Questions regarding starting Dermarolling, Rogaine foam, retinal/retinol
    1/29/2026

    From the encyclopedia
    Minoxidil →

    An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

    Finasteride →

    Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

    Microneedling →

    technique to create small wounds in skin to activate collagen production and hair growth

    At a glance
    In this question or advice post, the primary subjects mentioned are
    💧 Minoxidil (topical) foam 2x daily
    💊 Finasteride (oral) 7 years
    💧 Dermarolling (topical) inconsistently
    💧 Tretinoin (topical)
    💧 Retinal/Retinol (topical)
    the tone is 😐 neutral.

    Other terms

    The conversation discusses using Rogaine (minoxidil foam) for hair loss, with questions about enhancing its effectiveness with tretinoin or retinol and incorporating dermarolling. The user has been using finasteride for 7 years and is considering starting minoxidil despite concerns about shedding.
    View this post in the Community →

    Similar Community Posts Join

    5 / 5 results

      community Who won’t respond to minoxidil? (Studies)

       33 upvotes 6 months ago
      Minoxidil's effectiveness varies due to differences in sulfotransferase enzyme levels in the scalp, affecting people with conditions like ASD, liver disease, and androgenic alopecia. Treatments like topical tretinoin, microneedling, and using minoxidil sulfate instead of regular minoxidil can improve results for those with low enzyme levels.

      community 11 months on fin + min. Thoughts?

      in Progress Pictures  918 upvotes 2 years ago
      A user shared progress pictures after 11 months on finasteride and minoxidil, with intermittent microneedling. The community responded positively, noting significant hair regrowth and encouraging continued treatment.

      community Minoxidil and microneedling only - one year progress (m40+)

       1366 upvotes 2 years ago
      A 40+ male shared his one-year progress using minoxidil twice daily and microneedling once a week, showing significant hair improvement. He also occasionally uses finasteride in a low dosage due to side effects.

      community 4 Month Update on Topical Minoxidil

      in Progress Pictures  11 upvotes 1 year ago
      The user achieved significant hair regrowth using Regaine 5% topical minoxidil, dermarolling, rosemary, and pumpkin seed oil. They are considering adding finasteride or dutasteride to their regimen for further improvement.

    Related Research

    6 / 6 results
      Experimental and Early Investigational Drugs for Androgenetic Alopecia

      research Experimental and early investigational drugs for androgenetic alopecia

      11 citations , July 2017 in “Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs”
      This review discusses current and emerging therapeutic strategies for androgenetic alopecia, noting limited evidence but suggesting areas such as prostaglandin analogs, PRP, and progenitor cell therapies as promising future directions.
      Facial Hair Enhancement With Minoxidil—An Off-Label Use

      research Facial hair enhancement with minoxidil—an off-label use

      January 2024 in “SAGE Open Medical Case Reports”
      This report describes the case of identical twin males, where one applied topical 5% minoxidil for over a year on the beard and mustache area and the other did not, highlighting the anecdotal use of minoxidil for facial hair enhancement.
      Status of Research on the Development and Regeneration of Hair Follicles

      research Status of research on the development and regeneration of hair follicles

      November 2023 in “International Journal of Medical Sciences”
      This review examines the mechanisms of hair follicle development and regeneration, discussing current hair loss treatments and emerging therapies like low-level laser therapy and stem cell therapy, which the authors suggest show promise in managing hair loss.

      research Is Minoxidil (Rogaine) Clinically Effective?

      2 citations , April 1989 in “Archives of Dermatology”
      This article discusses a planned advertising campaign for topical minoxidil as a treatment for male pattern baldness and reports that it was significantly superior to placebo in clinical trials.

      research Is minoxidil (Rogaine) clinically effective?

      April 1989 in “Archives of Dermatology”
      This article discusses a forthcoming advertising campaign for minoxidil, highlighting the need for dermatologists to understand its efficacy, with reports showing it was significantly superior to placebo in promoting hair growth at four months.