Is Retinoic Acid Important with Minoxidil Use?

Hello,
I have used Minoxidil 5% with good results for 2 years. In the first year I used a solution with ethanol and retinoic acid but switched to ethanol retinoic-free minoxidil 5% after a year.

1. Are these agents vitally important to the work of minoxidil?
2. My hair seems to go in cycles from quite thick to quite thin and back again over 6 months or so.
3. is this normal with minoxidil use?

Many thanks

1. Retinoic acid produces a mild burn to the skin which increases blood supply and the absorption of minoxidil. That is why, I believe, some doctors use retinoic acid, though it isn’t necessary for minoxidil to show benefits. Ethanol (alcohol) is an ingredient in Rogaine and I’d assume most topical minoxidil products.
2. Some patients have reported hair cycling by time of year. It seems to be rarely talked about, so I really do not know the answer to question #2.
3. Cycling occurs with or without minoxidil use, but this is the normal hair cycle — anagen, catagen, and telogen. I’ve previously written about hair cycles.