Everyone wants that fresh, youthful look and many are willing to go to great lengths to get it. When hair loss hits, it’s a struggle to stay positive. So why not get all the facts and make an informed decision?
Minoxidil, more recognisable in the brand names of products such as Rogaine, had a unique path to development. Its aim is to help men and women with general hair loss and androgenetic alopecia. Unfortunately, all drugs come with an array of side effects, and minoxidil has its fair share.
How was minoxidil developed?
Initially, researchers developed the predecessor to minoxidil to treat high blood pressure, but during animal testing, one of the dogs died due to a lethal heart lesion. Undisturbed, they synthesised many more analogues and eventually stopped at minoxidil. During clinical trials, some people experienced an increase in hair growth, a side effect of the drug, and from then on minoxidil has been on the hair loss treatment market.
Does the scientific community still trust in minoxidil to treat hair thinning and loss? What has science learned since then?
Does minoxidil work for treating hair loss?
Minoxidil is a popular hair loss treatment that can be applied topically. The normal dosage (which started to lose their prescription-only status from the 1990s) varies depending on sex - men use a 5% topical solution, whereas women are generally offered a milder 2% formula. Higher dosages, for example 15%, are not generally available over-the-counter in most countries, and would be available prescription only.
The exact way minoxidil helps with hair loss remains unclear. One of the leading theories is that, as a vasodilator (opener of blood vessels), it increases blood flow to the hair follicles, and in this way prolongs the growth phase (anagen) of the hair cycle.
Like TRX2®, minoxidil also acts as a potassium-channel opener . These small protein structures control the transport of potassium ions across the hair follicle’s cell membrane and are essential for retaining the follicle’s full biological activity and function. Indeed, there are some (happy with the risks of a minoxidil-based topical product) who may take TRX2®’s food supplement alongside the minoxidil-based topical for perceived additional impact.
Does minoxidil work for everyone?
Although minoxidil is a potent drug in higher dosages and has been involved in countless studies, it does not work for everyone. Generally, it takes months of daily use to see results. But, most won’t get the benefits they expect. Some people will quit using it because of side effects, or no signs of improvement, and others will discontinue minoxidil because it can actually make hair shedding worse.
Evidence published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment showed some stunning results based on routine clinical practice. Of the 1,495 men in the study, almost all of them gradually avoided continuing the treatment. Only a handful of the patients stopped treatment due to side effects. About 95% of the patients discontinued use because they didn’t see signs of hair regrowth or stabilisation of shedding.
This is explained by the fact that most published studies impose strict conditions. In routine practice, the results are very different, as shown in the above example.
What are the side effects of minoxidil?
Minoxidil treatment is prescribed for an unlimited period, and interrupting this regimen can cause devastating consequences like rapid hair shedding, rebounding back to pretreatment status within a few months of stopping.
So does it make sense to even start using minoxidil? For some, it may work, but for many it won’t provide any help at all, or make their hair loss even more severe.
What are the alternatives to minoxidil?
Natural hair support regimens offer a unique solution to a complex problem. People want results. They want fuller, thicker hair, with no side effects, and they want a scientifically proven formula that tackles hair loss at its roots. This includes regimens which include both food supplements and topicals.
TRX2® is one of the leading 100% natural formulations with the key components of potassium chloride, zinc, niacin, biotin and L-carnitine among others, that stimulate the potassium ion channels within hair follicles. This combination provides the hair follicles with an abundance of nutrients essential for maintaining thicker hair.
Join the 87% of people who saw significant improvement after using TRX2® !
