Brief Answer:
2% is the recommended strength for females

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your concern and I have understood it.

Your concern is absolute genuine. Minoxidil in 5% strength is not for females. Minoxidil 2% is the recommended strength for females.

That is because, since minoxidil is a nonspecific hair growth promoter, therefore it can sometimes lead to facial hair growth in females (which can be a concern in females) if used in higher strength i.e 5% strength.

So, for females 5% is usually avoided.

regards

---

Brief Answer:
2% is the recommended strength for females

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

The recommendation is for 2% in females, however, in practice some doctors(like yours) do give 5% in females as well, because 5% is supposed to work better and faster than 2%. Moreover, there are studies of 5% minoxidil in females, in which they did find an increased incidence of unwanted hair growth in females. Therefore some doctors are guarded in using 5% in females.

I would say that 2% is good enough for females, in my experience.

It would be fine if you can switch to 2% as soon as possible. Till that you can use 5% minoxidil ONCE DAILY at night, unlike minoxidil 2% which has to used twice daily.

regards

---

Brief Answer:
Hair fall treatment

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Bore water/Hard water/salty water, is typically defined as water that has a high mineral content. Though hard water can often lead to hair loss, it doesn't necessarily have to.

I would like to know whether you have dandruff/ seborrheic dermatitis? If YES, I would advice that you should use a ketoconazole based antidandruff shampoo OR you can continue with 8X shampoo (contains ciclopirox olamine, which you are already using), thrice weekly for 2-4 weeks and followed by once or twice weekly. If NOT, you can use any of the daily use OTC shampoos like Dove, sunsilk, pantene, tressme etc along with a good conditioner after shampoo.

Otherwise, I would keep a possibility of either Telogen effluvium OR Androgenetic Alopecia, as the cause of your hair fall and decreased hair density.

Scalp hair grows for 2-3 years (Anagen phase) after which it enter the catagen phase (transition phase) which is followed by resting phase (Telogen phase).

Hair can prematurely enter from growth phase(Anagen) to resting phase(telogen) therefore resulting in shorter length and increased shedding. After a major stressing event like medical/surgical illness OR post-partum OR weight loss (in your case), scalp hair is prematurely pushed into resting phase (Telogen) from the growth phase (Anaphase). This phase usually starts in the third or fourth month after a major stressor and ends by six months if the stressor is removed.

There are certain well known causes of Telogen effluvium:
--Deficient Iron Stores
--Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
--Post partum(after delivery)
--Post Surgical or following a Medical illness (typhoid, malaria, dengue etc)
--Weight loss/ Dieting etc

Androgenetic alopecia can be difficult to distinguish from Telogen Effluvium in females, specially early in the course. Later on, Androgenetic alopecia presents as widened part-width and decreased hair density from the vertex and crown of the scalp.

I would advice that you get a few lab test done e.g Complete Hemogram, Serum Ferritin levels, Thyroid function tests.

In my practice I usually ask my patients of Chronic Telogen Effluvium to take an oral Iron Supplement along with a Biotin supplement for 4-6 months together.

Follihair tablets are basically hair supplements and contain multiple ingredients like Biotin, Iron, Calcium pantothenate etc. They are helpful in controlling hair fall and help to restore good hair health.

However they need to be taken for at least 4-6 months at a stretch. The action is slow, therefore don't expect immediate results. It is advisable to take them for a good 1-2 months to judge whether they are going to be effective Or not.

A good healthy diet, a gentle cleansing shampoo and a good conditioner can be used for dry frizzy hair.

As discussed previously, 2% minoxidil solution is a non-specific hair growth promoter can be applied at the scalp skin in this type of hair loss, twice daily with a dropper (1ml twice daily). Minoxidil is a hair growth promoter and helps in rapid transition of hair follicle from resting phase to growth phase (Anagen).

Hair fall is slow to respond and treatment may have to be continued for months to see noticeable improvements, say 4-6 months.

regards

---