Why Is It Difficult to Regrow the Hairline?
Hi Doc,
Thanks for answering so many questions on this site- It has been extremely helpful. The question I have is why is is extremely hard to regrow hair along the hairline?
Your question is somewhat confusing.
If you’re asking why medications like Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) will not regrow hair after it fell out, well that could be due to the hair being further down the path to ‘hair death’ and these medications simply can not bring them back. They only work if some of the old hair is still left and miniaturized, not if it is clean bald. If the area is clean bald, nothing but hair transplants will work. The frontal hairline does grow wonderful hair transplants — just look at the patient galleries on our website.
The formal studies that were put into the FDA show that Propecia and minoxidil work in the crown. The studies on the front of the head did not have data, so there was no good data submitted. As such, efficacy claims are allowed for these medications on the crown, but not in the front. The FDA studies were probably limited to the crown for convenience sake, so we really do not have data on the impact of the medication on the frontal areas, but this is just my guess, as I don’t have any firsthand knowledge as to why they chose this path. From my experience, the hair regrowth benefit on the hairline is less obvious than it is in the crown.
I understand minoxidil is not effective at regrowing frontal hair but in my situation I am just looking for frontal hair maintenance. Will applying this medication provide me with this benefit.
Thank you!
I lost all my hair in the pattern of NW 6 at 28 yrs old. Not a hair in sight, smooth as a babies bottom. It remained that way for 20 yrs. After which i used minoxidil 5% and Finasteride 1 mg I regained full coverage including the hair line.
So i don’t agree with the Doc’s Statement that hair follicles die. They are just being kept in a resting phase by dht.