Should 18 Year Old With Early Hair Loss Use 2% or 5% Minoxidil?

I am 18 and experiencing hair loss in the past month. I have hair loss all across the top of my scalp. My scalp is also itchy in that area. My doctor prescribed me minoxidil 5%, even though I still have full scalp of hair. Is it safe for me to apply it considering that I’m 18 and that it’s still unknown how it works (what if in about 10 years, study will show that it actually causes some serious disease)? Would it be better to take minoxidil 2%? Thank you for your answer.

I think either 2 or 5% minoxidil is relatively safe to use, as it has been used to treat hair loss since the 1980s. However, why are you using something without firmly knowing what you are treating? For those who follow this site on a regular basis, you can imagine what my next sentence would be…

Get a miniaturization study to know what you are treating and if you have miniaturization indicative of male pattern baldness, then Propecia is the best, best, best drug to treat it — not minoxidil. Also, minoxidil is an over-the-counter medication (sold as Rogaine Extra Strength, among other names), so there is no need for a doctor to prescribe it.