Hi:

I'm 36 and my hair has been thinning slowly for the last 10 years or so. I'm contemplating using rogaine or propecia. Which would you start with first? What about taking them in combination?

Thanks,

L

I've just recently began using both. I've been using Propecia for about 7 months now and although it has stopped my hair loss, it has not yet regrown any hair. I've read elsewhere on the net that Propecia is ideal for keeping the hair you have, while Rogaine (Minidoxil) is probably the best for regrowth. I've only been using them in combination for about 3 weeks so its too early for me to tell you whether it's working or not.

Thanks for the reply, but why didn't you consider using rogaine alone first? Especially since it is topical and doesn't go through your whole system.

Lucas, i have a friend who's family has a history of hairloss.
My friend would probably just have hair on his sides.
But he found a combo that grows hair.
Now he has a full set of hair.

He takes Propecia and uses 5% Rogaine foam along with Retin A cream.

It was found out, that that applying Retin-A with Minoxidil increases the absorption of Minoxidil on the hair.
Minoxidil is the main incredient in Rogaine.
Retin-A should be applied separately from Minoxidil.
If you mix them together, you will weaken them.
Put the Retin-A on your hair, then wait 15 minutes till it dry's.
Then apply the Minoxidil on your hair.

After awhile, you might want to try 12.5% Minoxidil.
They don't sell this in the stores, but there are places that are now selling it online.
You first want to start off using 5% Minoxidil, so your hair gets used to the Minoxidil.
Then after a year or so, you can start using the 12.5% Minoxidil.
But you have to constantly use all 3 products.
If you stop taking the products, your hair will start to thin again.

Lukas, I should have mentioned that prior to starting Propecia 7 months ago, I was using 2% minoxidil alone. I used it for at least 6 months and my hair loss continued to get worse. That is when I talked to my doctor about Propecia. Like I said above, the Propecia stopped the shedding but has yet to regrow any new hair. I'm currently using 2% minoxidil along with it, but am waiting for the 5% to arrive in the mail.

These two are the only FDA approved treatments for hair loss, and from what I've read, a lot of people suffering from hair loss are using them in combination. You can also throw in other products, such as different shampoos or Retin-A like Barry suggested, but Propecia and Minoxidil are a good place to start.