Minoxidil, an FDA approved drug for hair loss, stimulates hair regrowth and slows down the process of balding. It has shown to be very effective in regrowing hair on the crown regions of the scalp and for people experiencing the early stages of hair loss. However it is not as effective in regrowing hair on frontal regions of the scalp.
Minoxidil was initially used as an oral drug for the treatment of high blood pressure but was later used to treat hair loss after it was found to produce an increase in hair growth in the patients being treated for high blood pressure.
How to use it?
Minoxidil is available as a liquid solution and as a foam. A 1 ml of the solution should be applied to the scalp (with the help of the included dropper) twice a day.
Proper care should be taken while application to not allow the solution to come in contact with the skin of other body parts such as the hands, face etc as it could cause unwanted hair growth in these areas.
Also, it is advised to apply the minox solution to a dry scalp as it could cause systemic absorption if used on a wet scalp.
Minoxidil can take about 4-6 months and upto one year before any improvent in hair growth is noticed.
What are the side effects?
Minoxidil can cause some side effects like skin dryness, itching and flaking of the scalp.
In some rare cases, it causes an increase in heat beat along with a feeling of dizziness.
What are the precautions?
Minoxidil shouldn’t be used by children and pregnant women.
It should also be noted that minoxidil is not a permanent cure for baldness and should be used regularly. If treatment is stopped, most of the new hairs that were possibly regrown, eventually fall out after 6-8 months of stopping treatment.