How Often To Wash Hair While Using Minoxidil

7 Reasons To Stop Using Minoxidil For Hair Loss (And What To Exercise Instead)

Minoxidil is one of the most widely used not-prescription hair loss drugs in the earth.

Projected to exceed $162 million per year in sales since 1999, the global market for this medication solitary is forecasted to exist worth $1.ii billion USD by 2024.

Unfortunately, all of the money being spent on this drug and its ongoing popularity has nothing whatsoever to do with how effective it is.

This commodity will show yous the seven reasons why using Minoxidil won't give you the hair follicle restoration results you're looking for… and what you should be doing instead for hair regrowth.

What Is Minoxidil And How Does Information technology Work?

Minoxidil (likewise known by its trade proper name Rogaine) may be well-known as a hair loss drug, merely it was originally developed as a vasodilator in the early 1960s.

The drug was synthesized among many others to create a feasible solution for patients suffering from hypertension and the high blood pressure that followed it.

But once scientists figured out Minoxidil had a "side effect" of growing unwanted hair in select parts of their bodies, efforts were re-directed to formulate the chemical compound equally a solution for hair loss.

Although Minoxidil was initially approved past the FDA in 1979 as an oral tablet for treating high blood pressure level, information technology later received another approval in 1988 as a topical solution for treating androgenic baldness (i.e genetic hair loss) in men and women.

It wasn't until 1998 where Minoxidil was released upon the world as an over-the-counter formulation. For the first time in history, patients could utilise Minoxidil without requiring a md's prescription.

The machinery of action for Minoxidil inducing hair growth isn't exactly clear, but several factors are believed to exist at play:

"Minoxidil is thought to promote the survival of human dermal papillary cells (DPCs) or pilus cells by activating both extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt and past preventing cell death by increasing the ratio of BCl^–2/Bax.

Minoxidil may stimulate the growth of human being hairs by prolonging anagen through these proliferative and anti-apoptotic furnishings on DPCs.

Minoxidil, when used equally a vasodilator, acts past opening adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle cells. This vasodilation may as well better the viability of hair cells or hair follicles."

The latter effect is likely the virtually causative cistron behind why Minoxidil works, every bit poor blood flow is believed to be connected to hair loss.

7 Reasons Minoxidil Is Bad For Hair Loss (And Your Wellness)

Every hair loss practitioner you meet will be extremely familiar with Minoxidil and may even advise using it aslope other forms of pilus growth treatments.

But a deep dive into the available scientific evidence — along with some mutual sense — reveals it might be fourth dimension to put the cream downwards.

Reason #one: It Doesn't Piece of work On Anybody

As much every bit we detest to be the bearer of bad news, Minoxidil is non the magic solution you think it is.

Even Healthline, one of the most authoritative health websites on the Cyberspace, has to start their article on Minoxidil's clinical effectiveness with the following introduction:

"Rogaine does piece of work to some extent every bit evidenced past clinical studies, merely only for sure types of baldness and merely if you keep up with its application. But it won't work for everyone.

If it does piece of work, you probably won't grow dorsum all of the hair you've lost, and information technology can have up to four months to see results. You'll have to use Rogaine indefinitely to maintain any regrowth"

And when you read the studies done on men and women using Minoxidil to grow new pilus, the results are disappointing:

"In the large clinical written report that led to the drug's approval in 1987, 40 pct of men had moderate to dumbo pilus growth on the crown of their head.

"In a one-year observational study, 62 percent of the 984 men using 5 percentage minoxidil reported a reduction in hair loss."

"In 1 double-bullheaded written report, nineteen percent of women ages 18 to 45 using Rogaine for eight months reported moderate pilus regrowth, while 40 percent had minimal growth (compared to 7 percent and 33 percent for placebo, respectively)."

Let's showcase those numbers in a unlike way:

60% of men in the first study did not experience hair growth
38% of men in the 2d written report did not report hair growth
81% of women in the tertiary written report did not report significant pilus growth

I don't know nigh you lot, but those odds don't wait promising to someone who's at take a chance of losing all your hair.

You might make up one's mind the benefits outweigh the risks and inquire for a Minoxidil prescription, but don't be so quick to make a final conclusion…

Reason #two: Not Everyone SHOULD Be Using Minoxidil

Equally with whatsoever other drug or medication, it turns out that Minoxidil is Non the optimal choice for select individuals.

For instance, dermatologist Dr. Jeff Donovan specifically avoids prescribing Minoxidil in five dissimilar scenarios:

"an individual has some other pilus loss condition besides androgenetic hair loss, such as dissecting cellulitis or menopause

the patient has centre problems, especially ischemic type eye disease or certain types of heart failure

the patient has heart rhythm issues (like atrial fibrillation)

the patient has certain internal conditions (like pheochromocytoma)

the individual has allergies to any of the components of minoxidil, such as propylene glycol in minoxidil solution or allergy to the minoxidil itself"

Other not-suitable individuals for Minoxidil may include:

Teens under the historic period of eighteen
Breastfeeding mothers
People with pre-existing kidney disease
Cancer patients who lost hair due to chemotherapy

In other words, the eligibility for Minoxidil isn't equally smashing equally advertised.

Reason #iii: The Actual Pilus "Growth" Isn't Great

If you're the impatient type who likes seeing immediate results, you're going to be very disappointed with how quickly Minoxidil works on your scalp.

Co-ordinate to comments left on Drugs.com past qualified physicians, go ready to spend MONTHS consistently applying the drug before whatever visible hair growth is credible:

"Prove of pilus growth may take two months or more of twice daily applications.

