Preparations with minoxidil for hair: reviews, instructions, results

When hair falls out and baldness begins, it is important not to delay with treatment and keep the condition regularly. One of the most effective methods of treating headache diseases, and in particular androgenic alopecia, is the treatment of the head minoxidil for hair. Reviews about this drug for external use are mostly positive. This tool is designed to stimulate follicles and hair growth, as well as to stop their loss.

Initially, it was developed for the treatment of hypertension and was intended for oral administration. But unexpectedly, there was a side effect from his admission, which was expressed in the growth of hair on a larger surface of the body. Further research by scientists has shown that external application also causes hair growth and significantly slows hair loss, it is even possible to use minoxidil for the beard.

Minoxidil - what is it?

Minoxidil is a chemically synthesized component that has a nonspecific effect, namely, it stimulates hair growth. This element is the active substance of Rogaine, Spectral BPS, Regen, Pylfud, Spectral BPS-L, Kosilon and others preparations created on its basis.

The drug in no way has an effect on male hormones - androgens, thus not being a substance with an antiandrogenic effect. Cosmetically sufficient hair growth is ensured by the fact that minoxidil, analogues of which also exhibit similar effects, affects the process of hair thickening, reduces the intensity of their hair loss and promotes an increase in the number of hair bulbs.

Historical facts

For the first time, this substance was used in the 1970s to treat severe hypertension, that is, increased blood pressure, in the form of a medication for ingestion. It caused vasodilation by opening potassium channels.

At the same time, they noticed that 24-100% of patients had an increase in hair growth on the body, and hypertrichosis developed further. It was interesting that this effect was observed more often in women than in men, and when taking smaller doses.

Since 1979, the study of this action of the drug began. At first it was prescribed for internal reception, but its side effect was lowering blood pressure and other problems. This led scientists to look for methods of external application in the form of lotions, resulting in positive results.

Since that time, its use as a drug for the treatment of baldness and other problems with hair has spread widely, some have used minoxidil for the beard. The first external agent with minoxidil Rogaine was developed by the US pharmaceutical company Upjohn.

Effect of the drug

Minoxidil is a crystalline substance that readily dissolves in water.

Its effective effect on the process of restoration of the hairy part and reduction of hair loss are noted. The drug does not affect the hormonal component of the body as a whole.

Minoxidil is a stable but inactive component. Inside the hair follicle, it acts not directly, but by converting to minoxidil sulfate, which is a more active derivative that stimulates hair growth. This transformation occurs with the participation of enzymes sulfotransferaz, which are contained in the cells of the hair follicle.

Preparations with minoxidil are intended for external use in treating the symptom of baldness in the male type (from the vertex) and female (along the median parting).

The main cause of alopecia is the susceptibility of hair follicles to dihydrotestosterone. The drug does not affect this process, but it affects the activity of the follicles and the cellular structure.

How exactly minoxidil works is unknown, it is suggested that by relaxing the blood vessels it enhances the flow of blood into the hair follicles, thereby slowing or stopping the process of loss. At the same time, the growth of healthy new follicles is accelerating. But this effect largely depends on the susceptibility of each individual patient to the drug.

Minoxidil: instructions for use

Treatment with minoxidil is dose-dependent, that is, the higher the concentration of the drug, the greater the positive effect on hair growth.

The standard treatment regimen provides for applying the medication twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. The procedure is performed by pipette or spray from the kit. For three to four hours after this, it is recommended not to wash off the head, the drug should be completely absorbed.

At the initial stages of the disease, it is sufficient to apply once a day at night.

In the treatment of hereditary (androgenetic) alopecia, stronger drugs are used - minoxidil 5% or more, and in the case of diffuse - two-percent solutions.

The time until the appearance of the first new hair from the start of treatment is from one month to one year, but very often the result is felt for the first three months.

If no positive results were observed within six months of using minoxidil, there is a possibility that in this case the drug is ineffective. The duration of the drug depends on the severity of the problem and is usually several years.

What should be taken into account?

It is important to remember that exposure to minoxidil for hair, the reviews confirm this, you need to continue until the effect is completely consolidated. Otherwise, all grown hair is lost within the next three to six months.

But it calms down that the use of the drug quickly enough to get used, the time spent on the procedure is about five minutes. Therefore, the desire to have fine hair outweighs the problems with the continuation of treatment does not arise.

Prolonged application has a positive effect by increasing the supply of minerals to the follicle, which stimulates the process of regeneration and increase in the phase of hair growth, the production of nitric oxide, which leads to an improvement in the supply of tissues with oxygen.

