Minoxidil is the first and only nonprescription, FDA-approved treatment for hair re-growth. If individuals are losing their hair, minoxidil may help. Minoxidil works so well because it widens blood vessels and increases the delivery of nutrient laden blood and oxygen to the hair follicles.
But minoxidil is not a miracle cure. By stimulating hair growth where the hair has stopped growing, minoxidil improves the appearance of thinning hair or bald spots on top of the scalp.
However, hair loss might continue in the area where minoxidil is applied. Minoxidil is not effective against receding hairlines or total baldness.
What is Minoxidil Therapy?
Minoxidil Therapy is a hair-recovery treatment clinically proven to help men and women regain their hair.
The topical solution of Minoxidil Therapy – used twice a day for just 12 weeks – is proven to control hair loss keeping the hair individuals healthy, and helping restore the appearance of fuller, thicker hair by increasing volume through hair growth and nourishing strands to reduce breakage.
It is a 5% liquid solution that is applied onto the scalp once or twice daily to stimulate hair growth. The potency and effectiveness of minoxidil can be directly related to its purity and concentration levels.
Only pharmaceutical grade Minoxidil should be used as it is prescribed by your doctor. Product labels must contain 2 active ingredients: Minoxidil 2% and Methyl Propionate 50%. It comes in three different concentrations: 5%, 15%, and 25%.
Minoxidil Therapy was originally created to lower blood pressure, however, one of the side effects was hair growth and it was eventually found to be effective at stimulating hair growth.
It is not a cure, but a hair loss treatment that is meant to help individuals maintain the hair growth that they already have. It helps those who suffer from hereditary pattern baldness, Alopecia Areata (sudden or patchy hair loss), and hormonally induced hair loss. Note: Minoxidil is not intended for use by women after the onset of menopause, or by anyone under 18. The most common Minoxidil Therapy used for treatment for hair loss is the topical application of Minoxidil.
It is applied twice daily in a solution that contains 5% Minoxidil. The re-growth process can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months, and the improvement continues after that point.
The Right Way to Make Use Of Minoxidil
It is a natural vasodilator, a medication that dilates or enlarges blood vessels, increasing blood flow to hair follicles. Minoxidil promotes hair growth in both men and women who have hereditary hair loss.
Minoxidil is the only medication approved by the FDA for promoting hair regrowth, working best on early stages of hair loss.
This can be used by patients who have hair thinning, but it is not effective for receding hairlines or complete baldness. To see the desired effects, a patient must use Minoxidil as recommended by his or her physician and apply it to the scalp once or twice each day.
It’s important to note that Minoxidil doesn’t work right away — which may be hard for patients to hear. Minoxidil takes about three to four months to show visible effects since hair grows slowly. While using Minoxidil, individuals can expect to witness more hairs, as well as reduced shedding from the hair follicles.
Instructions For Using Minoxidil
- Make sure you wash the hair and dry it with a towel properly.
- Wash the hands thoroughly after applying minoxidil
- Wait for at least 40 minutes after shower to apply the solution onto the scalp.
- Do not forget to comb the hair using a wide-tooth comb so that the solution is evenly distributed on the head.
- Leave the solution to dry up for at least 4 hours before going to bed and do not touch those places where individuals have applied it.
Big Point – Is Minoxidil Safe to Use?
Yes, Minoxidil has been proven to be a safe treatment for hair loss. It was first used to treat high blood pressure in the 1980s, but it was discovered that it had the side effect of stimulating hair growth.
It has been FDA approved since 1988 and continues to be an effective solution for male and female pattern hair loss.
Minoxidil is one of the safest treatments for hair loss. Studies have shown that it can slow down or completely stop hair shedding, and re-grow some hair, but it works better for some people than others.
Advantages of Minoxidil
The main benefit of Minoxidil is that it helps in regrowing hair, if the cause of loss is Hereditary Hair Loss.
Another advantage to using Minoxidil is the price. Effective against two causes of hair loss, heredity male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness, this product can be effective for both men and women who are losing their hair due to hereditary causes.
Minoxidil is a cheaper option than other hair loss treatments such as hair transplants. There are 5 main advantages to taking minoxidil: no needles, no surgery, no sexual side effects, cost-effectiveness and has been clinically tested.
Other benefits of minoxidil include: Minoxidil helps you keep your existing hair, resulting in a thicker-looking head of hair.
Side Effects of Minoxidil
Minoxidil is majorly used in the treatment of androgenic alopecia. Although minoxidil can cause side effects, the most common reactions are mild and temporary.
These include: itching around the hairline, allergic contact dermatitis (reddening of the skin), acne, dryness or oiliness of scalp skin, flaking of the scalp, and increased hair growth on other body parts such as the face.
The most common side effect of minoxidil therapy is itching, but it can simply be washed off with a normal shampoo.
If the itching persists and doesn’t cause any rashes or skin problems, patients should seek the consultation of their doctor right away.
Side effects are uncommon with minoxidil therapy and are dose related. The most common side effect is dermatological, but in some cases can be of medical significance.
They include transient dermatitis, which usually develop on the scalp or skin where application occurs, although it can appear on other parts of the body. The rash may be localised or generalised. Pruritus and erythema are the most frequent manifestations. The problem is usually mild side effects and resolves with continued use.
Bottom Line
Minoxidil Therapy targets Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Hair Loss by increasing blood flow and nutrients to the hair follicles, helping to reverse miniaturisation of follicles (the shrinking process which causes thinning).
96% of men who used Minoxidil Therapy for 4 months saw increased hair growth. Designed for men who have a general thinning of hair on the top of the scalp, this easy-to-use foam is clinically proven to regrow hair. It works to boost hair follicle activity and is suitable for use by men who have a family history of hair loss.
A key component of Minoxidil Therapy, the ‘Lipogaine’ 5% topical minoxidil solution is specially formulated for men and women experiencing hair loss. A combination of powerful natural ingredients is included in the formula to help stimulate hair growth and a healthy scalp environment.
Minoxidil is the only over-the-counter topical treatment for hair loss that is proven to be effective for both men and women.