Minoxidil Topical Solution is used to help hair growth in the
treatment of male pattern baldness. It is not used for baldness at the
front of the scalp or receding hairline in men. The minoxidil solution
is also used to help hair growth in women with thinning hair. Minoxidil
belongs to a class of drugs known as vasodilators.
Minoxidil can also be used to treat several hair loss causes,
including male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) and alopecia
areata, an immune condition where your body attacks its own hair.
However, minoxidil is not intended to treat a receding hairline because
it does not target DHT, the main hormonal cause of a receding hairline
and hair loss.
This medication is not used for sudden/patchy hair loss, unexplained
hair loss (for example, if you have no family history of hair loss), or
hair loss after giving birth. Do not use this product if you are 18
years old or younger.
Minoxidil is proven to effectively treat hair thinning and balding.
Specifically, minoxidil has been shown to increase hair count on the
scalp after 3-4 months of use, and in post-marketing studies, 94% of men
rate the treatment as effective. Minoxidil is only for hair regrowth on
the top of the scalp and is not intended for other hair loss like a
receding hairline.
Minoxidil takes at least 3-4 months of twice-daily use to start
seeing the effects. It is important to be consistent about applying
minoxidil and to be patient while waiting to see results. Its lengthy
timeline is due to the length of the hair growth cycle, which also takes
months. It is also important to continue to use minoxidil even after
you see results. Minoxidil should not be used to grow a beard. Minoxidil
only has approval for use on the vertex of the head (scalp)
