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:
Safety And Side Effects
Depending on the sensitivity of your scalp and hair, some ingredients and products may actually do more harm than good.
If you plan on trying a hair growth supplement, be sure to check the list of ingredients, as many supplements contain ingredients that can cause side effects.
These side effects can include:
- nausea
Who Should Not Take Finasteride
Do not take finasteride if you:
- are pregnant or may become pregnant. Finasteride may harm your unborn baby. Females who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not come in contact with broken or crushed finasteride tablets. If a pregnant woman comes in contact with crushed or broken finasteride tablets, wash the contact area right away with soap and water. If a woman who is pregnant comes into contact with the active ingredient in finasteride, a healthcare provider should be consulted. o If a woman who is pregnant with a male baby swallows or comes in contact with the medicine in finasteride, the male baby may be born with sex organs that are not normal.
- are allergic to any of the ingredients in finasteride.
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Womens Rogaine 5% Unscented Minoxidil Foam
- Price: $$$$
Rogaine is an FDA approved treatment for hair loss that contains minoxidil. It generally contains a stronger percentage than other OTC brands, and its one of the most popular and well-known for good reason.
As a 2019 study explained, Rogaine works by increasing hair growth and reducing hair loss, making it great for female and male pattern baldness. It can also be used for alopecia and eyebrow density.
The brand offers a satisfaction guarantee policy, which means youll get a full refund if you use the product daily for 130 days and arent satisfied with the results. For best results, its recommended to use Rogaine for at least 3 to 6 months to see results.
When it comes to reviews, a majority of reviewers note that their hair grew in spots where their scalp was visible before. On the other hand, a few 1-star reviews have to do with allergic reactions, scalp sensitivity, no changes, or even increased hair loss.
Its important to note that minoxidil may cause initial shedding, but this effect will likely decrease with use.
Can Rogaine Regrow Lost Hair
Not if the hair loss is permanent. However, if your hair is thinning and shedding in excess due to genetic hair loss, Rogaine® can stimulate regrowth if your follicles have the SULT1A1 enzyme. However, if the hair follicles have completely miniaturized, the chance of regrowth is slim. Additionally, Rogaine® cannot revive a receding hairline or regrow hair on a bald scalp.
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How Do I Use Rogaine Foam
Rogaine Foam is a topical formula that should be applied to the scalp twice a day, every day. It is an easy-to-use treatment that can be conveniently added into your daily routine. First, individuals are instructed to shampoo and towel-dry their hair. Patients should then part their hair and expose the scalp, making sure to create parted rows in the areas experiencing hair loss. To use, hold the can upside down and dispense a dollop of the foam onto your fingertips. The amount of foam should equal about half of a capful . Using your fingers, apply the foam directly to your scalp, gently massaging the product where your hair is thinning. When the foam penetrates the skin, the active ingredient in Rogaine Foam, minoxidil, works to revitalize shrunken hair follicles. When youve finished applying the product, simply wash your hands, and thats it youre done. You should go through this simple and easy process twice a day for the best results.
Lets Settle The Rogaine Foam Vs Liquid Battle
byJanuary 25, 2018, 12:46 pm40.8k Views
Also known as Minoxidil, Rogaine is a hair loss solution that began life as a blood pressure medication. After noticing that patients started experiencing unwanted hair growth following taking Minoxidil, researchers began examining its use as a hair loss solution in the 80s. Today, scientists recognize it as an excellent treatment as a hair loss solution for those experiencing hereditary hair loss.
Rogaine is available to both men and women experiencing androgenic hair loss, which is a form of hair loss that arises as a result of the body producing too much DHT. Dihydrotestosterone is a form of testosterone, and while it produces lots of hair elsewhere on the body, it results in hair loss on the scalp. Its thought that this occurs due to the way DHT alters the scalps hair follicles, and your production of DHT will arise due to genetic factors. This is why androgenic hair loss is also known as hereditary hair loss.
Today, the FDA has approved the use of Rogaine/Minoxidil as a hair loss treatment. You can purchase it at 2% and 5% strength, with the 5% strength proving more useful for men. Rogaine is available in both liquid and foam form, which means you may be wondering which one will work best for you.
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Do You Have To Use Rogaine Forever
Yes. If youre having success using Rogaine® treatments for hair loss, youll need to continue with topical application indefinitely. Otherwise, ceasing treatment will send your hair back to the original condition it was in when you began treatments. Without Rogaine®, the scalp remains untreated, and the progression of hair loss will resume.
Roman Vs Rogaine: Best Topical Treatment For Hair Loss
What is the difference between Rogaine and Roman hair loss treatment? It depends on how you look at them. They have lots of similarities and differences. Does their topical treatment work? Who can use and benefit from their products? Keep reading, and you will see how similar yet different these two companies are.
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How To Apply Rogaine Liquid
If youre choosing Rogaine liquid over Rogaine foam, knowing how to apply, it maximizes your hair growth effects and reduces the risk of side effects. First of all, its important to note that you should avoid using Rogaine liquid alongside substances such as hair dye. If you do dye your hair, wait for 24 hours between doing so and applying Rogaine liquid.
Now, for applying that topical solution:
- Keep your scalp and hair completely dry. This allows for maximum absorption.
- Apply the prescribed amount to your hair. If you have a lot of hair, make sure you spread the solution evenly for maximum results.
- Allow it to soak in for four hours. Its for this reason that Rogaine liquid is usually best used at night.
Can Rogaine Work For Me
To reiterate: Rogaine® is ONLY a hair loss treatment option for people with genetic hair loss. So we need to reframe the question from will Rogaine® work for me? to Am I experiencing genetic hair loss?
