Does minoxidil really regrow hair?

It’s all over TikTok; it’s probably popping up on your sponsored Ads, and blogs swear by it…so does minoxidil really work?

Well, let’s begin by dissecting what minoxidil does…

Oral minoxidil was first used to treat high blood pressure. These treated patients got hair restoration and excessive hair growth by chance. This led to the discovery of minoxidil as a treatment for hair loss.

Topical minoxidil is currently approved for treating androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern hair loss), and it is also used off-label to treat other hair loss problems. However, for certain people, topical minoxidil may be uncomfortable or pricey. Oral minoxidil is approved to treat severe hypertension. It is used off-label to treat hair loss, specifically androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss), at significantly lower doses.

Combining topical minoxidil with topical finasteride has been demonstrated in studies to be more effective than topical minoxidil alone in stimulating hair regrowth in patients with pattern hair loss.

Oral finasteride is an FDA-approved therapy for male pattern baldness. It has also been routinely used in women with other hair loss diseases, most notably hirsutism and female pattern hair loss, while it has been used less frequently in lichen planopilaris and frontal fibrosing alopecia. However, trials comparing topical finasteride to oral finasteride found that both promoted hair regrowth while minimising the negative effects associated with the oral medication.

Can you get any side effects from minoxidil?

Minoxidil has dose-dependent side effects. The danger of side effects can be reduced significantly with considerably lower doses.

Minoxidil effectively treats pattern hair loss, brittle hair disorders, alopecia areata, and post-chemotherapy alopecia.

Are there any precautions I should be aware of?

While taking a very low dose reduces the likelihood of adverse reactions are extremely rare, however the following negative effects have been reported:

• Fluid retention (producing weight gain and ankle oedema)
• Elevated heart rate (resulting in palpitations)
• Pericarditis/pericardial effusion (which causes chest pain and shortness of breath)
• Low blood pressure (which might cause fainting or dizziness)
• Increased hair growth on the body 
• Skin rashes
• Breast tenderness
• Blood test abnormalities

Can I take this if I’m on any other medication or pregnant?

It is essential to avoid pregnancy during this treatment; you must use adequate contraception throughout the course. If you are trying to conceive, please discontinue this medicine at least one month before conception.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you immediately discontinue therapy and contact our clinic or go to the Accident and Emergency Department for immediate assistance:

• Difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Elevated heart rate or palpitations while not exercising
• Dizziness or feeling faint 
• Rapid weight gain or ankle swelling

Book in for a consultation here

Contact us to book a consultation to discuss starting this treatment. We can set up a consultation to ensure this is the right treatment program for your requirements to receive the desired outcomes.