Side effects

The most common side effect of drugs with minoxidil for hair, the reviews confirm this is irritation of the scalp, peeling and itching, more often - when applying therapeutic lotions. This is due to the fact that the composition contains alcohol and a solvent propylene glycol, which causes skin irritation. In this case, prescribe medicinal analogs that do not contain these components.

The second most frequent side effect is that hair growth is amplified in the zone of whiskers and cheeks, which is especially problematic for women. Therefore, the fairer half is most often prescribed a weaker drug - minoxidil 2%.

Minoxidil: Analogues

The most popular analogues of the preparation, containing various additives and produced in various forms, are:

• Spectral.DNC-L is a creamy preparation for use in severe baldness.
• Dercos and Kerium - contain amineksil company L'Oreal for light and medium forms of the disease.
• Spectral.DNC - 5% medicine in the form of nanosomal encapsulation in the form of lotion.
• Spectral.DNC-N (contains nanoxidil) is an American drug used in the treatment of androgenic alopecia with intolerance to minoxidil.
• Aleran 2% (for treatment of women) with the content of pinacidil.
• Minoxidil Alerana 5% (for treatment of men).
• Ukrainian MinoX, Syrian Minoxidine, Italian Revivexil.
• Dualgen-15 is the strongest drug with a maximum concentration of minoxidil of 15%, reinforced with azelaic acid. It is recommended for the treatment of severe forms of androgenic alopecia.

Forms of release

The visually liquid preparation has a transparent structure of slightly colored color. On sale there are bottles in volume of 60 ml on two-four in the complete set. One bottle is enough for a course of treatment for a month.

Manufacturers are presented with drug kits with several types of attachments:

• Classic spray. The atomizer is put on the bottle right at the factory.
• An extended spray gun is designed for long hair.
• Dosing applicator with a rubber head - for rubbing and spraying simultaneously.
• A pipette with a scale applied to accurately measure the doses of the drug when applied on local sites.

The companies also produce other products: shampoo with minoxidil, masks, gels, ointments, creams, conditioners and nanosomal encapsulation agents.

Statistics data

It has been proven that with proper use, minoxidil increases the growth of the scalp in a third of patients, and the more the concentration, the better the effect. The drug works best on the crown and is suitable for all types of hair.

To obtain a stronger effect, minoxidil for the growth of external hair is combined with the simultaneous administration of finasteride, which blocks the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. This combined therapy increases the positive effect and enhances the effect of drugs for the hair.

When examining the effect of a 2% solution of minoxidil in a group of 3000 volunteers, the following data were obtained: the amount of hair on a 25x25 mm section after four months showed a noticeable increase - it increased by one third.

When is it applied?

Minoxidil, price On which varies depending on the manufacturer, is used in the following cases:

• Disease androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness in the parietal and frontal zone) in both sexes at the initial stage - the first or second stage. Later the drug is no longer effective.
• Treatment of diffuse alopecia - loss of hair on the entire surface of the head during scratching or washing (2% solution).
• The defeat of hormonal alopecia - is caused by hormonal imbalance in stress, after childbirth, age changes, etc.
• Defeat of alopecia areata. This is a local, focal hair loss (minoxidil 5%).

Minoxidil: price and where to buy

Preparations based on minoxidil are sold in pharmacies, as well as in online stores. The price largely depends on the brand of the product, the form of its release and the declared concentration. That is, foam will cost more than lotion.

When buying a set of several bottles of the same means for course treatment, many online stores provide significant discounts, so this can be saved. One bottle is usually consumed in 30 days.

Prices for hair products based on minoxidil from different manufacturers per bottle are approximately the following:

• Foam Rogaine 5% - 1200-1500 rub .;
• Lotion Dualgen-15 - 2700-2950 rubles;
• Lotion Kirkland 5% - 650-850 rub .;
• Lotion Spectral DNS-L5% - 2300-2600 rub. ;
• Lotion Equate 2% - 1300 rub.

Cautions when using the drug

Usually the effect of minoxidil for hair, the reviews confirm this, is tolerated well, it is quickly absorbed without leaving traces. It is not recommended to use the drug in some cases:

• If the process of hair loss is not associated with androgenetic alopecia, and hair falls out due to mechanical trauma, that is tight tightening or weaving.
• With the rapid and unexpected appearance of bald patches on the head, which may not be baldness, but a manifestation of a disease such as lichen, requiring other treatment.
• People under the age of 18 years.
• Nursing mothers and pregnant women, the drug is not recommended because of poor knowledge of its effects on the fetus and the baby.
• It is also not recommended to take the remedy with hypersensitivity to it and disorders of the scalp caused by infections or manifesting redness or irritation.

With the timely, correct and systematic use of drugs with minoxidil to treat hair loss, you can achieve sustainable positive results. The main thing is to show patience.