In some men, using the drug — which comes as a topical solution or foam — once or twice a day can put a stop to hair loss from male pattern baldness (also called androgenetic alopecia) once it has started. And if you’re lucky, minoxidil (Rogaine) can even stimulate new hair growth. The key is to use it early, as soon as you start losing your hair, and continuously to keep up the results. It has its advantages and disadvantages, but minoxidil can be very effective for a lot of men. 10 Surprising Things That Cause Hair Loss How Minoxidil Works Originally, minoxidil was a blood pressure medication that was taken by mouth, says Lance Barazani, MD, a dermatologist at Advanced Dermatology in Roslyn, N.Y. But doctors discovered that when people took the drug they saw hair growth on certain parts of their body, he says. Studies proved that the medication could induce hair growth in certain people when it was given topically, he says. As a hair loss treatment, it works by extending the growth phase of hair. Each hair goes through a growth cycle in which it grows for about 1,000 days before it falls out, Dr. Barazani says. But in men with male pattern baldness, hair follicles become miniaturized and the hair starts becoming more fine and delicate. It happens sometime after puberty and is associated with androgens, male sex hormones. (That’s why it’s called androgenetic alopecia). Eventually, the hairline recedes and hair around the crown of the head thins. The drug comes in two concentrations: 2 percent and 5 percent. Minoxidil 2% is designed for women, while minoxidil 5% is designed for men. Minoxidil: Pros Minoxidil may be a good choice for hair loss treatment if you’ve just started losing your hair. Here are the advantages of taking it:
It’s effective, especially for young men. When you start minoxidil early, especially if you’re a man in his twenties who has thinning hair and a father and uncle with male pattern baldness, you have the best chances of responding to minoxidil as a therapy, Barazani says.It’s over-the-counter. A doctor’s prescription is not necessary. You can find minoxidil at your local drugstore, although some doctors recommend talking to your primary doctor or dermatologist before starting treatment on your own.
Minoxidil: Cons There also are some cons to using minoxidil, including:
It can be costly. It can cost about $40 for a three-month supply of minoxidil 5%.However, Barazani says to keep in mind that minoxidil 2% used to be available only by prescription and cost as much as $100 a bottle, which wasn’t covered by insurance. Today, men can buy minoxidil 5% (more than twice the concentration of the original prescription formula) for considerably less. If you’re a bargain shopper and go to a discount warehouse store, you can buy four bottles for about $50, he says.It can be cumbersome. Applying it to the scalp can be a challenge for some men, Barazani says. It’s recommended to apply the solution twice a day, but Barazani says that some men can get away with applying it only once.It doesn’t work for everyone. Minoxidil works best for young men who are just starting to lose their hair. Someone who is already bald won’t be able to grow new hair with minoxidil. Also, while a certain number of men will be able to grow new hair with the drug, some will only be able to stop hair loss, and for others the drug won’t work at all.If you stop, hair loss will continue. Stop using the medication and your hair will begin to thin again.
Sometimes minoxidil is prescribed along with the other medication for androgenetic alopecia: finasteride (Propecia), which is a prescription pill originally marketed in a higher-dosage pill as Proscar for prostate problems. Barazani recommends that men choose one drug and try it for a year before adding another to the mix. If you try both at once, you won’t know which one works and you’ll have to keep using both, he says. In the meantime, it’s good to know there’s an effective treatment that you can buy without a prescription.
