Did Minoxidil 5% help? Did you get facial hair too?

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Letlet
Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

Hello I apologize if this has been discussed in the hair, hair, thread. I tried to go over the pages but they were too long.

It's been a year and a half since I ended chemo and I have been so busy trying to get my life back . I used to have really thick hair all over, but when my hair grew back the top part was never the same. I was looking at Equate - the walmart brand for minoxidil 5%. The reviews seem positive but it says not for use for women. My dermatologist told me that same thing that the for men is better but it may give you facial hair. Did anyone have any success? Did you get facial hair too?

Thank you!

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  • BUNKIE10
    BUNKIE10 Member Posts: 733
    edited October 2012

    Hi

    Just surfing the posts in this forum. I am still going through radiation and did not do chemo so I can not tell what might work for your hair now BUT....

    In 2003 I went on high dose steroids and had a few surgeries for my autoimmune disease and 50% of my hair fell out. It was down to my waist so I was shocked and could not cope. My hairdresser told me to chop off the rest and use a shampoo called Nioxin. Have you tried it? I also have a friend who did chemo and it worked for her. It helped me back to almost normal. I used the shampoo, scalp treatment and this little bottle of stuff you pump on. It really worked and I still use it today. Because of my steroid use my hair will drop at times around the edges and then grow back in.

    Just my two scents. They sell it in the Walmart hair salon. If not there most shops carry it.

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited October 2012

    Hi Bunkie thanks for the recommendation. Nioxin was next on my research:) Im glad that it worked for you, thanks for the feedback! My hair got so thin on top and depending on how you look at it or how it parts, you do see a lot of my scalp..Im 33 and this wasnt part of what I was prepared to deal with...

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  • BUNKIE10
    BUNKIE10 Member Posts: 733
    edited October 2012

    You are welcome.The pump bottle is called Follicle Booster. Give it a try and hope it works. Can't wait to be part of the after cancer group.

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  • gentianviolet
    gentianviolet Member Posts: 316
    edited October 2012

    letlet -  I have been using minoxidil (the 2%) for the past 20 years.  After menopause I lost a lot of hair on the top part of my head and was so upset about how it looked that I began minoxidil and for me it was very effective; it took about 3 months before I saw any growth.  Fast forward about 16 years and I was diagnosed with BC.  I did not do chemo but when put on tamoxifen I began experiencing the same kind of hair loss again.  I had not stopped using the minoxidil so was very discouraged to realize that tamoxifen was the cause.  Eventually (it took about 6 months) my hairdresser said she could see lots of new hairs growing in.  So finally my hair doesn't look so thin but the top is growing very slowly (sides and back grow much faster).  My hope is that when off of T my hair on the top of my head will resume its normal rate of growth.  In the meantime, I am still using the minoxidil and would not dare stop or I would lose what I have gained.  You might be pleasantly surprised at how well the 2% can work.

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited October 2012

    Hi barbara, thanks so much for the feedback on the 2%,..its so good to hear from people who have used it for quite some time. Perhaps I should start on the 2%.....I dont want to start waxing a beard! :)

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  • gentianviolet
    gentianviolet Member Posts: 316
    edited October 2012

    Hi Letlet - When I questioned my dermatologist about the 5%, he told me to go ahead and try it.  I used it for about 6 months (didn't grow a beard or an abundance of other facial hair), but I stopped because it made my scalp feel itchy.  Went back to the 2% and had no problem with my scalp.  Good luck, I know just how discouraging it all can be.

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  • gojojo21
    gojojo21 Member Posts: 10
    edited April 2013

    I'm 33 as well and it's been 16 months since I finished chemo. My problem is like yours, thin at the top but growing nicely elsewhere. I have to keep cutting the back do I don't grow a mullet. But I've done biotin mainly. I would not recommend minoxidil without consulting a derm. I did the equate brand for a few weeks before running out, I waited a few weeks in between before buying another but during that time I began shedding. It does warn that this can happen as part of the process but I'm sorry when you already have limited hair like we do it's not worth the risk. So I keep chugging on, next step will be Nioxin and researching extensions. I miss my beautiful long hair. It is depressing for sure. Don't get me started on brows or lashes lol but I did just brows tattooed from lady in Tampa that specializes in natural hair strokes. Also been on latisse few weeks now. We have to do what we need in order to feel a sense of normal again.

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