Enhancing hair growth using Minoxidil

This was the first FDA Approved composition invented under the brand name ROGAINE. The application to the lotion is directly to your scalp. Although freely available now, it was introduced as a drug only available under a registered medical practioner subscription. It is also available at medical stores with the name GENERIC MINOXIDIL SOLUTION. It came in a pack of 5% concentration for men & 2% for women. Rogaine has introduced a new product in 5% concentration form in topical foam state. This is easier to apply on your scalp.

Working of the drug: Prior to the invention of the product in its actual form it was consumed in its oral blood pressure medication form. Although, it did not affect the blood pressure, it made the body hair grow & thus the doctors thought of introducing in its present form…escaping the side effects caused by its oral intake. Researches proved that a reasonable amount of hair grow is experienced on bald scalp.

Even after it’s ever cherishing able facilities, the actual procedure of its working is unknown. The drug belongs to a class called VASOLIDATOR. These causes a dilation in the blood vessels & thus more blood supply. It increases the blood flow in hair follicle & increases the growth life of hair.

Does it work on women? Women are also entitled to use this product but only a lower percentage of 2% in permitted to them. A study was conducted in 1994 upon 256 women using 2% concentrated drug twice a day for over 32 weeks. This resulted in 60% patients experiencing more hair growth than the left over 40% in placebo group.

Side Effects: The use of drug causes irritation in the scalp but it gets subdued as the scalp becomes habitual of the drug. Women can develop strands of facial hair while the treatment is going on but strands die off when we discontinue the drug. The drug can also cause birth defects in children so pregnant women are not advised to use them.

• Drug Facts Label for Minoxidil (external link, PDF)

Medication for Women Only

Women can use one of the following drugs for their hair fall related problems:

• Spironolactone: This drug runs under the brand name Aldactone. It is an oral Diuretic or water pill. The pill was originally used for heart disease & blood pressure control. The drug had a positive impact on women & they experienced less hair loss. This was also accompanied by some mixed reactions. It reduced the thinness of the hair & also led to gastrointestinal bleeding. Although no stiff conclusion has been drawn in this respect. It is not used in men as it causes breast enlargement & testicular atrophy & decreased functioning of sexual parts.
• Cyproterone Acetate: This drug basically is an anti-androgen. An anti-androgen is a drug that blocks the effectiveness of male hormones in a women. For this very reason, this drug is not recommended for men. Studies have proved that the drug is effective in reducing hirsutism (excessive hairiness) and female pattern hair loss. It is available for use as an oral contraceptive pill along with estrogen, in Europe. The drug has not yet been approved by FDA and thus is not available in The United States. The most vulnerable threat of the drug is that it leads to liver toxicity. This drug has also been proved to increase internal blood clots and thus is not normally recommended.

Although these medications can be effectively consumed by women , they are considered prohibited for men as they lead to malfunctioning of sexual organs & some other un acceptable side effects.