For decades, people had to play the guessing game of trial and error, spending hard-earned money and taxing their emotional wellbeing only to be disappointed with a lack of results.
How can you find out if you have the SULT1A1 enzyme necessary for Rogaines efficacy?
Our research led us to the startling realization that the hair-growth industry is riddled with misinformation. And thats what led us to the patented development of Rogaine® Minoxidil testing with the Minoxidil Response Test.
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Is One More Effective
While no human studies have been performed which directly compare the effectiveness of Rogaine liquid and Rogaine foam, there was a study that showed that once-daily use of 5 percent minoxidil Foam was just as effective as twice-daily use of 2 percent minoxidil liquid in women.
This study took place in 2011, and 113 women with AGA were randomized into two groups .
Group one was instructed to apply 5 percent minoxidil foam to their scalp one daily, while group two was instructed to apply 2 percent minoxidil liquid to their scalp twice daily.
The main parameter was a change from baseline in non-vellus target area hair count at week 24. However, other parameters were also included.
In the end, it was determined that once-daily 5 percent minoxidil foam was just as effective as twice-daily 2 percent minoxidil liquid.
While this study does not exactly pit the two against each other, it does provide some insight into its effectiveness at growing hair.
Does It Work For A Receding Hairline
There has been a bit of debate ever since the development of Rogaine, and that is whether it works on the hairline.
Studies have proven time and again that it is an effective treatment for hair loss on the crown. But, what about a receding hairline? Fortunately, researchers asked this very same question in 2015, and the results were favorable.
Sixteen healthy men between the ages of 18 and 49, all with Norwood Scale hair loss of type IV-V, participated in this double-blind study . The participants were split into two groups, one of which received a placebo and the other of which received minoxidil 5 percent foam.
The participants and the researchers were unaware of which treatment the participants received.
All 16 men were instructed to apply their treatment twice daily for eight weeks, and photographs were taken at the beginning and end of the study to monitor hair growth.
Here are the results as displayed by one subject:
As the researchers concluded, minoxidil foam is effective in both the frontal and vertex scalp of patients with male pattern hair loss.
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What Is Minoxidil & How Does It Promote Hair Growth
Minoxidil is a vasodilator, meaning its designed to dilate blood vessels and improve the flow of blood to certain areas of your body.
Although its mechanism of action isnt exactly known, it is believed that when applied topically in the form of a serum or foam, minoxidil interacts with scalp sulfotransferase, which converts it into minoxidil sulfate which is thought to be the active form of minoxidil.
From there, it shortens your hairs telogen phase , and pushes it into the anagen phase prematurely, and even extends the growth period of hair, making your hair grow longer and thicker.
Unlike finasteride, which works by reducing the levels of DHT in your bloodstream, minoxidil has no known effect on your hormones.
Its best to think of minoxidil as a local solution that can help improve your hair growth, while finasteride is designed to shield your follicles from DHT.
One of the most common misconceptions about minoxidil is that its only effective on the scalp and crown. Many people are convinced that minoxidil isnt effective for preventing frontal hair loss around the hairline.
What Is Androgenetic Alopecia
Almost every woman eventually develops some degree of female pattern hair loss. It can start any time after the onset of puberty, but women tend to first notice it around menopause, when hair loss typically increases. The risk rises with age, and it’s higher for women with a history of hair loss on either side of the family.
As the name suggests, androgenetic alopecia involves the action of the hormones called androgens, which are essential for normal male sexual development and have other important functions in both sexes, including sex drive and regulation of hair growth. The condition may be inherited and involve several different genes. It can also result from an underlying endocrine condition, such as overproduction of androgen or an androgen-secreting tumor on the ovary, pituitary, or adrenal gland. In either case, the alopecia is likely related to increased androgen activity. But unlike androgenetic alopecia in men, in women the precise role of androgens is harder to determine. On the chance that an androgen-secreting tumor is involved, it’s important to measure androgen levels in women with clear female pattern hair loss.
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Thinning Hair And Hair Loss: Could It Be Female Pattern Hair Loss
For most women, FPHL begins in midlife, when a woman is in her 40s, 50s, or 60s. It can begin earlier for some women.
FPHL is a progressive condition. This means women tend to continue losing hair. But women do not lose all of their hair, as do some men. Instead, your part often gets wider. Hair near your temples may recede. Without treatment, some women eventually develop widespread thinning.
Treatment can prevent hair loss from worsening and help women regrow their hair. Treatment delivers the best results when started at the first sign of hair loss.
Huge Innovation Over Rogaine Topical Fin + Minoxidil Spray By Hims
Hims recently came out with a pretty massive innovation in topical hair loss a spray Minoxidil and Finasteride combo. This combines the active ingredient in Rogaine with a different formulation of Finasteride, the other major hair loss medicine.
This is a big deal.
If you have been hesitant to try more aggressive hair loss treatment because you didnt want to take a pill, you should check out this new offering by Hims. You need a prescription, which their doctors can get you online.
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How Long Does Minoxidil Take To Work
Minoxidil is typically used twice a day, and the 5% formulation may work more quickly than the 2% strength. You may initially start to see effects after around eight weeks of treatmentbut for maximum effect, you will likely need to wait four months .
Some people may experience additional hair loss or shedding when they first start using minoxidil. This may make you think your baldness is getting worse. In actuality, this effect can be normal and is usually due to the hair follicles shifting growth phases fortunately, the hair shedding resolves as you continue to use the medication .
If your hair loss hasnt slowed after several months of using minoxidil, its a good idea to stop applying it and get medical advice from your healthcare provider. Something else might be contributing to or causing your hair loss. As you use minoxidil, remember that results are different for everyoneyou might see results that surpass your expectations, or minoxidil might not work for you at all.