Thinning Hair: Can Medications Help
Many things can cause women to lose more hair than normal: genetics, illness, stress, medical conditions or hormonal imbalance, aging, and even what you eat. The first step is to work with your doctor to find out what’s causing the problem. There may be treatments that can help restore your locks.
Will Minoxidil Work If Im Totally Bald
Minoxidil is also unlikely to regrow hair on a completely bald scalp. Once male-pattern baldness has progressed to the point of complete baldness, that suggests that your hair follicles are no longer functional and hair regrowth is not likely. Remember, minoxidil works by encouraging your hair follicle to growif the follicle is not functional anymore, there is not much for minoxidil to work with .
Alternatives To Minoxidil For Frontal Hair Loss
Aside from minoxidil, there are other topical products shown to promote hair growth. Some of these are pharmaceutical, and others are natural . The mechanism varies between them. Some stimulate hair growth like minoxidil, and others block DHT topically.
Some formulations combine the two mechanisms of action into one bottle for superior results. One such product is Biogaine, a non-pharmaceutical topical that also inhibits DHT at the level of the hair follicle.
Another option is combining topical minoxidil with topical finasteride. Studies find that this combination is effective and superior to simple minoxidil, as the two drugs work synergistically for more regrowth . Because the finasteride is topical, systemic absorption is minimal. This means the user is very unlikely to experience any systemic side effects, sexual or otherwise.
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What Are The Drawbacks Of Minoxidil
Beyond its questionable efficacy at treating frontal baldness, minoxidil has some other drawbacks. It was not originally created as a hair loss treatment. Therefore, it has some unintended side effects.
For example, it can cause dizziness and drowsiness. It can also cause flushing, scalp irritation and temporary swelling. Some users experience excessive growth of hair on areas other than the scalp, particularly the face.
Some more serious side effects also occasionally occur. These can include chest pain and rapid weight gain. However, these are not very common.
In addition to having side effects, minoxidil is also greasy. It can leave unpleasant residue on the scalp. Some formulations are a little better than others for this. However, it is not something patients need to settle for anymore.
Is Minoxidil Effective For A Receding Hairline
Minoxidil works by improving blood flow to the area in which its applied. Apply it to your scalp and it can potentially improve hair density and increase the rate of growth.
As such, theres no reason minoxidil shouldnt work for a receding hairline. The hair follicles in your hairline arent significantly different from the others on your scalp or crown, meaning that you should still experience the benefits of minoxidil when you apply it to your hairline.
There are also countless anecdotal cases of people with receding hairlines improving growth and increasing thickness by using minoxidil.
However, right now there isnt much detailed scientific research on the effects of minoxidil on the hairline. As such, its best to view minoxidil as something with potential benefits, instead of as a guaranteed way to regrow your hairline.
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How Long Does It Take For Rogaine To Work
Seeing results from Rogaine® is a different experience for everyone and depends on the stage of hair loss youre experiencing. The general perception is that Rogaine® takes only a few months to take effect, but the evidence in clinical studies says otherwise.
In the original FDA study, it took 6-9 months to see results. Why invest 6-9 grueling months of waiting on the chance that the product might work?
Gender also influences results, as it can take longer for women to see regrowth than men.
What does the latest science show?
Our clinical research shows that androgenetic alopecia patients respond to 5% topical minoxidil after about 3-6 months of daily application. Again, you have to know that you have genetic hair loss and the enzyme to see results.
Why gamble? You can know for sure if Rogaine® will work for you by taking our quick and effective Minoxidil Response Test.
How Does Rogaine Work To Regrow Hair
Until now, the consensus has been that topical Rogaine® works by opening the scalps blood vessels to receive more nutrients and oxygen. In turn, follicles enter the growth phase and stimulate new hairs to grow.
However, our meticulous research has unlocked critical evidence on exactly how the active ingredient, Minoxidil, in Rogaine® works.
Minoxidil converts in the scalp into an active form called minoxidil sulfate. And what aids that conversion?
For the active ingredient Minoxidil to be effective in Rogaine®, you need to have anenzyme called sulfotransferase present in your hair follicles. SULT1A1 is necessary to convert and activate Minoxidil. Without this enzyme, Rogaine® will not work on your scalp.
