Rogaine

Minoxidil Products

Rogaine Overview

The active ingredient in Rogaine is minoxidil, a drug developed by Upjohn. It's one of two drugs approved by the FDA for hair loss, and is currently available as an over-the-counter drug for men and women. The original purpose of minoxidil was as a vasodilator to treat high blood pressure. Although the exact actions of the drug are not known, one theory is that it increases the time period that hair stays in the active growing phase of the hair follicle, the anagen phase. Hair follicles enlarge and those at rest begin to grow.

Two formulations of Rogaine are available, a 2% and 5% solution, both are used as topical treatments. The one tablet form of minoxidil is called Loniten.

In the UK Rogaine is sold under the brand name Regaine.

Is Rogaine Safe?

Rogaine, when used as instructed, has minimal side effects. However, some Rogaine side effects may include scalp irritation, flaking, and in rare cases lowered blood pressure and heart palpitations. Hair growth may also occur on other parts of the body, which generally doesn't worry men.

Loniten, the tablet form of minoxidil can drastically lower blood pressure and should only be taken under the supervision of a health care professional.

How to use Rogaine

As a topical solution Rogaine is applied twice daily to treat male pattern baldness. Apply at least one hour after shampooing with optimal absorption occurring after two hours.

Rogaine Results

Rogaine is effective at reducing the rate of hair loss for up to 90 percent of users. It has also been proven to regrow hair in two areas of the scalp, the vortex and the crown. However not everyone will experience this regrowth. Rogaine is generally more effective with men showing early signs of hair loss.

When first beginning Rogaine (minoxidil) it may take four months or longer before results are seen. Over this period approximately two-thirds of men using Rogaine can expect to see some improvement ranging from minimal to dense regrowth. Hair will begin to thicken with more body and initial growth of vellus (downy) hair will be followed shortly by pigmented healthy hair. Once treatment with Rogaine is started it should be continued, otherwise regression will occur to pre-treatment baldness. An improved response has been observed with the higher 5% solution of Rogaine versus the 2% solution.

In conjunction with minoxidil, Tretinoin or Retin-A has been shown to increase the beneficial effect. It's believed that Tretinoin causes an increase in the absorption rate of minoxidil through the skin and scalp. Note that the use of Tretinoin can make the skin more sensitive to sunburn and care should be taken when exposed to UV light.