How Long Does Minoxidil Take to Work?
We’ve all seen the TV infomercials, the internet ads, and the billboards. Minoxidil, better known by its commercial name Rogaine, is one of the biggest products on the planet.
Over the years, there has been tons of promotion and discussion of the medicine, and it’s an understatement to say that it has seen mixed reviews! Some folks make bold claims that Minoxidil is the life-changing topical treatment that brought back the hair of their youth, while others say it has never done a thing for them.
Ask 10 folks about their experience with the drug, and you’ll get 10 different answers.
It’s time we settle the score about Minoxidil once and for all, and give you the expert analysis about how the drug works and what you can expect.
Let’s get started!
Bold Claims on the Bottle
Minoxidil has been the beneficiary of some of the best marketing in the world, and we see it advertised constantly in the form of Rogaine. Now as the industry has expanded to the home delivery services, we see small upstart companies repackaging the drug in a new and fresh way.
Still, the core ingredients remain the same, and so do the intended effects.
Unlike the other big hair restoration drug Finasteride, which is administered orally and targets DHT blockers to provoke growth, Minoxidil is a topical solution known as a vasodilator. This class of drugs aims to solve problems by dilating blood vessels throughout the body, allowing for a greater level of circulation.
While most vasodilator medications are designed to assist the body fight high blood pressure and other heart-related issues, Minoxidil targets the vessels on the scalp with the goal of increasing blood flow and thereby encouraging hair growth.
At this point, you’re probably wondering if a drug meant to fix high blood pressure can accomplish the unrelated goal of hair restoration?
The idea is that, with better circulation in the scalp, hair follicles will be delivered more nutrients and energy through the bloodstream, thereby enlarging their size and lengthening the life cycle.
Since many cases of pattern baldness are characterized by these two factors, it makes sense that the drug will deliver some results, even if it isn’t the cure-all we hope for. Even if you’re skeptical of the outcome, trying Rogaine or a comparable product is considered a pretty low-risk restoration option.
It is easy to obtain, and more affordable than ever before. In many cases, you can even circumvent an in-person doctor visit if you really wanted to, but of course, we highly recommend always consulting a qualified hair restoration professional before getting started on any regimen.
The administration is also a breeze. It should only take about two minutes a day to measure out your dose and rub the solution to the affected area. Your hair can even be damp from the shower and you can let it all dry out naturally.
Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying, because you don’t want to accidentally rub the stuff in your eyes or mouth.
Realistic Timeline for Results
When researching Minoxidil, every patient inevitably asks some variation on the same question: how fast does this stuff work?
Battling hair loss can feel like a race against time, and we understand the desire for fast results, but the truth is that this topical medication is not going to turn things around overnight. The number we hear most often in the industry is approximately 4 months before patients will determine whether Minoxidil is effective for them. While, there is no guarantee that those results will come, but you should try it on for at least 4 months before tossing out the bottle. It’s also worth noting that most patients who experience good results are still usually under 40 years old.
Just be aware that if you are satisfied with the results you’re getting, you will need to continue using the product indefinitely. Otherwise, hair loss may resume in less than a month after discontinued use.
The End of Thinning?
With so much focus on trends in male pattern baldness and procedures like follicular unit excision, female hair thinning can be overlooked in the industry.
The truth is that hair thinning is a problem for many middle-aged women, and they are just as eager to seek real solutions as the men out there.
While ladies may not experience the same degree of severe patchiness and the “horseshoe” look we see on guys, women tend to notice thinner, weaker strands of hair over time.
Minoxidil is often thought to be the most effective medication to thicken and strengthen women’s hair, as the vasodilation effect appears to work better in this environment.
Women need less than half the dosage of Minoxidil to get a better general result overall, while men need a 5% minoxidil formula to max out their results, women can get by with 2%.
Doctors have also found that women see slightly quicker regrowth in hair than men, and that it takes longer to return to their previous state when coming off the medication. This just goes to show that the drug is ideal to combat thinning and less likely to fix androgenic bald spots.
Safety and Satisfaction
Unlike Finasteride, which has been known to have some unpleasant side effects, Minoxidil is perceived to be a very safe topical medication. Adverse reactions to the solution are rare, but that occasional inflammation on the administered area is a possibility.
While some folks want to try this medication as a one-off attempt at curbing hair loss at home, remember that Minoxidil is often used in conjunction with other treatments. That’s why it’s vitally important to always introduce new meds under the supervision of your physician, ideally a professional who specializes in hair restoration.
With guidance from the pros, you can get the truth about the optimal plan of attack for restoring your hair, instead of aimlessly browsing the internet for products based on random reviews.
The best doctors in the world will give you a personalized consultation, map out their blueprint for maximizing growth, then walk you through exactly what each step is meant to accomplish. This extra clarity and confidence can help you navigate the confusing world of hair restoration much more effectively, and outcomes will likely be better as a result.
Conclusion
You’ve heard it before, and we’ll reiterate the truth again: Minoxidil is not the magic hair-growth-in-a-bottle solution that you think.
Tons of marketing and messaging over the years has led us to believe it can reverse hair loss for anyone and everyone, but the reality is not so cut and dry.
Minoxidil works best on a small segment of the hair loss population, and if you fit in that category, you can see some impressive results if you stick with it. But for the majority of males experiencing those classic symptoms of receding hairline and patchiness, there may be better solutions out there.
Nevertheless, Minoxidil is safe, simple to use, and virtually side-effect free, so you aren’t risking much by purchasing a bottle and trying it out for at least a few months.
A big part of the hair restoration journey is simply trying out different things, and this medication is a low-risk investment with a decent possible upside.
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Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/does-rogaine-work
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-3503/minoxidil-topical/details