I am looking at some solutions to baldness or thinning hair, and I keep coming across the names Rogaine and minoxidil. Could you tell me more about Rogaine / minoxidil?

Rogaine is one of the two FDA approved drugs for treating baldness, hair loss, and male pattern baldness. The active ingredient in Rogaine that works to reverse hair loss is minoxidil. As it is a vasodilator, Rogaine and minoxidil were initially used as a hypertension prescriptive drug, although later it was discovered to have a side effect of regrowing hair and slowing hair loss. With this anecdote, studies were conducted to use minoxidil and Rogaine as a topical treatment for baldness and approved by the FDA for use in treating hair loss. In one study, it was shown that Rogaine and minoxidil increased hair coverage by just over 30% in healthy males from ages 18-50.

In order for Rogaine and minoxidil to work, the product but be in contact with hair strands. Since typically minoxidil and Rogaine must remain suspended in an alcohol solution, it may effect issues with hair styling. It is recommended that Rogaine and minoxidil be left on the hair for at least 40 mins for some positive hair loss treatment results although leaving the product on for at least four hours will yield the maximum and best results.

The solution of minoxidil and Rogaine are approved by the FDA in two concentrations of a regular 2% and extra strength of 5%. Voluntary reported results of users of the regular strength and extra strength products had effective success rates of about 30-40% and 50-60% respectively. As a hair loss treatment, Rogaine and minoxidil costs about $200-400 per year. Minoxidil is available over the counter with no prescription as a generic or under the brand name Rogaine.

Rogaine and minoxidil do not regrow hair on areas that are completely bald and work where there is a thin coverage of hair; the minoxidil will slow down the thinning as long as you apply it twice every day. If used less often than that, used on an area of complete baldness, or usage is stopped, the minoxidil will be ineffective.

How does Rogaine work?

We don’t want to get too scientific or technical in our information about minoxidil and Rogaine, and actually the hair loss treatment mechanism by the product is not fully understood. To account for the vasodilatory effect of Rogaine and minoxidil, that is usually attributed to its properties as a potassium channel agonist, nitric oxide agonist, blood vessel dilator, and theorized as an activator of the guanylate cyclase cycle. Also, Rogaine and minoxidil work by increasing the size of shrunken hair follicales by revitalizing them and lengthening their hair growth process.

What are some brandnames of minoxidil? what about generic versions of minoxidil?

There are many brands of minoxidil, the most well known and most popular being Rogaine and Regaine. There are also generic versions and brand of minoxidil and the active ingredients and concentrations of these generics and the name brands Rogaine and Regaine are not any different.

What are side effects of Rogaine, Regaine, or minoxidil that I should be aware of?

Since Rogaine and minoxidil are applied to the scalp to fight baldness and hair loss, the most commonly reported side effect is an itchy or dry scalp which may also result in dandruff. Initially, minoxidil and Rogaine has been reported to cause some hair loss. Other and more rare side effects of Rogaine and minoxidil are allergic reactions, irregular or rapid heartbeats, feelings of being lightheaded, heart lesions, and focal necrosis of some specific areas of the cardiac muscle.

Also, you should be aware that Rogaine and minoxidil are very toxic to cats and felines and may be deadly if applied to their skin.

Besides Rogaine and minoxidil, what are some other solutions for hair loss and baldness that I should consider?

There are many solutions to baldness, hair loss, thinning hair, or male pattern baldness that should be investigated and considered for each person:

• Hair transplantation which is a surgical option but also the most effective and expensive option for treating hair loss or hair baldness. The most well known companies with hair transplantation surgeries and technologies are Bosley and Hair Club For Men. It is generally recognized that the newest and most naturally looking method of hair transplantation is the microscopic hair transplantation with older methods being minigrafts, micrografts, plugs, skin flaps, and scalp reductions.
• Oral prescription medicine is finasteride (brand name Propecia) which works as an anti-DHT and indicated for androgenetic alopecia.
• Topical medicines which are applied to the scalp such as minoxidil (brand name Rogaine and Regaine)
• Herbal solutions and remedies for hair loss and baldness usually include some combination of caffeine, black cohosh, or saw palmetto.
• Hair replacement solutions also known as toupees, wigs, hairpieces, units, or hair systems. The toupees are usually matched for the user’s original hair color, can be secured via using a hair weave method, and is generally passed over for a hair transplantation solution for those that can afford it.
• Low level laser therapy using a laser phototherapy device which has been approved in Australia but not so far in by the FDA in the United States.
• Dietary and lifestyle changes such as daily and vigorous aerobic exercise and a diet moderate and adequate in fat and total calories. Stress reduction can also be helping in slowing hair thinning or hair loss.

How do I make the right choice regarding solutions for thinning hair or baldness?

The first step is to understand all your options. Talk to your doctor about your options as a doctor will probably be the best person to answer any technical or medical questions you may have especially regarding the surgical and prescription options. Also, speaking to friends and family who may have some experience with baldness and hair loss treatments may yield you some important information and experiences. There is a lot of information on the internet regarding all the treatment options, so do your research, read the information, and get educated.

When choosing the treatment solution in the end, you will want to consider factors such as cost, comfort with the treatment, length of downtime, and invasiveness of the treatment. Cost is not always paramount as effectiveness and personal comfort are important factors as well. Once you have all the information you want and feel comfortable in making an educated choice, go ahead and choose the best baldness and thinning hair treatment option for yourself.