, but I'm not ;-) )

1. Ok, first of all it is my understanding that it is generally accepted among users and trichologists that minox does cause shedding at the start of treatment

1. AGREED

2. this is normally explained by "dead" hairs falling out to be replaced by new stronger hairs

2. THIS IS TRUE. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THERE WILL BE A FAR HIGHER % OF DEAD HAIRS IN AN AREA WHICH IS AFFECTED BY MPB THAN IN AN AREA WHICH IS UNAFFECTED BY MPB, THIS IS BECAUSE MPB CAUSES HAIRS TO STAY IN THE RESTING PHASE FOR LONGER. SO HENCE IF THE UNAFFECTED AREA WERE TO BE TREATED THE SHEDDING WOULD BE FAR LESS COSMETICALLY SIGNIFICANT.

3. it is also noted that minoxidil is a growth stimulant (that relies on opening potassium channels in cell membranes in the hair follicle) and that its main attributes are actually in decelerating hairloss count

3. LIKE YOU SAY, MINOX DOES DECELERATE HAIRLOSS; ALSO IN SOME PEOPLE IT STIMULATES NEW HAIR GROWTH. THOSE MOST LIKELY TO GROW MORE HAIR ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ON AVERAGE YOUNGER AND IN THE EARLIER STAGES OF MPB; HENCE IF AN UNAFFECTED AREA OF THE SCALP WERE TO BE TREATED THERE WOULD BE A HIGH PROBABILITY OF NEW HAIR GROWTH.

4. It is also my understanding that most peoples clinical experiences with minox were in fact a decrease in hairloss rather than thick full hair, consistent with the users original quality.

4. TRUE, THIS IS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN USED ON BALDING PEOPLE WHO'S FOLLICLES HAVE ALREADY BEEN DAMAGED. IF YOU USED IT ON PEOPLE WITH FULL HEADS OF HAIR I'M SURE THEIR HAIR WOULD GET THICKER. I'VE HEARD OF GUYS USING IT TO MAKE THEIR BEARDS THICKER.

5. I don't recall using the word "addicted" EHG, but its interesting you should mention it,

5. NOR DO I, I DIDN'T MENTION IT EITHER!

So my conclusion is that if someone were to apply minox to an area of their scalp which was unaffected by MPB the hair there wouldn't get thinner or decrease in quality, in all probability minox would have the opposite effect on it. Not many people will want to do this, but there will be some people who are unsure if a certain area of their scalp will soon be affected by MPB and might want to use minox there too just for safety.

Damn...I should be writing my dissertation...the wonders of procrastination! :-)

Cheers

EHG

This is slightly subjective, as this has been my own experience, but I do normally rely on other sources of information before coming to some sort of conclusion and this has been the case here. I also think if minox was that succesful in practice as well as in theory then there would'nt be as many disillusioned users, or any other hair restoration products! I do appreciate that everyone responds differently to various treatments and if people respond well then that is really great for them. I still feel though that minox is most useful on areas already affected and maybe the faith in this treatment is misplaced, of course I might be wrong, but as its not guaranteed to prove this theory right, and may very well increase haircount loss without suficient replacement I stand by my original point. It's not worth the risk. The way I see it is that we would all rather not use products and keep our original hair, thats why I think a product that might increase the problem without guaranteeing results is best used when its needed and not pre emptive.