Are Minoxidil and Propecia Worth Using? (with Photos)

Whats up Doc!

I am considering getting on rogaine but am wondering whether or not the benefits of it would be worth the annoyance of its daily use. Is Propecia better? Have you seen any substantial results on Rogain along from any of your patients? I am currently just looking to reverse some thinning in miniaturizing hairs on my crown. Also, is the shed that it mentions is a possibility of any significance, i.e. can you visibly notice a shed from the minoxidil?

Thanks in advance!

When there is a shedding from minoxidil or Propecia, the effects on fullness are rarely visible.

Here are photos forwarded to me (with permission to publish here) by Dr. William Parsley of a 40 year old male patient who had a great response to a combination of minoxidil and Propecia (finasteride 1mg). He had no hair transplants. These medications do work together and on some patients they can have a remarkable result. From his before pictures, there appears to be considerable miniaturization and I can not tell which medication was responsible for this outstanding response. When there are miniaturized hairs, they can often be stimulated so that the hair shafts will thicken and many studies show that when these medications work, the greatest response comes from these miniaturized hairs which become thicker. If you click on the photographs and compare the before and after pictures carefully, you can almost see the miniaturized hairs (without magnification in these pictures) showing the thickening in the ‘after’ picture. I have seen significant benefits from minoxidil by itself, though not as spectacular as these photos show. Please note that neither medication has proof that they work in the frontal area, yet seeing is believing here. Click the photos to enlarge.

Before

After (minoxidil and Propecia combination use for 7 months)