Hair loss can be depressing for men
and devastating for women. The major cause of hair loss both in men and
women is Androgenetic Alopecia. Minoxidil or Rogaine is the safest known
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved topical solution that can stop hair
loss and even promote new hair growth.
Androgenetic Alopecia or Male
Pattern Baldness affects roughly 50% of men (this is the main cause of the
usual pattern of balding seen as men age) and just as many women over the age
of 40.
Minoxidil is an antihypertensive
vasodilatory medication and was prescribed to high blood pressure patients.
When it was observed that excessive hair growth was a side effect the prayers
of many a bald men were answered. Minoxidil 2% under the brand name of
Rogaine was approved by FDA and made available to the public in 1988 as a
prescription drug. After eight years the status of Rogaine was changed
from prescription to over the counter drug as no doubt the side effects
presented were none more that a skin irritation in some users.
In one clinical study on men aged
between 18 and 50 years of age with Male Pattern Baldness half the men applied
minoxidil 5% solution while the other half were given a placebo. After 32
weeks the men using minoxidil 5% had an increase of 39 hair/cm2 as
compared to 5 hair/cm2 in men who used a placebo.
It is not fully understood how
minoxidil works but it is believed that it widens blood vessels and allows more
blood, oxygen and nutrients into the hair follicle thus reversing their
shrinkage and allowing for healthier and thicker hair.
Minoxidil or Rogaine is available in
5% solution for men and in 2% solution for women. It is available as a
scalp lotion, foam, a gel and even in the form of a shampoo.
Rogaine is to be applied twice a day
onto dry hair and scalp. Initially there may even be more hair loss
before improvement is seen. It seems to work best on men who had been
experiencing hair loss for less than 10 years with a balding patch under 4
inches across with some hairs in the middle of the balding patch.
Rogain is a dose dependent drug i.e
its effects only last as long as the drug (in form of topical application in
this case) is used. Rogaine loses its effect and the hair loss starts
again once the application has stopped for around 30 days.
What was once thought to be an
impossible feat—growing new hair against Androgenetic alopecia has now been a
reality for more than 3 decades now. What is more reassuring is that no
serious side effects have ever been reported during this time for the topical
hair loss treatment Rogaine.
No comments:
Post a Comment