Minoxidil Vs Finasteride: Do Either Really Work
Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP
Search for information about hair loss drugs and youll see two options mentioned frequently: minoxidil and finasteride .
Both of these medications have been around for decades, with both widely used to treat male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia.
But do either of them really work? If so, which of them is the most effective option for stopping hair loss and regrowing hair?
Below, weve explained how minoxidil and finasteride work, as well as how effective each hair loss medication is for treating male pattern baldness and stimulating hair regrowth.
Weve also talked about how you can use minoxidil and finasteride, either individually or as a combination treatment, to stop hair loss and grow a fuller, thicker head of hair.
Other Medical Hair Loss Treatment Options
In addition to Rogaine , there are other medical/topical treatment options that can help slow down your hair loss and help to improve hair growth.
Finasteride is another very popular topical hair loss treatment option.
Unlike minoxidil, which does not target the hormones in your body, Finasteride works by preventing testosterone from being converted into DHT in the prostate, hair follicles and glands. DHT is the active form of testosterone that causes hair loss. By inhibiting DHT, the goal is to help slow down and prevent future hair loss from occurring.
While each of these medicinal hair loss treatments is different, its important to discuss with your doctor about which one is right for you. While Minoxidil and Finasteride both have a common end goal, they both work in completely different ways. And while one may work for someone else, it may not be as effective for you. Which is why it is always important to discuss all of the options with your doctor before making a decision.
If youre losing hair and choose not to do medical therapy, like Rogaine, you will most certainly continue to experience hair loss. Dont hesitate to contact the Limmer Hair Transplant Center to discuss starting Rogaine today. Its important to monitor your hair regrowth progress with an experienced hair restoration professional to ensure that Rogaine is working for you.
What Is Rogaine And How Does Rogaine Work
How does rogaine work?
Answer: Rogaine is basically minoxidil, which is one of the most popular hair loss treatments in the world for men and women. They have rogaine for men and rogaine for women.
The main ingredient is called minoxidil which is an FDA approved treatment that is available over the counter and sold inside drugstores nation wide as well as sold online world wide.
Rogaine is available in liquid form as well as a foam application form.
Rogaine only works for certain types of hair loss and that is only if you never miss a beat in applying the application onto the scalp where it is needed most. Sadly rogaine does not work for everyone.
Results show up in 4 to 6 months of consistent application as directed.
For those of who rogaine does work for, you might not grow back the entire head of hair that was lost even if used regularly. This is based on clinical studies.
Why or how rogaine works to grow hair in the first place is very unclear it could be due to blood circulation improved on the scalp to the hair follicles that will help to produce hair regrowth.
Another reason could very well be due to rogaine stimulating the scalp to keep the hair growth phase for a longer period of time than usual and that rogaine is very capable of enlarging the hair follicles to create more scalp coverage helping in the appearance of hair growth.
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What Are The Myths About Hair Loss
Myths about hair loss are widespread. Nothing in the following list is true:
- Youre losing hair because you shampoo it too much, or because youve colored it or gotten a perm.
- Dandruff causes permanent hair loss in women.
- Stress causes permanent hair loss in women.
- If you shave your head, your hair will grow back twice as thick.
- If you stand on your head youll increase circulation, stimulating hair growth.
- If you brush your hair 100 strokes a day that will make your hair healthier.
- Hats and wigs cause hair loss in women.
- Hair loss only affects intellectual women.
The Initial Causes Does Rogaine Eork
The main cause of hair loss is stress. While most of us shed about 50 to 100 strands of hair daily, we also continue to grow new ones at the same rate. This shedding is normal, and its perfectly natural to replace lost hair with new ones. However, if youre losing hair that is excessively slow or isnt growing back, youre experiencing hair fall. There are many possible causes for this condition, but theres no one single solution.
Tinea capitis, also known as scalp ringworm, is a fungal infection that affects the scalp. Symptoms include bald spots and patches of hair loss. Infection may be caused by fungus, and scaly, red patches may develop. In severe cases, sores may develop on the scalp and oozing pus may be present. Treatment with a prescription may be necessary, but the long-term results of taking these medications are not always permanent.
In some cases, temporary hair loss may be the result of a hormonal imbalance. While some women experience hair loss due to hormonal fluctuations, others may experience permanent loss of hair. These changes can be caused by hormones in the body, such as those produced by the thyroid or by the adrenal glands. In severe cases, the loss of hair is caused by medical conditions. Inflammatory diseases can cause an excess of androgen, a male hormone. High levels of vitamin A in the blood and in the body can also result in hair thinning.
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What Side Effects Could You Experience
Rogaine is a topical treatment and does not affect your hormone levels however, there are other possible side effects to be aware of
- A change in the texture or color of the hair
- Dry/flaky/itchy scalp
- Initial increase in hair shedding
- Rapid heartbeat*
- Swelling of stomach, face, ankles or hands*
* You should speak to your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms
Can Rogaine Make Your Hair Loss Worse
Even though Rogaine is FDA approved for hair growth, which means clinical trials proved its effectiveness, some people experience more hair loss during the first couple of weeks of using the medication than before. Whats the deal? Well, hair shedding when you first start taking Rogaine is actually a sign that its working. But dont worry it should only last up to four weeks.
When Rogaine boosts hair growth, it pushes out the smaller finer hairs that were already on their way to being shed. As your thin, fine hairs begin shedding, thicker hairs will soon take their place. Its important to stick to the plan and continue using Rogaine every day even though it can be nerve racking watching your hair fall out at the beginning.
If you stop using Rogaine, any progress you make with your hair growth will revert back to where they would be without the medication. As long as you continue to treat your hair with the Rogaine, you should start to see improved hair growth in about four months.
