The Drug Minoxidil For Baldness: Instructions For Use

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

The drug Minoxidil for baldness: instructions for use

Minoxidil: Will It Help Me? How effective can the treatment be?

Paradoxically, Minoxidil was not originally intended to correct the problem of alopecia. The drug was developed as an antihypertensive agent (to combat high blood pressure). However, clinical trials of the drug revealed an interesting side effect: almost all subjects showed an increase in the intensity of hair growth.

Such an unexpected effect was immediately used: Minoxidil was proposed to be used for external use (in the form of foam, lotion) as an anti-baldness agent, primarily genetically determined (androgenic). At the same time, Minoxidil could be recommended for both men and women.

Androgenic alopecia is one of the main causes of hair thinning in men (up to 96% of all cases). This form of hair loss is genetically determined, albeit indirectly. The cause of androgenic alopecia is the peculiarities of the endocrine system, which produces an excessive amount of DHT (a specific hormone - dihydrotestosterone). Dihydrotestosterone, acting on the hair follicles, causes them to reduce their own activity. As a result - thinning hair, a decrease in the rate of their growth and, in the end, total baldness.

Among a large number of drugs and cosmetics, Minoxidil, to one degree or another, helps to inhibit the baldness process and restore the normal functioning of the hair follicles.

Speaking about efficiency, you need to understand exactly what is meant by this term in each specific case.

Men whose baldness began relatively recently are interested in whether it is possible to stop the process of alopecia with the help of Minoxidil. Those who have suffered from alopecia for a long time and have already substantially baldness think about the possibility of restoring normal hairline.

More often men are interested in the effectiveness of Minoxidil. For women, androgenic alopecia (which occurs, as you know, the most active and leads to almost complete baldness) is uncharacteristic and occurs, rather, as an exception. This is due to the same genetic factor. Dihydrotestosterone is a typically male hormone that exists in the female body in negligible amounts. Nevertheless, sometimes there are exceptions.

Therefore, the question of the effectiveness of Minoxidil in relation to the problem of alopecia in men and women should be considered separately.

Content:

• Does Minoxidil help cope with other hair loss?
• How quickly will the treatment work?
• Which remedy to choose? Is it true that more concentrated products are more effective?
• How to apply Minoxidil correctly?
• How long should the treatment be continued?
• How safe is long-term use of Minoxidil preparations?
• What side effects can there be?
• Can Minoxidil and Finasteride be used at the same time?

Does Minoxidil help cope with other hair loss?

In general, as the results of specialized studies show, Minoxidil is most effective in the fight against androgenic alopecia. Also, at the moment there are a number of studies proving some efficacy of the drug in eliminating baldness of other types, however, the reliability of the information cannot be unambiguously confirmed: there is too little information.

Effectiveness of Minoxidil in the Treatment of Hair Loss in Men with Androgenic Alopecia

According to existing scientific studies, Minoxidil achieves the greatest degree of effectiveness if a number of factors are observed:

• The patient's age is less than 40 years;
• The diameter of the focus of androgenic alopecia at the start of treatment is no more than 10 cm;
• The alopecia process began no more than 10 years ago.

The degree of effectiveness of the drug directly depends on these three factors. Of course, this does not mean at all that Minoxidil will not be able to help men with an advanced process, some effect will be achieved in any case.

If the process of alopecia is relatively fresh (started no more than 10 years ago), Minoxidil is able to stop hair loss. At this stage, a man can choose an alternative option - taking a specialized drug Finasteride. However, it should be noted that Finasteride is much more dangerous than Minoxidil. Finasteride is available in pill form and is aimed at suppressing the synthesis of DHT, and any interference with the endocrine system can lead to unpredictable consequences. It is preferable to use a topical drug, namely Minoxidil.

The situation is somewhat more complicated with the issue of restoring already fallen out hair. To answer it, you need to turn to the results of scientific research.

According to the data obtained, the external use of Minoxidil in a 5% concentration leads to a stop of the alopecia process and an increase in the density of the cover by 10-55% (i.e. 4-30 hairs per square centimeter) in the first six months of use and up to 15-249% (from 16 up to 84 hairs per square centimeter) in the next six months.

If, for one reason or another, the use of Minoxidil is undesirable, a man can choose to take Finasteride, limit himself to cosmetic measures (wearing a wig), or stop at a hair transplant.

