Rogaine Women's 5% Minoxidil Foam: Patience Pays Off Over Time

**Third update** Photo 5 was taken 19.5 months after starting treatment. It is fairly similar to photos 3-4, taken at around 13 months. For the past six months or so, I've been using the Equate version of the minoxidil foam, sometimes the men's and sometimes the women's. I briefly tried the Equate men's 5% solution, but it made my scalp itch and flake like crazy. Obviously minoxidil will not work miracles, even if used daily as directed. I'll be pleased if it helps me maintain my current results. I have good days and bad days. It's hard not to overanalyze the hair situation! Am considering adding an anti-androgen such as Spironolactone to the minoxidil regime. **Second update** Photo 1 was taken before starting treatment, photo 2 at about 6.5 months, and photos 3-4 (different lighting in each) after about 13 months. My hair loss was likely multi-causal and included some pulling not mentioned below. I've basically given up on having a dermatologist determine whether there is a genetic component to my hair loss. Still, I am very pleased with how Rogaine has helped me recover. Finally, I would add that at about 11 months I switched to Men's Rogaine 5% Foam (name brand) because it is so much cheaper than this product. However, I follow the instructions for the Women's Foam and use it only once a day. **Updated review** I have been using this product for 6 1/2 months. About half the time, I've used it twice daily, otherwise once daily. I have been off my prescription sleep medication for four months. It will probably take a couple of more months for me to know whether part of my hair loss was a telogen effluvium from the medication. I've taken lots of photos, and it has been hard not to obsess over whether my new growth is miniaturized hair, etc. Still, my crown is filling in, as are the two main parts that I use. The improvements have been very gradual and subtle, so if you are considering this product, I would definitely recommend giving it at least six months before deciding that it doesn't work for you. The photos below are not very professional (!) and feature an area of the house where we keep moving boxes. Still, they will give you an idea of what my hair looked like around the time I began treatment and 6.5 months later. :-) Original review: I am not 100% certain of the cause of my hair loss. There is no history of hair loss on either my father's or mother's side, and neither of my sisters (including a twin) has hair loss. A dermatologist said that it looked like genetic hair loss, but I am going to see if going off of a sleep medication I've been using for 8 years will identify a different culprit. I'm only going off the medication this week, but for the past 2.5 months I've been using the 5% Women's Rogaine just to try to stabilize the situation. The dermatologist recommended using it 2x/day, and I started doing this about 6 weeks in. Whatever the cause of the hair loss, I do see lots and lots of little sprouts on the top of my head where I've been applying the Rogaine. Hopefully there will be visible thickening in another 2-3 months. I am also taking Biotin, Vitamin C, Iron, Vitamin B12, and a prenatal vitamin. I'll try to remember to post an update at the 4-to-6-month mark. If the current trend continues, I'll up the star rating.