So, why isnt Rogaine® prescribed for everyone suffering from hair loss? Because not every hair loss patient is experiencing genetic hair loss. While genetics cause 80% of male hair loss, and 50% of womens hair loss, there are many other causes of hair loss outside of the lines of genetics, including:
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How Can I Tell If I Have Female Pattern Hair Loss
Its best to make an appointment to see a dermatologist. Dermatologists are the experts in diagnosing and treating hair loss. A dermatologist can tell you whether its FPHR or something else that is causing your hair loss. Other causes of hair loss can look like FPHL, so its important to rule out these causes.
Does Minoxidil Work For A Receding Hairline
Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP
Like finasteride, minoxidil is scientifically proven to improve hair growth and potentially help men with male pattern baldness regrow lost hair.
However, theres some debate online about whether or not minoxidil works on the hairs around the hairline. In the tests used to secure FDA approval, minoxidil was primarily tested on the top of the scalp and crown, resulting in a common belief that it only works on these areas.
Despite this, theres lots of evidence that minoxidil is effective at promoting hair growth on the entire scalp, including the hairline.
In this guide, well look at the science behind minoxidil to give you a deeper understanding of how it works, why its effective and why its worth considering if youve noticed your hairline starting to thin and recede.
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The Difference That Matters
There is no denying that minoxidil works to help reverse hair loss. However, while minoxidil has been tested time again, researchers behind the product still havent been able resolve one of consumers biggest grievances: Frontal baldness. Nanoxidil solves that problem, which is likely due to its larger absorption capacity.
Does Rogaine Work On Facial Hair Such As Eyebrows Or Beards
I would say yes, it should cause hair growth for your beard and eye brows because one of the side effects is that rogaine may cause hair to grow on the forehead and ears if it drips down. Yet this is strictly up to you to try, if you should choose.
I only recommend that rogaine should be used only as directed even though rogaine can cause you to have a fuller thicker beard and eyebrows.
One of the reasons I recommend to use rogaine only as directed is due to the fact that if it gets into your eyes it may cause some serious problems such as blurred vision.
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What Causes Frontal Baldness
Most scientists today believe that DHT is the main cause of frontal baldness.
DHT is an androgen . Men produce this hormone naturally. Their bodies make DHT through testosterone, via an enzyme called 5-Alpha-Reductase .. 5AR attaches to testosterone molecules and converts them to DHT. This endogenously synthesized DHT then circulates throughout the body, attaching to cell structures called Androgen Receptors .
When DHT attaches to ARs in the scalp, it can lead to hair thinning and ultimately baldness. This happens through a process known as hair follicle miniaturization . Under the influence of DHT, the follicles become progressively smaller and weaker. In the end they become so small that their hair cannot even protrude past the scalp . This is the underlying physiological mechanism of male-pattern baldness, also called Androgenetic Alopecia .
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For most men, the first signs of AGA are in the frontal hairline, specifically near the temples. The temples are the first to thin, and ultimately go completely bald. The rest of the front hairline then follows. Dermatologists call this a receding hairline.
To summarize, frontal baldness is typically the first sign of AGA. If left untreated, the AGA may spread to the entire top part of the head. In advanced baldness, there is hair only on the back and sides of the head. This progression of hair loss is captured in the so-called Norwood scale, depicted below.
Results Expectations And Does Rogaine Work For A Receding Hairline
Does Rogaine really work? The odds are in your favor. Nearly 90% of men experience hair regrowth after four months of using 5% Rogaine Foam. Clearly, looking at all the compiled evidence, it is easy to see that Rogaine is viable. One of the most popular questions people have is: How well will it work for me? Unfortunately, that is not easy to answer. You probably know how the story goes, everyones body is different, and everyone reacts differently to certain treatments.
The only way to truly know if you will respond well to the treatment is to consistently use Rogaine for 2 times a day for about 6 months. That is the best way to determine what sort of results you can expect from long term use. Fortunately for you, prices have dropped over the years and getting a 6 month supply isnt going to break the bank. Minoxidil is a very low risk drug and side effects from sustained use are nonexistent to minimal. There are two ongoing clinical studies that plan to determine whether or not a patient will respond well to minoxidil. However, this are not complete.
