Hair growth is a slow process and ROGAINE® is not an overnight miracle. So remember, if it does work for you, it will take some time to produce results. Two to six weeks after starting treatment, you may notice you are losing even more hair. Don't be alarmed—this is completely normal. It's caused by your hair follicles shifting from a dormant phase to an active growing phase: as new hair growth begins, your old hairs are released and fall out. When you first start using ROGAINE®, you may find that the alcohol it contains irritates your skin. This side effect is usually temporary and should pass within a few days. However, if the irritation persists stop using the product and ask your pharmacist for advice.

Seeing Results

If you use ROGAINE® twice a day for at least 4 months, you may start to see results—but up to 12 months of use may be needed. Everyone is different and the effects vary from user to user. If you start to regrow hair, it won't look like your normal hair at first. Instead, it will probably be soft, downy and barely visible. After continued treatment, this new hair may change and become the same colour and thickness as the rest of your hair.

Stopping Treatment

To continue to benefit from ROGAINE®, you must use it twice a day every day. If you stop, you'll probably find that your new hair disappears within 3 to 4 months and your hair loss process will start again. You'll simply go back to the pattern of hair loss you had before you started using ROGAINE®.

Some people may feel, particularly later in life, that hair loss is not such a problem as when they were younger. At this stage some people may chose to stop using the treatment and "grow old gracefully". It is very much a personal choice for each individual.

Users of ROGAINE® have to be patient. Sometimes no effects are seen for up to a year of continuous treatment. However, in consumer surveys of over 7,000 men, 80% said they noticed a difference. It can also slow down hair loss in men who are showing early signs of male pattern baldness.