I am 20 years old and have been using 5% minoxidil for 8 months. I haven’t seen much hair growth but now I want to add finasteride to my regimen as well. Will my hair that’s grown by minoxidil shed when I start finasteride?

Adding finasteride to your hair loss regimen is a very good idea. When used in combination, Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) form what is considered the most effective hair loss treatment for androgenic alopecia currently available.

As these two drugs work very differently, adding finasteride to your regimen will likely begin a new phase of shedding but will not necessarily affect any hair growth from the use of minoxidil. Any shedding you see should be temporary and you should see improvement beginning between 4 and 6 months after starting.

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
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David aka - TakingthePlunge

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  • Chethan,

    Let me begin by stating that there is no herbal hair loss treatment that is clinically proven to regrow hair.

    Rogaine (minoxidil) is one of only two drugs that are both clinically proven and FDA approved to treat male pattern baldness. The other is Propecia (finasteride).

    To answer your question, hair that is genetically resistant to the effects of androgenic alopecia will not become dependent on minoxidil. Thus, quitting the drug will not cause more balding than you would have had if you had never started using it. However, any hair this is grown or retained by the drug will eventually fall out if you discontinue use.

    It is also important to note that it is quite normal for hair loss sufferers to experience temporary shedding in the first weeks after starting medical treatment. This shedding will eventually cease and the majority of the lost hairs should grow back. For this reason, we recommend continuing to use the drug for at least one full year before assessing your results.

    David

  • I used 2weeks of minoxidil5% I don't want to use,because I have to use for life long. Does my remaining hair be or does that hair also goes? Because I have normal hair in my head and when i used minoxidil5% my rough hair became soft,thin and some hairs started to fall I hardly used 25ml to my head so please any one guide me if I quit does my remaining hair falls. Are it stays if I take proper herbal.

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