Effectiveness of Minoxidil in the Treatment of Hair Loss in Women with Androgenic Alopecia

Androgenic alopecia in women is extremely rare. In fact, androgenic alopecia in women is practically casuistry. However, if the problem exists, apart from Minoxidil, there is no worthy and safe replacement on the modern market.

As with men, treatment for women should be started as early as possible. If the alopecia has started recently, it is optimal to use Minoxidil within a year. At the end of the year, the first results can be summed up. If the result of the treatment is high enough, the course can be extended for a longer period.

Minoxidil is equally effective in advanced cases. Studies show that the use of the drug by women helps to stop the pathological process and increase the density of the hairline (13-30% or 20-50 hairs per square centimeter in the first six months of use). The dosage of Minoxidil when used by women should be slightly lower - 2%, otherwise there is a high risk of excessive hair growth.

How quickly will the treatment work?

Treatment of androgenic alopecia with any drug is a slow process. You need to be patient. With regular use of Minoxidil, the therapeutic effect is observed 3-4 months after the start of treatment. The first hair that has grown under the influence of the drug may differ in shade and texture from ordinary hair, but after a while the hair will get stronger and take on its inherent characteristics.

The optimal period for assessing the result of treatment is a year. After a year, conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of treatment and the prospects for its continuation. As a rule, Minoxidil shows good results in 68-70% of patients. If the patient is satisfied with the result of the treatment, the course of treatment can be extended for some more period. Otherwise, you can try other remedies.

Which remedy to choose? Is it true that more concentrated products are more effective?

Minoxidil is currently available in various forms. So, you can find lotions with a concentration of 1-5%, sprays, foams in a concentration of 5%. Also Minoxidil has various trade names and is produced under different brands: Minoxidil Kirkland, Alerana, Rogaine.

According to scientific research data, in men, the greatest effectiveness of treatment is achieved when using drugs with a maximum concentration (5%). At lower concentrations, drugs are less effective.

In women, on the contrary, the use of the drug at the maximum concentration is undesirable, since there is increased hair growth (including on the face), as well as severe irritation of the scalp.

Therefore, when choosing the form of Minoxidil, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

• For men suffering from androgenic alopecia, the drug in the maximum concentration (foam, lotion) is more suitable.
• In contrast, women are advised to use 2% Minoxidil.
• On the market there are products of individual companies, intended separately for men and women.

How to apply Minoxidil correctly?

The effectiveness of the treatment depends on the thoroughness of the instructions for use of the drug. Minoxidil is an exclusively local, topical drug. In other words, the medicine affects only those areas of the skin to which it is applied. The concentration of the applied preparation is also important.

The key to achieving a sufficient therapeutic effect is the regular use of the medicine. In addition, a sufficient amount of Minoxidil should be applied to the scalp. However, excessive application should be avoided, otherwise there is a high risk of side effects.

Doctors advise you to follow these tips when using Minoxidil:

• It is necessary to apply the product on the scalp, and not on the hair itself, specifically on the areas affected by baldness (where there is no hair, and where they have just begun to thin out).
• Each time it is recommended to use no more than 1-2 ml of the product (lotion) or up to half a foam cap.
• The product should be applied only to dry and healthy scalp, 2 times a day. If the patient washed their hair or took a shower before application, the head should be dried first. The product is gently applied to the skin and rubbed in with your fingers.
• Do not wash your hair immediately after applying Minoxidil. The product should be left for 1-3 hours.
• At the end of the manipulation, you should thoroughly wash your hands.
• To avoid undesirable consequences (for example, so that Minoxidil does not get on the face, does not stain bedding), in the evening it should be used no later than 1-2 hours before bedtime.
• If the product gets into the mouth, eyes or other mucous membranes, the product must be washed off with plenty of running water.
• Minoxidil is not recommended for body areas other than the head. With a large area of exposure, there is a risk of diffuse penetration of the drug into the blood, and this is fraught with a sharp decrease in pressure and the manifestation of a number of other side effects. In addition, in other areas, there may be an increase in the thickness of the hairline.
• Under no circumstances should Minoxidil be applied to damaged skin. Treatment continues only after complete healing.
• Several drugs should not be combined. Some drugs reduce the effectiveness of Minoxidil itself, while others turn out to be incompatible, and this increases the risk of adverse reactions.

The medicine must be applied regularly, only in that concentration and in the amount recommended by a specialist or written in the instructions. Irregular use will lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of treatment, at the same time, excessive application will not contribute to a quick action, but only cause a lot of adverse health effects.

