Minoxidil (Rogaine) Stops
Hair Loss through Stimulation
How Minoxidil or Rogaine
works
Minoxidil is the first
FDA approved medication to treat hair loss, marketed
under the name Rogaine and in some geographical regions,
Regaine. It is a topical solution that is applied directly
to the scalp. It was originally available only with
a doctor's prescription. Now, it is available over the
counter both as Rogaine and as a generic monixidil solution.
It comes in concentration of 5 percent for men and 2
percent for women. Rogaine is also now available as
a 5 percent topical foam which is less greasy and easier
to apply for some people.
Minoxidil was first available
as an oral blood pressure medication. The doctors obsserved
that patience taking this medication not only demonstrated
lower blood pressure, they also began growing body hair.
It was a logical progression to apply minoxidil to the
scalp. The result is modest hair growth on the scalp.
Minoxidil is a vasodilator,
which cause the blood vessel to dilate, allowing more
blood flow to the hair follicle. It also increases the
duration of the hair follicle growth cycle and improves
the quality of the hair by incresing the diameter and
length of the hair.
How effective is minoxidil
or Rogaine for hair growth?
Minoxidil works on any
area where there is fine or miniaturized hair. Early
studies on minoxidil focused on the crown of the head,
giving the impression that it only works on these areas.
However, it does not work on completely bald areas.
The benefit from minoxidil
will be visible at its greatest between 6 months to
2 years from the start of the treatment. Thereafter,
you will probably see the effectiveness decreasing gradually.
You are exoected to lose hair but at a slower rate than
if you are not on this medication.
Minoxidil has been in
the market long enough to have tested since the mid-1980s.
It works modestly and the stronger 5 percent solution
works better than the 2 percent solution.
If you stop using minoxidil,
expect the condition of your hair will revert to its
original pattern within 3 months. Starting and stopping
is not recommended as the subsequent hair growth is
not expected to be as strong as the previous phase before
you stopped.
Minoxidil or Rogaine
for women
Minoxidil also works
for women. Only the 2 percent concentration has been
approved for women use.
A study was conducted
in 1994 in which 256 women with androgenetic alopecia
used the 2 percent formula twice daily for 32 weeks.
The study reported that 60 percent of the subjects using
the 2 percent formula reported hair growth, compared
with the 40 percent result from the placebo group.
The 5 percent formula
has been found to produce better result in a study conducted
in 2004, involving 381 female patients, although only
the 2 percent formula is approved.
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