As one of the main treatments for androgenetic alopecia, Minoxidil prompts many questions from potential users. But is this medication successful when it comes to reviving hair follicles? In this article, we take a closer look at Minoxidil’s capabilities and explain whether it’s a good option when it comes to breathing life back into the dying hair follicles on your scalp.
Introducing Minoxidil
Alongside Finasteride, Minoxidil is one of two medications that have been clinically proven as a treatment for male pattern hair loss. While researchers aren’t 100% sure of precisely how Minoxidil works, it is typically present in a 5% solution, which is then applied to the scalp in order to restore the thickness and fullness of the user’s hair. It is a vasodilator that increases the flow of oxygen and blood to the affected areas of the scalp, providing the hair follicles with the nutrients that they require to thrive once again. But does Minoxidil also have the powers of revival?
Can Minoxidil revive your hair follicles?
While there’s a lot of evidence pointing to Minoxidil’s efficacy as a hair loss treatment, there isn’t anything to show that Minoxidil can successfully revive dead hair follicles. However, using a 5% Minoxidil solution consistently has been found to be an effective way to regrow some of your hair follicles, and it can shorten the telogen (resting) phase of the natural hair growth cycle. Therefore, by stimulating the process of hair growth, Minoxidil reduces the amount of time your hair spends resting.
Accordingly, it’s accurate to say that Minoxidil is an effective hair loss treatment, even though dying and dead hair follicles will still fall out. In fact, many people experience a phase of shedding as soon as they start taking Minoxidil, and this is actually a sign that the medication is working. You also need to be mindful of the fact that it’s perfectly normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs every day, and Minoxidil doesn’t prevent this from occurring.
Does Minoxidil actually work?
Multiple studies have shown the effectiveness of Minoxidil as a hair loss treatment. For instance, an American study from 2004 found that 62% of men saw improvements in their hair loss within one year of using Minoxidil. A study three years later discovered that a 5% Minoxidil solution is more effective than its 2% counterpart when it comes to treating male pattern hair loss, which is important to consider when choosing the right treatment for your current level of hair loss.
How to get started with a hair loss treatment plan
Minoxidil is one of the most popular hair loss treatments available, given its impressive track record of providing positive results to those who use it. To get the most out of Minoxidil, it’s important to use it regularly over a long period of time, as skipping applications can cause the medication to be less effective. What’s more, it’s best to use Minoxidil alongside Finasteride, as the two medications complement one another as far as hair loss treatment is concerned.
The bottom line
So, while Minoxidil doesn’t necessarily revive dead hair follicles, it is a clinically proven treatment for hair loss and provides positive results for most men who use it. Therefore, if you’re experiencing male pattern hair loss, get started with Minoxidil today to see the positive results that you desire.