If pilus regrowth occurs, use must be continued for continued hair growth; re-grown hair may disappear within three to 4 months of stopping and the balding process will continue.

Discontinue if no improvement after 1 yr of utilise."

Some people go as far to say pilus growth volition exist obvious at the 4-month mark and warn of Boosted hair loss during the entire process:

"Some people may experience some additional hair loss when they get-go first using minoxidil.

This might make some people feel similar their baldness is getting worse before it improves.

In actuality, this can be normal and is a outcome of the hair follicles shifting the phase of growth they are in."

So what we have and so far is a medication that does not treat the root cause of pilus loss or slow information technology downward. Rather we take a drug where hair growth occurs at a rate that (hopefully) outpaces the ongoing pilus loss.

Reason #4: Lifelong Dependancy On Minoxidil

Ok, and so allow'due south recap: You quality for Minoxidil, you're willing to take your chances, and you are able to filibuster gratification in substitution for long-term hair regrowth.

Just are you ready to spend the balance of your life using Minoxidil one-2 times per twenty-four hours in order to maintain a decent head of hair?

Yous'd better exist… but you already knew that if you carefully read the quotations from the sources we cited thus far.

If you missed it, no worries — allow us emphasize the point once more:

"Once y'all stop using the minoxidil, it will take a maximum of half-dozen months to lose all of the pilus that was regrown in the first identify. Likewise, your balding volition speed up or resume if the minoxidil had slowed downwards or altogether stopped your balding."

And equally an indefinite user of Minoxidil, your wallet should be fat plenty to beat out out $thirty-forty/month for a constant supply of the hair loss medication.

Someone's obviously making a lot of money from this drug, and it isn't you.

Reason #5: Minoxidil Use Is Somewhat Impractical

As y'all'll rapidly find out — or equally you lot've already discovered — you take to plan your life AROUND Minoxidil use, rather than have the drug fit into your busy lifestyle.

There are a number of conditions you have to sentinel out for when applying Minoxidil to your scalp, both earlier and later:

"Make sure your hair and scalp are completely dry before applying this medicine (i.e. shower offset, Minoxidil afterward).

Do non shampoo your hair for 4 hours after applying minoxidil.

Immediately after using this medicine, wash your hands to remove whatsoever medicine that may be on them.

Allow the minoxidil to completely dry out for 2 to 4 hours subsequently applying it, including before going to bed. Minoxidil can stain wearable, hats, or bed linen if your hair or scalp is not fully dry out after using the medicine."

And good luck if y'all want to get swimming soon later taking Minoxidil. To avoid getting your hair moisture, you'll likely take to wear a swim cap in order to take full advantage of Minoxidil's effect on your scalp.

So far the trade-off doesn't appear to exist worth it!

Reason #6: You Need High-Strength Minoxidil, Not The Depression-Strength Stuff

When buying Minoxidil over-the-counter, you will be able to purchase a 5% Minoxidil solution or a two% Minoxidil solution.

The obvious answer would be to go for the college-force solution as information technology volition lead to faster and more than effective pilus growth.

(Unless you want to get an even college concentration solution via a doctor's prescription… but you'll see why that may non be such a skilful idea)

A 2004 randomized-controlled trial comparison v% Minoxidil and 2% Minoxidil in women already has the reply for us:

While you will see more hair growth and scalp coverage of new hair with the 5% solution, yous should await greater frequency of serious and non-serious side effects.

You could cull to opt for the ii% solution and experience a lower adventure of side furnishings (and severity of said side effects), but please understand it will take much longer for visible hair growth to take place.

Reason #7: Nasty and Frequent Side Effects

Concluding but certainly not least, let's briefly hash out the side furnishings to expect when using Minoxidil.

The almost mutual Minoxodil side effects include:

Unusual reactions from your scalpular peel – scaling, flaking, itching, burning, dryness, and general irritation
Drowsiness
Nausea
Airsickness
Possible allergic reaction to any of the ingredients
Irregular heartbeat
Potentially unwanted hair growth in other parts of your body

These range from mild to serious, and in the latter case you should immediately seek your physician for emergency assistance.

Yet information technology likewise appears at that place are some side furnishings of Minoxidil which specifically nowadays in women, such as:

Potential fetal development damage
Temporary hair shedding
Lowered blood pressure
Changes in pilus texture/color

Not a great look for 1 of the about universally used hair loss drugs in the earth.

Vantis Follicle Replication: The BEST Alternative To Minoxidil For Hair Growth

Then what should you lot be doing instead of using Minoxidil? You lot would obviously want the culling to either:

provide faster / longer-lasting pilus growth, and/or
lead to fewer side effects, both in occurrence and severity

Nosotros have a solution but for you and it'due south calledVantis Follicle Replication.

If hair restoration is a height priority for you, you'll definitely want to check out Vantis Institute in Newport Embankment..

You spend 1 fee for iv-half dozen treatments that will add up to much less than the $2,000/yr you volition spend on constantly re-filling your supply of Minoxidil.

You can heal and hide the scars left from pilus transplants postal service-surgery, something y'all tin't do with Minoxidil.

Yous'll also notice a 10x boost in hair density and thickness with each handling, which would accept an entire lifetime with Minoxidil.

Not to mention it's extremely condom and does not leave y'all with any of the curt-term or long-term side furnishings associated with using Minoxidil.

So if y'all're ready to FINALLY stop relying on Minoxidil to set up all your hair loss problems and endeavor something that actually works, here are iii easy means we can help you…

Visit our hair loss clinic in Newport Beach, California and receive a Free Consultation with a Vantis hair loss practiced.

Call or text (949) 577-6531 to talk to one of our VFR expert practitioners now

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