How long should the treatment be continued?

Unfortunately, Minoxidil does not eliminate the root cause of androgenic alopecia, but only cushions the adverse effects of hormones on the hair follicles. Therefore, at the end of the treatment, hair loss in the affected areas and the progression of baldness are observed in a fairly short time. For this reason, Minoxidil must be used on an ongoing basis. If the patient is dissatisfied with the effect of the drug, you can resort to other means.

How safe is the long-term use of Minoxidil medications for baldness (hair loss)?

In the course of clinical trials, and then the collection of statistical information, data were obtained from people who have been using drugs based on Minoxidil for a long time (from a year or more). As shown by the research results, there were no significant side or other harmful effects from long-term use of the drug.

Can they be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

As modern research shows, preparations based on this active substance do not have an adverse effect on the child's body during lactation.

There is no data on the effect of Minoxidil on the fetal development process. Due to the lack of knowledge of the issue, it is not recommended to use the drug for pregnant women.

When should you not use products containing Minoxidil?

The only case when you cannot use topical Minoxidil preparations is if you are allergic to the main active ingredient or other substances included in the preparation.

What side effects can Minoxidil medications for male and female baldness (hair loss) cause?

Increased hair loss at the beginning of treatment

The vast majority of patients (both men and women), at the initial stage of using Minoxidil, experienced the exact opposite effect of the drug. Hair on the affected area began to fall out. You shouldn't be embarrassed by this effect. The thing is that previously inactive hair follicles "get rid" of already regrown hair and intensively begin to synthesize new hair structures. Therefore, you should not pay attention to increased hair loss and do not panic. This is part of the normal therapeutic process. After some time (from one week to one and a half months), the balding process will stop and the opposite will begin.

Itching and irritation of the skin

Minoxidil preparations of high concentration (5%), as a rule, often cause side effects in the form of itching and irritation of the scalp. The manifestations of irritation in different patients can vary: redness of the scalp, a decrease in the natural protective layer of the scalp, dryness, etc. In extremely rare cases, the intensity of the discomfort is so great that treatment is stopped. Often a similar side effect is observed when wearing wigs in parallel while using the medication.

Hair growth on the face, arms, legs, or body

It is not unreasonable that many female representatives are afraid to use a drug such as Minoxidil. This drug stimulates hair follicles wherever they are present. Therefore, hair growth increases not only on the head, there is also a high risk of increased hair growth of the hands, etc.

Preparations based on this active ingredient can indeed cause increased hair growth on the face (in the ears, on the temples, cheeks, etc.) and on other parts of the body where the medicine has gotten. Fortunately, this is a relatively rare side effect and is observed in no more than 5-7% of cases when using 2% Minoxidil, and no more than 13% of cases when using the drug at its maximum concentration.

Also, at the end of treatment, intensive hair growth stops soon enough (within 4-12 months from the date of drug withdrawal).

The growth of hair on the arms, body, legs is observed even less often and occurs in isolated cases of careless use of the drug. In these cases, the unpleasant effect is also temporary and stops after 3-5 months from the moment the drug is stopped.

Studies have shown that women who are already prone to increased hair growth are most likely to manifest this side effect.

Effects on the cardiovascular system

If the drug is used by a person prone to problems with the cardiovascular system, or uses the drug over a wide area of the body, there is a high risk of diffuse penetration into the circulatory system. This is fraught with the development of hypotension, increased body weight, and deterioration of the excretory system.

Can Minoxidil and Finasteride be used at the same time?

If you believe the profile clinical studies, in a combination, drugs based on Minoxidil and Finasteride give a more pronounced effect of treatment for baldness. For women, such therapy is categorically not suitable, since an increase in the male hormone DHT in a woman's blood will inevitably lead to severe hormonal disruptions.

Men, as already mentioned, are also strongly discouraged from being too "carried away" with Finasteride. If the drug is taken incorrectly or for a long time, malfunctions of the reproductive system are often observed (in particular, hypogonadism, characterized by a decrease in libido, testicular atrophy, erectile dysfunction, up to persistent impotence).

On the subject: Impotence in men - causes, signs and treatment

For obvious reasons, it will be much more difficult to eliminate the adverse effects of taking Finasteride, so it is important to strictly adhere to the dosage, to assess the feasibility of such treatment, weighing all the risks.

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The author of the article: German Olga Leonidovna, trichologist, specially for the website ayzdorov.ru