 |  |
Minoxidil
Minoxidil (trade names Rogaine and Regaine) is a vasodilator medication known for its ability to slow or stop hair loss and promote hair regrowth. It is available over the counter for treatment of androgenic alopecia, among other baldness treatments, but measurable changes disappear within months after discontinuation of treatment.
Recently Rogaine has been released in a topical foam application. This is said to be a vast improvement on the previous product which is applied to the scalp via liquid dropper. Users are claiming a complete lack of irritation from the foam, faster drying times and easier application. From test study data the foam is showing an 85% effectiveness rate compared to a meager 55% with the regular liquid solution. Minoxidil is available in man generic forms, one of the most popular being Kirkland Signature which is virtually the same as the Rogaine Liquid. From our experienced tsting we recommend only using Rogaine Foam. This is simply because the foam is an upgrade in every noticable way to the regular liquid. You may find the same results with the liquid products but for ease of application, less dandruff and itchy scalp the foam is currently king.
Objective evidence shows that minoxidil is effective in frontal areas of the scalp, and not just in the vertex area in male-pattern hair loss. At the conclusion of a 48 week study, improvements were seen in the frontal scalp regions of 51% of men using 5% minoxidil, 42% using 2% minoxidil, and 13% of placebo users. Among these men, moderate to great increases in hair growth were seen in the frontal scalp regions of 19% of men using 5% minoxidil, 10% using 2% minoxidil, and 3% of placebo users.
The method of action for Minoxidil is not known. It is clearly not just the vasodilatating effects which cause hair regrowth, as no other vasodilator has been shown to be effective in treating hair loss.The mechanism by which minoxidil promotes hair growth is not fully understood. Minoxidil is a potassium channel agonist. It contains the chemical structure of nitric oxide (NO), a blood vessel dilator, and may be a nitric oxide agonist. This appears to explain its vasodilatory effects, but may also be linked to minoxidil's ability to stimulate hair growth and treat hair loss. Since minoxidil is a nitric oxide-related compound, it was suspected to act via activation of guanylite cylase, an enzyme involved in vasodilation, however there are no reports of cGMP or PKG activation to date.
Minoxidil is less effective when there is a large area of hair loss. In addition, its effectiveness has largely been demonstrated in younger men (18 to 41 years of age), the younger the better, and in those with balding in the central (Vertex) portion of the scalp.
Side-effects
As a drug to combat hair loss, the most common side effect is itchy scalp. Alcohol present in topical preparations may dry the scalp, resulting in dandruff.
In some cases minoxidil may initially cause an increase in hair loss.
This is called shedding and is seen as a long-term positive effect
during hair loss treatment since the shedded hair strands will regrow
within a few months with renewed strength.
There have been cases of allergic reactions to minoxidil or the non-active ingredient propolene glycol, which is found in some forms of topical Rogaine. Large amounts of minoxidil can cause hypotension, and it has been found that using petroleum jelly on the scalp with minoxidil can cause too much of the drug absorption by the scalp, as can using the drug on sunburned scalps.
If a person uses minoxidil to stop hair loss for a length of time and then stops taking the drug, hair loss will occur again.
- Hyperprolactinemia, a disorder related to prolactin levels
- acne on the area where it is being used as a topical solution
- headaches and/or lightheadedness
- low blood pressure
- irregular or fast heart beat
- blurred vision or other vision problems
- numbness or tingling in the hands, feet or face
- decreased sexual desire
- partial, or complete, impotence
- chest pain
All the side-effects in the above list except for acne may be an indicator that too much of the drug is being used, all of these side effects however are rare. It has also been found that the drug can be passed from a mother to a child via breast milk.
Minoxidil is highly toxic to cats and can cause death when applied to their skin.
