Why isn't Rogaine helping?

Rogaine: Does it help everyrone ?

 
I’ve selected this question below for this week’s question of the week. It allows us to review some concepts in the use of Rogaine to treat hair loss

Question

My hair is not growing longer despite the religious use of Rogaine. Is this not a surprise? What should be done?

Answer

Thanks for the question. Perhaps you are assuming minoxidil helps everyone who uses it? It does not. I think that’s really important to understand first. In fact there is no treatment that helps everyone.

I don’t know why your hair is growing slowly. That would require me to see your scalp and review your entire story with you. A few things to keep in mind though:

If there is any seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis on your scalp, hair might not grow as robustly as one would hope until the psoriasis or seborrhea is treated.

If there is any significant component of telogen effluvium it might not grow as robustly as one would hope until the telogen effluvium is treated.

If there is any significant component of lichen planopilaris, folliculitis decalvans or other scarring alopecia it might not grow as robustly as one would hope until the scarring alopecia is treated.

If there is any significant component of hair breakage it might not grow as robustly as one would hope until the hair breakage is treated.

Summary

Minoxidil does not help everyone. Be sure to keep close follow up with your practitioner so that a proper examination can be done. The key question here for you is “what type of hair loss do you have?” and is minoxidil even a good option for that type of hair loss.