Hair Loss Medication Minoxidil A quick over-the-counter solution called minoxidil is one of the first drugs people suffering from hair loss turn to. You will probably remember it, however, by its most famous brand name: Rogaine.
Minoxidil has been on the market for a long time and was first used to treat hypertension in the form of a tablet under the brand name Loniten (high blood pressure). Some of the participants’ experiments indicated additional hair growth, but this time, in peculiar areas, Finasteride trials were tested for the treatment of enlarged prostate glands. Participants mentioned additional hair on their lips, back of their hands, and forehead in this scenario.
This, of course, prompted those in the medical research community to doubt whether minoxidil would be an efficient stimulant for hair growth if used more deliberately or not. Unnecessary to mention, for the topical minoxidil clinical trials, the pharmaceutical corporation was inundated with volunteers. It took a while to get the product to market, but by 1988, there was a topical use for men, Rogaine was available via prescription. Its use was extended to females in 1991. And it was made available over-the-counter by the FDA in 1996. Since then, numerous individuals around the world have attempted to re-grow their hair with minoxidil.
Let’s dive into minoxidil’s specifics, how it works, the dose accepted, and known side effects.
Minoxidil for Male Hair Loss
Minoxidil is an effective medication to support men with androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness. Check out how it operates and the drug’s benefits and drawbacks. To combat hair loss, lots of men who have male pattern baldness have their choice of two FDA-approved medications. One of them is Minoxidil.
For certain men, once or twice a day, using the drug, which comes as a topical solution or foam, will avoid hair loss from male pattern baldness (also known as androgenetic alopecia). And minoxidil (Rogaine) can also induce new hair growth if you’re lucky. As soon as you start losing your hair, the trick is to use it early and try to hold the results up. It has its benefits and drawbacks, but for a lot of men, minoxidil can be very helpful.
How to Use Minoxidil for Hair Loss
Hair Loss Medication Minoxidil You should ensure that your scalp is dry before implementing minoxidil. It might be better to wait for a few minutes if you plan to apply the product after a shower. You don’t have to wait for your hair to dry, though. The scalp may be dry, but it doesn’t have to be the hair.
Fill the eyedropper with 1 ml of liquid when using the liquid solution and apply it directly to the thinning areas of the scalp, ensuring that the hair is separated to expose the scalp as much as possible. Rub the solution into your scalp carefully. Before you lay down for bed or apply the cream to your hair for styling, please ensure the product has been properly absorbed and your scalp is totally dry. The directions are the same when the foam is used, except for the dose. Using a half-capful of foam and massage it into the scalp gently. Again, before application, the hair does not need to be dry.
Wash Your Hands First
Make sure to wash your hands completely after applying the drug, regardless of whether you’re using the foam or the solution. Any symptoms you have observed will vanish if you stop using minoxidil. Efficacy depends on consistency, just like Finasteride, so it will be necessary to apply the drug twice daily. You should not, nevertheless, apply minoxidil to damaged skin.
Doing so could cause the absorption of too much of the drug and increase the risk of more severe side effects. Allowing the scalp to recover should take precedence over procedures with minoxidil, which can be resumed once the skin is back to normal. Minoxidil may take four to six months to see some kind of positive effects. Talk to our doctor if you have any concerns about the drug or the symptoms you’re having. Our doctor may recommend you to try Finasteride or look into hair transplants if you have not seen outcomes after a certain period.
Minoxidil: Cons
Hair Loss Medication Minoxidil For young men who are only beginning to lose their hair, Minoxidil works best. Someone who is already bald won’t be able to use minoxidil to grow new hair. Also, although a small percentage of men with the drug will be able to develop new hair, others will only be able to avoid hair loss, and the drug will not work at all for others. Hair loss will continue if you quit and it will start thinning your hair again.
Androgenetic Alopecia Medication
Minoxidil is also administered along with the other androgenetic alopecia medication: Finasteride (Propecia), which is a prescription drug initially sold for prostate disorders at a higher dose. Some scientists suggest that before adding another to the mix, men select one drug and trial it for a year. If you try two at the same time, you’re not going to know which one works and you are going to have to keep using both.
Minoxidil is generally well-accepted by most people who use it, suggesting that without further medical intervention they experience mild, transient side effects that disappear on their own. There are exceptions to this principle, as with any drug.
The pain, stinging, or redness at the treatment sites on the scalp are some of the more common side effects of minoxidil. Usually, these symptoms resolve soon, but if they do not, or if they get worse, you can stop taking the drug immediately and see our doctor. You can avoid using the drug and contact our doctor immediately if you experience any of the following unusual side effects:
- Excessive loss of hair
- Additional development of facial hair
- Facial or scalp swelling
- Shifts in vision, like blurredness,
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Heart speeding
- Fast excessive weight
- Regular or chronic headaches
Does Rogaine (Minoxidil) Work for Hair Loss?
Hair Loss Medication Minoxidil It has been confirmed that minoxidil slows down hair loss and grows back some hair. And while it may be the most commonly available hair loss treatment product, in all cases, it is not effective. Since it is over the counter, as a first treatment choice, it is widely recommended. Usually, minoxidil is prescribed by our doctor as one aspect of the procedure, or in situations when a patient has not seen success using Finasteride. Some have more success than others with minoxidil, but for the majority of men, Finasteride is seen as the most successful non-surgical alternative.
Minoxidil and hair treatments are usually the only alternative treatments to them because Finasteride is not licensed for use in females (assuming their hair loss is a result of pattern baldness and is not caused by a medical condition). Before you try minoxidil, be sure to talk with our doctor, as your personal or family medical history can alter the risk of potential side effects, such as those with identified heart problems.
What can be Done If It did not Work?
If minoxidil has not worked for you and you are searching for a more permanent hair loss cure, contact our company for a consultation. We have a wealth of information on our website if you would like to learn more about follicular unit extraction (FUE) or DHI how these methods vary from the outdated strip techniques. Check out our before and after pictures and watch our instructional videos as you learn what’s involved, and don’t forget to read feedback from our satisfied customers.
Give us a call when you’re finished. We’d love to explore your care options!
At our company, we make use of the most advanced and also the newest methods to cure all types of hair loss conditions. If you are willing to learn more about treatments and others, please do not hesitate to phone us. Hair Loss Medication Minoxidil