On the verge of getting back on minox

So about a year ago, I quit minoxidil and decided to go the natural route. I decided to get on the IH regimen - top six + some of the additionals. So far I have seen nothing but constant shedding and deterioration of my hair. My hair has got so thin it is see through in practically all the mpb areas now - it has never been this bad ever. This is extremely depressing as I have always been able to achieve really good results with daily frequent use of minoxidil over a 6 month period (primarily promox).

MY hair is now lighter and thinner than its ever been. My question now is whether or not I should look for some sort of a natural topical or just give in and get back on minox and not waste any more time? It seems that there just is nothing out there that is comparable topically..

Does anyone have any suggestions for something that truly works in a similar fashion but without the sides? If not, is there anything that can help curb the side effects of sodium retention and puffy face that come along with minox if I do decide to go that route again?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

No laser helmet? In one year, based on what I've seen, you'd have gotten some real good results even if just building your own. Strongest tool in the shed in the fight against hair loss, no doubt.

nidhogge wrote:No laser helmet? In one year, based on what I've seen, you'd have gotten some real good results even if just building your own. Strongest tool in the shed in the fight against hair loss, no doubt.

Hey Nid, thanks for the response. I've built one before and it totally shorted out on me.... Before I had the shortout problems, I used it consistently for 4-5 months after going off minox for the first time cold turkey and my hair deteriorated big time - but this was probably due to going off minox... So then I got back on minox again and had great results but once again hated the sides so i got off of it and started IH's regimen and now this... The cycle just gets depressing... I imagine that I have to be pretty close to done with the shed that's do to quitting minox...

What's your take on lasers - have you used them? How have your results been so far? And why or how do you think they work vs minoxidil's function? Do you know of reliable and affordable source of where I might be able to get a reliable full coverage one? Or maybe u build them? I don't want to mess with building one again...

Hey unfortunate,

Been using and building helmets for a couple of years now. They work on a variety of mechanisms, but here's a few good ones:

- Increased bloodflow
- Increased Nitric Oxide and SOD production
- Inflammation reduction
- Fibrosis (scar tissue) reversal

This is also why lasers are good to treat scars and internal injuries; the increased blood flow delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the area to speed up the healing process. I believe lasers also increase ATP as well. Minoxidil basically increases ATP and bloodflow, but comes with a good deal of sides as well. Lasering on the other hand is an all-around healthy practice. My goal is to one day create a tanning bed just chock full of lasers and use that a few times a week--I think it'd do phenomenal things for my health!

Hair-wise, it's helped to bring color and density to my hair. I buzz down now, so it's a lot easier to track results (and apply essential oils as well!), and I'm starting to see vellous and some terminal hairs sprouting up in my temples. I also use Scalpure and Scalp Skin Lady's Enzymatic peel once a week, and try to stay pretty healthy with my diet and supplements. Nothing too crazy, but a decent protocol that I can follow.

How many lasers do you have in your helmet? I can probably reuse those and put something good together if you wanted to consider it.

nidhogge wrote:Hey unfortunate,

Been using and building helmets for a couple of years now. They work on a variety of mechanisms, but here's a few good ones:

- Increased bloodflow
- Increased Nitric Oxide and SOD production
- Inflammation reduction
- Fibrosis (scar tissue) reversal

This is also why lasers are good to treat scars and internal injuries; the increased blood flow delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the area to speed up the healing process. I believe lasers also increase ATP as well. Minoxidil basically increases ATP and bloodflow, but comes with a good deal of sides as well. Lasering on the other hand is an all-around healthy practice. My goal is to one day create a tanning bed just chock full of lasers and use that a few times a week--I think it'd do phenomenal things for my health!

Hair-wise, it's helped to bring color and density to my hair. I buzz down now, so it's a lot easier to track results (and apply essential oils as well!), and I'm starting to see vellous and some terminal hairs sprouting up in my temples. I also use Scalpure and Scalp Skin Lady's Enzymatic peel once a week, and try to stay pretty healthy with my diet and supplements. Nothing too crazy, but a decent protocol that I can follow.

How many lasers do you have in your helmet? I can probably reuse those and put something good together if you wanted to consider it.

