What do you know about the benefits of Rogaine or Minoxidil for hair loss? The active ingredient in Rogaine is minoxidil. Minoxidil increases blood flow in the blood vessels that surround the hair follicles. Although Rogaine has been proven to work, it does not work the same for everyone and there may be better options for your hair loss. In this article, from Dr. Salam’s medicine and beauty, skin and hair section, we will examine Minoxidil or Rogaine.
What is Rogaine (minoxidil)?
Minoxidil was initially used to treat high blood pressure until it was found that the side effects of this drug have the ability to stimulate new hair growth. This compound is an active ingredient in the hair loss drug Rogaine.
Although there is reliable evidence of the effectiveness of Rogaine in preventing hair loss, its lotion is not useful and effective for everyone. In some specific cases, depending on the pattern of hair loss, there may be better treatment alternatives.
How does Rogaine or Minoxidil work?
Minoxidil is a vasodilator drug that dilates blood vessels and has been shown to effectively help with hair loss. New York dermatologist Dr. Bobby Boca explains that minoxidil increases blood flow in the blood vessels that surround the hair follicles, and the type of chemical mechanism involved in minoxidil releases nitric oxide, which promotes growth. Hair can be related.
Rogaine is the first topical medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help regrow hair in both men and women. It has been more than two decades that the clinical trials of this drug have been supported and it has caused that recently, clinical studies have also confirmed the effectiveness of this drug.
Side effects of Rogaine (minoxidil)
It is recommended not to use Rogaine if your scalp is cut, irritated or sunburned. Also, it should not be used in any other part of the body except the scalp because the poison in this medicine is absorbed by the body. Finally, if you are using Rogaine, avoid using any other topical lotion unless other ingredients are recommended.
Minoxidil is a topical drug and is not taken orally, so it is safe and risk-free. Commonly reported side effects include redness or burning in the treated area and around the scalp, as well as itching, dry scalp, dandruff, and unwanted hair growth in other areas of the skin.
Severe side effects are rare and may include tachycardia (increased heart rate), chest pain, dizziness, fainting, and swelling of the hands and feet. If you notice any dizziness, irregular heartbeat, unwanted growth of body or facial hair, abnormal weight gain, swelling of the hands and shortness of breath, you should immediately stop using the lotion and consult your doctor.
Rogaine use during pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you should know that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies Rogaine in pregnancy category C, which means that it is not known whether this drug is harmful to the fetus or not. Therefore, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not use Minoxidil without consulting your doctor.
Expected results from Rogaine (minoxidil)
Although minoxidil has provided acceptable results, we must keep in mind that it is only effective for a subset of patients. Also, to get results, you should pay attention to how to use minoxidil. Rogaine, especially in men, is only effective in the treatment of male pattern baldness (hair loss in the middle of the head) and is not effective for hair loss in the front of the head or receding hairline. In women, this drug can be used to increase hair in low back areas. Rogaine may not affect other types of hair loss, including sporadic hair loss, unwanted hair loss, or pregnancy-related hair loss.
It is also important to remember that the effectiveness of topical minoxidil only lasts as long as you use it. In other words, you need to use this drug continuously to grow hair or stop hair loss. A previous study showed that stopping treatment with topical minoxidil decreased hair weight and follicle count after 28 weeks. will be
Referring to the studies that have been done on Rogaine, we must say that topical minoxidil has shown its effect in the treatment of hair loss primarily in men who are between 18 and 41 years old. Also, they concluded that minoxidil was more effective in men with less than five years of hair loss.
Does minoxidil affect beard growth?
Yes, this medicine can be used for hair growth anywhere there are hair follicles, including the head, face, eyebrows, arms and chest. However, people are different and it is important to use this medicine for up to 3 months to see the results.
Recent clinical studies on minoxidil
Dermatologists at the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery in 2004 reviewed 984 men with male pattern hair loss. This study evaluated the effectiveness of 5% minoxidil topical solution in preventing hair loss and stimulating new hair growth. The result of this study resulted in the following statistics:
62% of patients experienced reduced hair loss, 35.1% remained unchanged and 2.9% experienced increased hair growth.
A study published in 2017 showed that 36 women who were treated with oral minoxidil for six months saw their hair grow back after three months. Another study published in 2015 concluded that a significant proportion of participants in the minoxidil group had more hair growth than the placebo group. In this study, both researchers and patients reached a rough consensus. Similarly, a 2014 study published in the Journal of Dermatology found that minoxidil shortens the telogen phase (when hair follicles enter a resting state and fall out).
Examining the opinions of dermatologists
Dr. Gary and Christina Goldenberg, dermatologists in New York City, recommend Rogaine to their patients. But they believe that the best way to eliminate hair loss is a combination of all treatments, including over-the-counter vitamins plus vitamin injections, correcting internal abnormalities such as hormonal imbalances, and in-office treatments. Such as PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and stem cell injections and devices that work with radiation.
He also emphasizes that starting the treatment with the first sign of hair loss is very important and vital. Since most types of hair loss are progressive, it is best to just preserve the remaining hair. For this reason, they point out that managing the patient’s expectations and expectations is essential to prevent any unrealistic expectations for treatment.
Controlling hair loss in women with minoxidil
Dr. Todd Minares, a dermatologist in Hollywood, recommends using Rogaine only for women with receding hairline and tells women to use a 5% minoxidil solution first, even if it is labeled for men. Second, use every night (not twice a day) which sounds nice and realistic because no one likes to put something on their scalp even once a day, let alone twice. It during the day. Do not use this medicine before bed because we do not want Rogaine to get on your pillow and face and lead to unwanted hair growth.
Rogaine alternatives for men
Dr. Minares recommends Propecia for men. Propecia is a pill, he says, so it’s more effective than a drug you put on your skin. It’s a prescription approved for male pattern baldness. I do not prescribe this medicine for women, but I know many dermatologists who do.
Although Dr. Boca recommends Rogaine, he believes Finasteride is a better and more effective option. Finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is an active metabolite of testosterone that causes hair follicles to shrink. For 40% of patients, DHT causes increased hair growth, and for 40% Others, it helps maintain their hair and does nothing for the remaining 20%.
The key point
The good news is that this remedy works for most people who have receding hair on their scalp. There are a few key points to keep in mind when using this lotion:
Do not stop treatment once you start taking this medicine because hair loss may resume. If you decide to use Rogaine, follow the instructions. This means that before use, make sure that the hair and the part of the head that has low back hair are free of any moisture. Use Rogaine twice a day, once in the morning and once at night.
Some dermatologists recommend the use of Rogaine for women as well, using it once a day and at night is enough to achieve the desired results. Remember to wash your hands before and after use and avoid applying Rogaine to areas of the skin where you do not want new hair growth. Never take more than 2ml of Rogaine per day as it can cause unwanted side effects.
Finally, if any side effects occur, stop taking the medicine and contact your doctor immediately.
