Find Out How Minoxidil Works

Minoxidil is a very effective medication that men across the globe attest to as their go-to treatment when fighting hair loss.

Although the science and research behind it might seem confusing to many, there is a simple reason why the treatment works, as we’ll aim to explain.

Let’s look at what Minoxidil does and why it’s considered such a highly-regarded medication.

What does Minoxidil do?

One of the reasons your hair loss starts to occur is because of the lack of oxygen and blood flow in your scalp area and, in particular, your hair follicles.

When we don’t have the requisite vitamins and minerals to reach our hair follicles, they won’t be able to grow sufficiently. Your hair’s resting phase will be lengthened with not enough oxygen or blood flow, which means that your strands of hair will be dormant for longer rather than growing as you’d like.

This is where Minoxidil comes in; sulfotransferase is an enzyme that transforms Minoxidil into Minoxidil sulfate. Rather than having a poor cycle of hair that has a longer telogen (resting) phase, Minoxidil in its salt form promotes a longer anagen period where hair can thrive and grow as you desire. 

The increased amount of oxygen that reaches your hair follicles and the greater flow of blood is the reason you’re likely to see revitalisation. Previously shrunken hair follicles could now be enlarged in size, which should slow or halt hair loss and encourage the development of new hair.

The effects it has make Minoxidil a vasodilator by definition, a form of medication that is strongly recommended when fighting male pattern hair loss. Finasteride, another effective treatment that is prescribed by Sons to those facing hair loss, works differently by blocking DHT.

Minoxidil is typically prescribed in topical form and can be prescribed in tandem with oral Finasteride to offer a better attack against hair loss. The oral form of Minoxidil is usually an alternative measure for those who might react negatively to topical application.

You can usually expect to see the first signs of progress at any point from 3 months into your treatment plan, with more significant results showing themselves beyond 6 months and completely from 9-12 months on. Remember that noticing improvement takes committed and regular use.

Occasionally, there are unlikely side effects that could be encountered by using Minoxidil, such as skin irritation or redness. If you begin to experience these when using the treatment, stop taking it and speak to your prescriber. 

Minoxidil essentially creates a better environment on your scalp for hair follicles and strands to thrive. This is important for stopping loss and thinning before hopefully commencing the process of regrowth. For any further information on what Minoxidil does and our full range of treatment plans, explore the Sons website.

All of our blog articles are reviewed for medical accuracy by our Medical Director before publication.

Posted in: All, Hair loss, Minoxidil Journal