Nid,

I have over 300 but I would rather start fresh as I do not know if I shorted any of them out. I think a clean slate would just be better. How many would you recommend for full coverage? 450? And what would the cost be for the whole thing including the diodes, helmet, wiring, labor, etc? Rough Estimate?

So you believe the laser helmets are at least as effective as minoxidil? How's your experience been with the Enzymatic peel?

Yeah I considered a laser helmet, but the only way I could possibly get one is by building my own, how much would you guess it would cost to make one?

reardenstone,

You and I are in the same boat. I was cool with that tool and had pretty good coverage other than the temples. I was sick of the sides so I got off of minox. I have to say it seems like a big mistake, but who knows... Maybe the shed just had to happen to make things better eventually - but it seems weird that my hair is lighter - this to me is not a good sign - probably means the balding process is continuing. Anyway, I have not really been using any topicals in the meantime since starting IH's regimen, but I have a feeling that I am going to need them. Nid made some goo recommendations possibly about using scalp peels which might help.

My main concern though is that I don't think anyone really knows how minox works - I don't know if lasers and or peels will work like minox does. What I do know is that minox does work for a while at least - however it's effectiveness does phase out and this may be due to some of the side effects like sodium retention which could eventually cause problems with hair loss from another angle - some sort of defficiency or something.

So we may need to figure out a way to use minox but at the same time fight off the negative effects. Of course I would rather use something natural to the body that wouldn't have these negative effects... I would love to hear some suggestions from the board about this....

So have you been using anything else aside from the IH regimen? And how long ago did u quit minox and how long had u been using it prior to quitting?

I didn't know about the bad sides of minox, but I will take heed before ordering. The formula I was using was a solution of minox and azaleic acid. I would definitely consider using azelaic acid as a topical replacement.

I recently added Maca, Vit B via digestive yeast, a total vitamin, and PM spray as overnight topical or prewash topical.

I was taking PM 500mg daily and seeing fast results at first in quality and thicker looking hair, but my libido got slightly worse. I also became worried about looking too feminine, but I believe that the PM was also making my skin great and real smooth... just young looking. I'm in my 30s but my skin was looking much younger. I was also scared about gyno, but I don't think I really had a problem. I believe it may increased retention of mid-section fat, but that could have been a diet issue.

One thing I can say is that spending 9 days on the McDougal diet then maintaining some good habits has helped. Maca I believe has helped my libido (even better than it was before going on PM) and may be helping the hair.

I would like to get PM back in at a smaller dose; don't know if 500mg every other day would help. More controls on my diet will help me accurately assess changes.

So what is it about azelaic acid that would make you consider it as a replacement?

I think the IH regimen (including via B as brewers yeast) has also helped my skin a lot - but my hair has suffered. What is the PM brand topical and internal that you are using? I'm curious about it...

About the McDougal diet - I have been thinking of trying it. I did some reading on it this morning and damn it just seems like a vegan diet with an additional twist of no grains (other than whole) and veggie fats/oils. Seems like an extremely limiting diet. I am willing to try it though for a short period of time. The problem I have with any diet seems to be that I can never feel "full" or satisfied. What do you use for carbs to get enough calories and energy in your diet?

reardenstone wrote:I didn't know about the bad sides of minox, but I will take heed before ordering. The formula I was using was a solution of minox and azaleic acid. I would definitely consider using azelaic acid as a topical replacement.

I recently added Maca, Vit B via digestive yeast, a total vitamin, and PM spray as overnight topical or prewash topical.

I was taking PM 500mg daily and seeing fast results at first in quality and thicker looking hair, but my libido got slightly worse. I also became worried about looking too feminine, but I believe that the PM was also making my skin great and real smooth... just young looking. I'm in my 30s but my skin was looking much younger. I was also scared about gyno, but I don't think I really had a problem. I believe it may increased retention of mid-section fat, but that could have been a diet issue.

One thing I can say is that spending 9 days on the McDougal diet then maintaining some good habits has helped. Maca I believe has helped my libido (even better than it was before going on PM) and may be helping the hair.

I would like to get PM back in at a smaller dose; don't know if 500mg every other day would help. More controls on my diet will help me accurately assess changes.

I would use a Zix based topical instead of Minox.

M

PM = promox ?