Minoxidil and its Effects on Men

Minoxidil is one of the first things men are recommended to treat hair loss It is scientifically proven to treat hair loss and contribute towards revitalising your roots.

Originally, Minoxidil was given to men with high blood pressure, but one noted side effect was hair growth, leading to studies into what else the medication could do. Researchers found how effective the right amount of Minoxidil can be at slowing hair loss and helping regrowth. Since then, men and women across the globe have been prescribed Minoxidil routinely when faced with hair loss.

How does it work?

Minoxidil works by revitalising your hair follicles to give strands the best chance of regrowing. This is done by increasing the blood flow to your scalp where hair follicles have previously experienced miniaturisation because of the DHT hormone.

Minoxidil is licensed for hair loss as a topical treatment but it can be taken either topically or orally. The topical application requires applying 1ml of the formula twice a day to the dry scalp. Oral minoxidil is in tablet form and the most common dosage for male pattern hair loss is 2.5mg taken once daily This is available as an alternative, off label second-line treatment for people who cannot tolerate or prefer not to use topical preparation. 

From around 6 months, you should begin noticing the effects of the treatment. Initial signs of shedding hairs aren’t uncommon and should not cause alarm – it is actually a good sign. Remember that for new and healthy strands to grow, the old hair needs to be removed and new thicker, healthier hairs will grow in their place. This shedding should settle down within a few months of continued usage. 

Finasteride is another form of treatment for hair loss that Sons prescribers often combine with Minoxidil for the best results. Taking this will increase the likelihood of seeing the results you want. After around one year, you should spot the full effects of this treatment.

Effective and safe

Like all medication, Minoxidil can cause side effects, though thankfully they are rare, with no indication of side effects from long-term use. Scalp irritation and a rash are listed as the most common, but still very unlikely, side effects of topical Minoxidil. If you have any concerns, please reach out to the Sons medical team who can advise you further. 

5% Minoxidil is the licensed strength to treat male pattern hair loss. There are other strengths available, however, studies suggest that 5% is the safest and most effective form. A 2% strength is also FDA-approved and widely available, yet 5% Minoxidil is more effective than 2% at treating hair loss. It’s for this reason that we recommend 5% Minoxidil as the safest and most effective treatment to fight hair loss.

Sustained use, as directed by your prescriber, means you should notice the results you seek in 6-12 months. Find out more about our hair loss treatments on our website.

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

Posted in: All, Hair loss, Minoxidil Journal