However, it is still important to have the right expectations when making a commitment to use Rogaine. There are a number of ways your hair will respond. Either you will grow a moderate amount of hair back, grow a little back, not regrow hair but maintain the hair you have left, or see no results at all. It is highly unlikely that using Rogaine will accelerate your hair loss, so you can rule that response out.
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Receding Hairline Is Not An Uncommon Phenomenon
Rogaine for receding hairline facts. In many cases the hair over the temples will recede most dramatically first. The drug is approved by the FDA for this purpose but not for treating the frontal hair loss that results in a receding hairline. According to the results of the study more than half the men saw improvement in the frontal scalp area after using five.
The condition can also be genetic but it can also be caused by certain medical conditions. However Rogaine can stimulate unwanted hair growth. When you use Rogaine at the first signs of thinning you are in the best position possible.
But Rogaine can some times stop or slow hair loss in the backcrown area. What we mean by that is Rogaine is the branded name for generic minoxidil. The 1 dermatologist recommended brand for thinning hair.
A receding hairline is the first stage of frontal baldness. Those afflicted with receding hairlines often turn to topical treatments such as Rogaine to help stop hair loss and promote hair regrowth. Today I finally got a 3 months supply of the 5 Rogaine and am eager to start using it but the thing is most if not all of my hair loss is in my temple and hairline regions.
Rogaine can improve hair growth or at least stop hair loss on the top of the scalp called the vortex area. But in general we can say that its worth a try particularly if the problem is not significantly associated with DHT. Experience Thicker Fuller Hair.
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Who Gets The Best Results From Rogaine
Rogaine is applied to the scalp to help grow hair and prevent hair loss caused by male or female pattern baldness. This is the most common type of hair loss and runs in families.
Rogaine works best in people with hereditary hair loss at the vertex of the scalp or for women with general thinning of hair on the top of the scalp. Rogaine isnt meant for a receding hairline or baldness at the front of your scalp.
Rogaine has been shown to be most effective in people under 40 years old and for those who start using it at the first signs of hair loss. It wont help people whove already gone completely bald.
Dont use Rogaine if any of the following apply:
- You dont have a family history of hair loss.
- Your hair loss comes on suddenly and falls out in patches.
- Youre under the age of 18.
- Your scalp is red, itchy, infected, or painful to touch.
- Your hair loss is caused by hair products, chemicals, or hair grooming methods like cornrowing.
- Your hair loss is caused by another condition, like a thyroid disease or alopecia areata, nutritional deficiencies, scarring of the scalp, or medications, such as chemotherapy.
If you have heart disease, see your doctor before trying Rogaine.
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As They Age Women Lose Their Hair Too Which Treatments Really Work
There are treatments that can slow the hair loss down, but they won’t bring back what you’ve lost. Women of African descent have extra problems, but treatment works if done quickly.
Women expect their hair to turn gray as they age, but they may be far less prepared for another ego-challenging aspect of aging: Their hair falls out.
You can cover gray with dye, but it’s harder to disguise the sparsely covered scalps that millions of women start to notice in their 50s and 60s. Some unlucky ones have thinning hair long before that. This kind of hair loss is unrelated to cancer treatment or other serious health problems.
Of course, there are plenty of men who wish desperately to restore their youthful locks, and a few we can think of one powerful one who cling to elaborate comb-overs, but many balding men simply clip their hair short and go on with their lives. Dermatologists say hair loss is emotionally harder for women, who are often deeply embarrassed by thinning hair even though it’s quite common. By the time they reach 50, about 40 percent of women are experiencing what’s known as female-pattern hair loss, said Gopal Patel, a dermatologist with Aesthetic Dermatology Associates in Media. Women of African descent struggle with even more conditions that can damage hair follicles and cause bald spots.
Like other doctors, Cotsarelis decried the lack of funding for studying hair loss. Said Patel: “The biggest challenge we face is we don’t really have great data.”