One of the most widely used and best-known hair loss treatments is minoxidil, a formulation sold under various brand names such as Rogaine, Regain, Loniten, Avacor, and Mintop, among others. The interesting thing about minoxidil is that it was initially developed as a vasodilator or treatment for high blood pressure, with interesting side effects of darkening body hair or stimulating hair growth; and was later adopted as a treatment for hair loss.
Let us look at some of the pros and cons of Minoxidil for men –
The advantages of Minoxidil are –
1. While it is not fully understood how exactly it works towards stopping hair loss, we do know that it is a potassium channel opener and that it dilates blood vessels, which leads to hair growth. More blood and oxygen have access to reach the follicles. It may possibly act as a nitric oxide agonist. It is also believed that hair falls out in the telogen phase and is replaced by minoxidil treatment causing thicker hair to grow back.
2. It is a medicine that is available without a prescription; That is, it is available over the counter.
3. The benefits of this hair loss treatment are positive for about 50% of male users, although some experts say it is effective only 20% of the time.
4. It is most useful for men in the age group of 18 to 41 years.
However there are a lot of negative points about using this hair loss solution –
1. This treatment takes time to show its effects and a noticeable improvement can be seen only after about 4 to 6 months of starting the treatment.
2. The effect of Minoxidil can be seen only as long as the treatment continues. The positive effects will cease as soon as one stops using the product.
3. It doesn’t work with some people and some types of baldness; In fact its effects can be variable and this makes it a less reliable treatment for hair loss.
4. Low blood pressure can result from this medicine and other problems such as an increased, decreased or irregular heart rate.
5. Application may cause allergic reactions such as rashes, itching, peeling, crusting etc. Sometimes the reaction can be so severe that there may be difficulty in breathing.
6. The alcohol present in the formulation makes the scalp dry, which also leads to dandruff and acne
7. A significant problem has also been observed with the use of Minoxidil – Erectile dysfunction and negative effects on sex drive are frequently observed side effects of Minoxidil.
8. In some cases, Minoxidil has the opposite effect – it causes hair loss instead of healing it.
So the most important thing with minoxidil is that it should be used carefully and after considering all the advantages and disadvantages. Take medical opinion about whether this solution will work for you considering your hair type, age, health, fitness level.
Source by Sarika Kabra
