Minoxidil: Minoxidil is the only medication approved by the US FDA to stimulate the regrowth of hair for those men and women who have a hereditary tendency for pattern baldness or hair loss. Minoxidil was first approved as a prescription medication for treating high blood pressure conditions (and is sold as tablets for that purpose under the Loniten brand name). Minoxidil is now also sold as a scalp lotion under the brand name Rogaine. Rogaine topical lotion is 2% minoxidil in a solution of water, alcohol, and propylene glycol. What it does: Minoxidil topical lotion only seems to work on active hair follicles still capable of producing some hair. For those with pattern hair loss, minoxidil seems to reduce the rate of hair follicle miniaturization, and can reverse the transformation of terminal follicles that produce full-size hairs into vellus follicles that only grow "peach fuzz". With minoxidil treatment, the miniature vellus follicles enlarge back to their full size. The re-enlarged follicles begin to grow wider and more pigmented hairs. Also, the enlarged follicles seem to remain in the anagen, or growth stage for a longer period. A longer growth period results in the production of longer hairs, and a look of more hair. Results Vary: For some people minoxidil seems to have no effect at all. For others there is reduced rate of hair loss, but no visible new hair growth. Some men and women experience minimal new hair growth, but not enough to cover thin hair areas. Those who have a moderate response to minoxidil treatment have new hair growth partially covering their thin areas, but those areas are still easily seen as being less dense than other area without hair loss. The people who respond best to minoxidil enjoy dense new hair growth, with areas that had previously been thin now having hair density similar to areas that were not affected by hair loss. How it works: When taken by mouth in tablet form, minoxidil reduces blood pressure by relaxing and dilating blood vessels. Scientists are not exactly sure how minoxidil helps to regrow hair. Other vasodilator medications do not grow hair. Side effect: Hair growth was discovered as a side effect of minoxidil treatment for high blood pressure. When minoxidil is taken in high doses by mouth, it occasionally promotes hair growth on various parts of the body, and not just the scalp. In 1988, after years of additional studies to determine its effectiveness as a topical lotion, minoxidil became the first medication approved by the US FDA for treating hair loss. At present, it is still the only medication approved as being safe and effective for this purpose. Now available without a prescription: As a hair growth treatment, minoxidil is applied as a lotion on the scalp two times each day. This method of administering the drug causes the harrowing effect to be on the scalp only, and not on other parts of the body. There is no effect on blood pressure when applied as directed. In 1995 the US FDA declared that minoxidil in a 2% topical lotion form no longer required a prescription from a Medical Doctor for purchase in the US. Rogaine: Rogaine is a registered trademark of Pharmacia & Upjohn Consumer Healthcare. It is the name used for their brand of Minoxidil. Minoxidil sold as Rogaine is known world wide. Rogaine is also available as a 5% "extra strength" solution. Over 3 million people have benefited from Rogaine! There is no way to predict how successful you will be with Rogaine. Rogaine will not regrow or prevent hair loss which may occur from medications, nutritional problems, or from underlying medical problems. click here to order Rogaine or generic Minoxidil now
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