Table of Contents:
- How does the Minoxidil solution work?
- How effective is it?
- In Men
- In Women
- How long should you use Minoxidil?
- How to know if Minoxidil is right for you
Summary
Minoxidil is used primarily to treat male pattern baldness and it does so by increasing the blood supply and stimulating your hair follicles. Minoxidil, however, was never designed to be used as a hair regrowth product. Minoxidil was originally developed as a therapy for high blood pressure, and doctors may still prescribe the medicine orally for persons with severe hypertension.
It was then observed that its side effect was increased hair growth. After a lot of research, Minoxidil was then used in a topical application form for hair regrowth. Dr. Feinberg’s formula works the same, that is it increases the blood supply to the hair roots which leads to better nutrition and the follicles that are not yet dead begin to regrow. This prescription-strength formula also improves the diameter of your hair and can lead to thicker hair.
Although topical Minoxidil solution and oral Finasteride (Propecia®) are the first-line therapies for both male and female pattern hair loss, there are a number of alternative non-surgical hair replacement pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments available.
Introduction and History of Minoxidil
Losing hair is a stressful experience. Furthermore, the stress of losing hair contributes to hair loss, creating a complicated cycle. Hair loss is one of those things we can't avoid and contrary to popular belief, it affects both men and women equally.
While it may seem unlikely that a topical solution could help stop hair loss and stimulate hair growth, there is one product that actually works. It's the solution to many of our hair issues—yes, we're referring to Dr. Feinberg’s prescription-strength Minoxidil with Latisse formula.
It may appear to be one of those too-good-to-be-true products, but according to Dr. Feinberg, there's a reason it's been a trusted hair loss solution for decades—and it all happened by chance.
Researchers accidentally discovered that Minoxidil could help stimulate hair growth. Minoxidil was originally researched for the treatment of high blood pressure. It was discovered during one study that some of the patients grew hair. Minoxidil was then made into a solution and, later, a foam that could be applied directly to an area of hair loss.
How does Minoxidil work?
There are a few different ways that Minoxidil works to combat hair loss. According to Dr. Feinberg, a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, there are four key things Minoxidil does:
- It improves blood flow to the affected area.
- It stimulates dormant hair follicles, causing them to enter the hair growth phase.
- It lengthens the growth phase before a hair follicle rests, resulting in longer hair.
- It reverses the shrinkage of hair follicles, which corresponds to their transition from producing hair to no longer producing hair.
While doctors are aware that this is what Minoxidil does, the precise mechanism by which Minoxidil accomplishes this is largely unclear.
How effective is it?
In Men
In Germany, two studies on Minoxidil for men were conducted using a 5% solution of Minoxidil. The solution was applied twice a day by the men in both studies. The product was found to be very effective in 15.9% of patients and effective in 47.8% of patients in a year-long study of 984 men with hereditary hair loss.
In the second study, 743 men with male hereditary hair loss were given a 5% solution of Minoxidil. The research lasted 4 months. It was rated as “very effective” by 7.5% of the men and “effective” by 55% of the men for stimulating hair growth. In addition, 74.2% of men reported an increase in hair thickness.
In Women
Women suffering from female pattern hair loss (also known as androgenetic alopecia) can benefit from Minoxidil.
A 32-week study on the efficacy of a 2% Minoxidil solution in treating female pattern hair loss found promising results. 60% of patients in the 2% Minoxidil group reported new hair growth, compared to 40% of patients in the placebo group.
Though there are some potential side effects to be aware of, the benefits of Dr. Feinberg's custom formula are extensive. The solution is responsible for promoting anagen growth and extending the anagen phase. It also promotes anagen recovery from the dormant state. Because of its prescription strength, this Minoxidil with Latisse solution will only be available with a dermatologist's prescription. It is only effective in certain circumstances. Nothing works when there are no follicles left. "As a result, it's best to begin using Minoxidil in the early stages of hair loss," Dr. Feinberg advises.
How long should you use Minoxidil?
Hair regrowth is a slow process that requires patience to see results. Minoxidil should be used for 4 months to a year to see if it works for you. One disadvantage is that you must continue to use it in order to maintain results. When you stop using it, new hair will fall out in 2-4 months.
Use Minoxidil only on your scalp, avoiding other areas. If you experience scalp irritation, discontinue the use of Minoxidil.
How to know if Minoxidil is right for you
A dermatologist will begin by gathering information to determine the cause of your hair loss. Your dermatologist will do the following:
- Ask questions. It's critical to know how long you've had hair loss and whether it started suddenly.
- Look closely at your scalp, nails, or any other area with hair loss. This exam provides crucial information about what is going on.
- Test the health of your hair. Gently pulling on your hair reveals a lot to your dermatologist about how your hair is growing and whether it is prone to breaking.
If your dermatologist suspects that the cause of your hair loss could be a disease, vitamin deficiency, hormone imbalance, or infection, you may need a blood test or scalp biopsy. These tests can be done in Dr. Feinberg’s and most other dermatology offices.
When your dermatologist has this information, he or she can often tell you what's causing your hair loss. Your dermatologist may require additional information at times; this could be the case if a person has multiple causes. For example, a woman may have had a baby a few months prior, resulting in noticeable hair shedding. She could also be suffering from early hereditary loss, which is less obvious.
Dr. Feinberg's process is holistic in that it not only evaluates your scalp's environment to determine whether you have the necessary enzymes present in your hair follicles to respond positively to Minoxidil application, but it also validates the results with high accuracy. This will give you confidence in deciding whether or not to proceed with his strengthened Minoxidil treatments. Given that Minoxidil can take up to 6-9 months to work, a consultation with a certified dermatologist gets you straight to the answers, saving you time and money.
If you want to learn more about this treatment option or see what other alternatives are available, please don’t wait to book a consultation with Dr. Feinberg—a world-renowned dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon. His custom hair loss therapies might just be the solution you need.
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