Remember, it takes time to grow your hair naturally. Give Rogaine the time it needs to provide your scalp with thicker and stronger hair.
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Is Hereditary Hair Loss The Same In Women And Men
Women experience a general thinning of the hair, with the most extensive hair loss occurring on the top of the head and along the part. Often the hair loss experienced by women resembles an evergreen pattern.
In men, hair loss is characterized by a receding hairline and a gradual disappearance of hair from the crown .
Can Rogaine Actually Cause More Hair Loss
Yes, but temporarily. Minoxidil is known to recreate the anagen phase of hair growth, which is why some people experience unusual hair shedding.
When you first start using Minoxidil , it stimulates on a follicular level, encouraging regrowth.
This process causes temporary hair fall. Its simply your old hair falling, giving you the impression that you are losing more hair than normal.
This phase of hair regrowth lasts for up to 4 weeks. As ironic as it sounds, its a sign that the treatment is working for you.
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How Much Hair Will I Grow
A study published in 2014 looked at the impact of using 5% minoxidil on people with AGA . The study found that while 40 percent of users had some regrowth, this typically took three to six months to take effect.
Earlier studies published in American Family Physician showed that those who used the product for two years had significant terminal hair growth.
That review study also showed that it could, in fact, take up to six months to see any results. This is significantly longer than the four months suggested by the manufacturer.
The study also found that 50% of men who used minoxidil for 2.5 years could grow hair of moderate to dense thickness . Actually, 32% of these men needed that hair to be cut and 36% felt that it was worth the time and money to continue treatment .
However, you should note that the effectiveness of the product varied depending on the location of the thinning. The ideal candidate had been bald for fewer than five years, with a bald patch that was fewer than 4 inches in diameter, and located on the vertex.
The chart below shows how the ideal candidate for Minoxidil treatment scores between III-V vertex on the Hamilton chart.
Men who have more advanced hair loss may still try to use Rogaine. Statistically, however, satisfaction with the results drops off for men greater than a V on the Hamilton chart.
And Once You Have Started To Experience Regrowth
Then you need to keep using the Rogaine. Every day. For the rest of your life.
Yes, it sounds daunting, but minoxidil is not a permanent fix or hair loss cure. It works only as long as it continues to be used.
For some, the thought of having to use a product like this on a daily basis and forever more is simply too much, in which case Rogaine is not for them.
For others, however, the benefits of even SOME regrowth can outweigh this disadvantage.
Its certainly something to think long and hard about if youre planning on giving Rogaine a try.
Read Also: What Is Aga Hair Loss
Is Rogaine Safe To Use
Rogaine is quite safe to use. It does not have any serious side effects. The only common one is that some people experience mild itching or irritation when they use it for the first time, which subsides with continued use. Other rare side effects include a change of hair texture or color and a slight increase in body hair growth.
Today, Rogaine is one of the most trusted hair loss treatment options on the market. Many men and women with thinning hear swear by it, and for good reason. In an industry suffocating under cons and false advertising, Rogaine resorted to using simple proof of concept to build their brand loyalty.
The Initial Causes Does Exfoliating Help Rogaine Work
The main cause of hair loss is stress. While most of us shed about 50 to 100 strands of hair daily, we also continue to grow new ones at the same rate. This shedding is normal, and its perfectly natural to replace lost hair with new ones. However, if youre losing hair that is excessively slow or isnt growing back, youre experiencing hair fall. There are many possible causes for this condition, but theres no one single solution.
Tinea capitis, also known as scalp ringworm, is a fungal infection that affects the scalp. Symptoms include bald spots and patches of hair loss. Infection may be caused by fungus, and scaly, red patches may develop. In severe cases, sores may develop on the scalp and oozing pus may be present. Treatment with a prescription may be necessary, but the long-term results of taking these medications are not always permanent.
In some cases, temporary hair loss may be the result of a hormonal imbalance. While some women experience hair loss due to hormonal fluctuations, others may experience permanent loss of hair. These changes can be caused by hormones in the body, such as those produced by the thyroid or by the adrenal glands. In severe cases, the loss of hair is caused by medical conditions. Inflammatory diseases can cause an excess of androgen, a male hormone. High levels of vitamin A in the blood and in the body can also result in hair thinning.
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Scalp Massage & Exercises
Scalp massages and exercises are an effective way to regrow hair! They even work without using any topical treatments like minoxidil.
The goal of the exercises/massages is to increase blood flow and make the scalp more flexible, elastic, and soft . These are all conditions that make new hair growth much more likely.
If you carefully observe someone with a bald head you will see how stiff, shiny, and thin the scalp is. Scalp massage helps reverse this.
You can learn some scalp massage techniques here.
What Is The Relationship Between Hair Loss In Women And Menopause
During menopause, you might see one of two things happen with your hair. You might start growing hair where you didnt before. Or, you might see the hair you have start to thin. One cause may be changing levels of hormones during menopause. Estrogen and progesterone levels fall, meaning that the effects of the androgens, male hormones, are increased.
During and after menopause, hair might become finer because hair follicles shrink. Hair grows more slowly and falls out more easily in these cases.
Your healthcare provider will do a thorough examination and take a detailed history to help you deal with changes in hair growth. You may be directed to have your iron levels or thyroid hormone levels tested. Your medications might be changed if what you take is found to affect hair loss or growth.
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How Will A Healthcare Provider Diagnose Hair Loss In Women What Tests Are Done
The tests performed to diagnose hair loss in women can be simple or complicated:
- Gently pulling on your hair to see how many hairs come out.
- Blood tests. These check for vitamin and mineral levels and hormone levels .
- Scalp examination under a microscope and trichoscopy.
- Scalp biopsy to remove and examine a very small piece of scalp skin.