Hi all, I started using Rogaine a little over a month ago. At first I was using the 2.5% liquid however I was having major dandruff with that so I switched to the 5% foam and the dandruff is better but my hair loss has tripled and I'm really worried I made a mistake starting it. My scalp has been so tender and I see a few hairs sprouting mainly in the front but I don't know what I should do. Has this happened to anyone else and does the massive shedding stop eventually ? I know there is a "dread shed" period but I don't know when this will stop. I just really feel like I made a mistake starting it and I accelerated my hair loss ten fold . Can anyone give me any advice ?
Thanks

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Oh I'm sorry you're having such a hard time with this. I noticed hair loss after about 2-3 weeks but didn't see any new little hairs until about 4 months. As hard as it is to see any extra hair loss, I thought those hairs would have fallen out anyway. I definitely have scalp tenderness with Regaine but the Doxycyline helps to control that. I hope you find some answers so that you can make a decision. Hang in there

Rachel1218, I've been using the 5% Rogaine for a little over 2 years and also dealt with the dread shed as well as tenderness & itching in the beginning.  I started shedding twice as much as usual about 2 weeks after I started using it.  I had heavy shedding for a couple weeks, then it slowly tapered to my normal ffa shed after a couple months.  My head is sensitive, so it took several months for the itching & tenderness to subside.  My hairdresser encouraged me to keep using the Rogaine because she could see lots of new hairs sprouting.  My doctor said I could use the foam 2 times a day for the first month to get the hairs sprouting, then once a day after that to maintain the growth. (He said the liquid has to be used twice a day forever.)  My head was much less irritated when I was able to apply it once a day.  Good luck to you.  It sounds like you may be over the worst part.  I've had good luck thickening up my existing hair with Rogaine, and would go through the initial stages again without a moment's hesitation.

Thanks, Annie.  That is encouraging.  I think I will try it again.  I will be using the 5% liquid.  

I agree Annie. My hair surrounding the areas of FFA is definitely thicker, so I feel I am able to cover my hair loss better for now. And I'm sure I'd have no eyebrows by now if it wasn't for Regaine.

Annie, I disagree with your derm about the Rogaine liquid vs foam. I started out using 2% liquid twice a day until my scalp adjusted and I noticed new hair sprouting. Since then, I have been using the 5% liquid once a day and the new growth has been sustained.  The new growth is grayer and curlier than the rest of my hair, but I'll take what I can get.  I like the liquid better than the foam because I can target my scalp instead of my hair. Even though my hairline has receded, my hair has never been fuller. 

I wish I could tell you that I knew it would stop, but I have never used it long enough to find out.  I always get nervous and stop using it.  If you keep it up, let us know.  

Thanks everyone for the responses. It's so hard to see how much thinner it is making my hair and how much more it sheds. I feel like it's haunting me when I see it everywhere ! All over my house and even on my daughter :(. I really hope it lets up soon because it's really depressing and I'm having a hard time with it all.

Rachel, I totally understand.  Hang in there.  Some days are worse than others.  We wonder when it will all end and how we will look when it does. 

How often is everyone washing their hair? My hair gets super oily and itchy if I don't wash it everyday but I have so much hairloss from shampooing. I tried going a day without washing but then my hair loss doubles it seems.

Rachel218, I wash mine every other day.  I don't think I could bear to see all those hairs falling in the sink every day!  I don't have oily scalp and could probably get by with washing every third day, but the Rogaine along with the topical I'm using make it a little dull and flat at the roots.  I also find that my scalp gets more irritated if I don't wash it every couple days. 

I wash mine every day. I find the residue from the Regaine and Dermol a bit gunky if I don't wash it every day. I have always blocked shower drains anyway with my curly hair! and I just try to ignore the amount that falls out in or after the shower. Some of the other ladies on here have been advised to wash daily as you want to keep the remaining follicles clean.

Are you guys using this along your hairline? Where the FFA is? I'm scared to as I don't want it to cause a major shed since with the inflammation and scarring aspect of this, I assume no hair will grow back, but if it helps to activate follicles that aren't dead and nearby healthy follicles, I want to try.

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