If you’re looking for a topical treatment of hair-loss.It is likely that your doctor may suggest you to go for Minoxidil. Minoxidil is the first drug approved by FDA (Food & Drug Administration) for hair loss treatment. Before that, the medicine was used to treat high blood pressure. In a chance happening, a person applied some liquid Minoxidil on his skin. Later on, it was noticed that the area which came into contact with Minoxidil had much more hair density than before. The rest, as they say, is history. Minoxidil is a very popular treatment for hair loss, which can be used both by men & women. The medicine is readily available and is relatively pocket friendly. It should be applied directly onto the scalp, starting from center to outward area by taking approximately 1 ml of Minoxidil. The solution should not be used more than twice a day.

Q. Does a higher percentage of Minoxidil meanbetter results?

A.The drug is available in two forms i.e. oral and topical. Oral Minoxidil treats high blood pressure while topical Minoxidil treats hair loss and baldness. Minoxidil promotes the survival of human dermal papillary cells (DPCs) by extending the anagen phase of hair cycle. The hair follicles which reach the maturity then become thick and dark. It is a Potassium Channel Opener, which has vasodilating effect on the hair follicles. Thus, leading to stimulation of cell proliferation, inhibition of collagen synthesis, prostaglandin synthesis &stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor.

The topical solution of Minoxidil is available in variants such as 2%, 5%, 8%, 10%, and 12.5%. Minoxidil 10% doesn’t have any advantage over 5%. Also, the 10% and 12.5% variants are yet to get certification from FDA. Minoxidil 2% is generally suggested to women suffering from alopecia, while 5% solution is prescribed to men. Topical Minoxidil is relatively effective at curing baldness that permeates in the top, or crown area of the head. Studies have shown that results of Minoxidil can’t be predicted as for some it may work while for others it may not. It is thus that you should discuss what results you might expect from Minoxidil with your doctor. If Minoxidil is effective for you, then you might notice some amount of hair growth whichis likely to turn into thick hair with prolonged treatment.

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Q Are there any side effects of the medicine?

A.As far as the side-effects of Minoxidil are concerned, the alcohol present in it may dry out the scalp, resulting in itchiness & irritation. But this issue subsides after using the medication continuously for a period of two to three weeks. If the symptoms linger on, then one should consult his doctor again. There are also some extremely rare sides-effects associated with the medicines such as headache, lightheadedness, problem with vision, and rapid weight gain. At AK Clinics a clinical study was conducted on a group of men who were suffering from baldness on the crown area of the head. It was reported that virtually 52% of men who used the medicine for a minimum of a year received moderate to dense hair growth, 34% of men claimed minimal re-growth of hair and the rest 14% reported no hair re-growth. The data was quite similar in the study that was conducted on women.

Q. Is it true that Minoxidil induced hair growth disappears after you stop taking the medicine?

A.It is always better to continue using Minoxidil to keep your hair intact and to prevent hair loss. It is likely that you may lose the hair that has grown back if you stop using Minoxidil. This phenomenon usually occurs about three or four months after stopping the medication. It is to be always kept in mind that the results of Minoxidil may vary from person to person. But if it is effective in your case, then it can work wonders for you. And maintaining hair on your scalp at the cost of applying one lotion daily is surely not a big price to pay!!!! So, it is really important that one should use minoxidil in combination with AK Clinics’ Cyclical therapy for the best results. For more information or online consultation, write to [email protected].