Did My Hair Become Dependent on Minoxidil?

Hi
I’m a 27 asian who currently stopped using minoxidil 7%/retonic acid 0.01% prescribed through hairloss clinic in australia for about 2months along with the proscar, due to it’s side effects which i was experiencing (side effects are gone now). I started about 3 years ago when i had a haircut and noticed it looked rather patchy and seethrough, then out of paranoia went on a hair loss program. I took it for six months and noticed hair looking fuller, but could have just been their shampoo and conditioner i was using, because it looked thicker after 1st use. Stopped it and pick it up again after about 6 months. Been on just the minoxidil and proscar 1/4 tablet a day for about a 1 1/2 yrs. Still experiencing shedding hair throughout this period, did not feel like it was effective. I only used minoxidil once a day and would usually miss a day or 2 when i’m not home. Decided to rid myself of paranoia and shaved my hair down and stopped entirely.

My question is, while my hairline is still intact just has a diffused thinning look on top, but with strange normal looking patches at the front of my hairline. Would my hair have become dependent on the minoxidil and retarding its growth?? Because the hair thats there doesn’t look like they’ve thinned much but seem to lack strength and do not grow evenly next to each other and some look curved as they grew. I am asian and have naturally straight slightly wavy hair. My hair actually feels different to the hair on the back of my head, has a more lifeless feel to it. But apart from that. Havent notice any loss or hair after stopping so far though.

Also, my father and uncles all aged about 50 and over has norwood class 3 with a thinner look, except one who has a full head of hair. Would i be likely to follow in their pattern of hairloss??

thanks

I do not have a clear answer to your question. What you needed was a miniaturization study or a photograph to document what you looked like before. While I believe what you are experiencing is real, your perception may be different than what is reality.

Minoxidil after a long term use (over a year) can help grow or maintain your hair. After you stop minoxidil, you may lose the hairs that the minoxidil has been supporting. The same is true for Propecia/Proscar (finasteride).