Minoxidil is the only substance existing in the world today that can stop or significantly slow down hair loss in chronic alopecia (androgenetic alopecia, abbreviated as AHA).
Chronic alopecia cannot be "cured" because it is not caused by any health problems.
The reason for the development of AHA is genetically predisposed hypersensitivity of hair follicles to the hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Under the influence of this hormone (which is present in both men and women), there is a gradual degradation of hair follicles and, consequently, a gradual dystrophy of their hair.
Hair on the head remains, but the phase of their active growth (anagen) is shortened, hair becomes thin, short, weakly pigmented or even colorless (a special name for such "dystrophic" hair - Vellus).
How does minoxidil work?
Minoxidil is a drug that was initially developed to reduce blood pressure, but in the process of research it turned out that as a "side" effect it stimulates hair growth, including in people with AHA.
How this effect is achieved is BEFORE THE BUT NOT EXCELLENT.
Minoxidil stimulates protein synthesis in follicle cells, increasing the hair growth phase (anagen).
This stimulation allows the follicle to withstand the negative effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the main cause of hair loss in AHA.
Thus, minoxidyl belongs to the group of drugs - potassium channel activators, and is NOT ANTIAndrogen, and does not eliminate the cause of deposition - hypersensitivity of the follicle to dihydrotestosterone.
There are other potassium channel activators (aminexyl, pincidyl, etc.), which I will describe in detail in the article "Structural analogues of minoxidyl", but minoxidyl is significantly ahead of them ineffectiveness.
Who makes minoxidyl and what effect does it have?
The product was patented in the U.S. by Upjohn Company in 1996 under the brand name Rogaine (outside the U.S. - Regaine).
Initially, the drug was dispensed only by prescription. As time went by, when the safety of the drug was confirmed statistically and on a large scale, the minoxidyl solution was dispensed without a prescription.
Preparations based on minoxidyl are approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is one of two FDA-approved alopecia treatments (the second approved drug is finasteride, which is used only for men).
Preparations based on minoxidyl are currently produced by several companies under different brands - Rogaine or Regain, Kirkland, Spectral, Alerana, and others.
All of these drugs have one active ingredient - minoxidyl. The only differences are in the composition of the auxiliary substances and the form of release: liquid or aerosol (foam).
The effect of using minoxidyl is not the same for different people and depends on:
- the degree of sensitivity to minoxidil (there is a small percentage of people who are not sensitive to its effects at all);
- Degree of aggressiveness of AGA. Anti-androgens are intended to reduce the degree of aggressiveness - the second part of AHA therapy. Besides, it is believed that women have a higher level of positive response to minoxidine.
How to use minoxidyl?
For the first time, the effect of minoxidyl was noticed when the drug was prescribed for oral use in the form of pills, currently used in AHA only ONLY.
Minoxidil-based medications are applied twice a day (12 hours is the optimal time frame) with no gaps or breaks for the rest of your life (or as long as you want to keep your hair).
It takes time to fully absorb the drug, so manufacturers usually do not recommend washing (soaking) your hair or using other drugs earlier than 3 hours after application of minoxidil. This will be described in detail in the instructions for any product containing minoxidine.
What is the difference between men's and women's minoxidyl?
Often you can find the inscriptions "for men" and "for women" on the packages of minoxidil. Usually, the packages differ in color and sometimes contain different nozzles (applicators).
The formulations are identical, except for the percentage of minoxidyl.
As a rule, 5% of minoxidyl is intended for men and 2% for women, but this recommendation is strictly followed only in the U.S. market, and there is no such restriction in Europe.