For any man, losing your hair can feel like you're losing a part of
your identity.
The second you start noticing more hair in your shower drain, your
heart drops like you're going down a roller coaster.
The good news is you're not alone. The great news is several treatments
available to help prevent further hair loss and even regrow new hair
(Minoxidil in Canada).
One
of the most famous of those treatments is minoxidil.
But before you start taking it, it's essential to understand precisely
what minoxidil dosage you should get so you don't get any adverse side
effects. Remember, talk to your doctor first, and get the right
prescription for you to minimize the negative impact.
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In this article, we'll talk about:
Why Male Pattern Baldness Happens
To better understand how minoxidil
helps encourage hair growth, it's essential to know why male pattern
baldness happens in the first place.
Male pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia, is the most common type
of hair loss for men. More than 50% of men
over 50 have been affected by male pattern baldness at some point in
their lives.
There are several contributing factors, including:
-
Genetics
-
Age
-
Hormones
-
Obesity
-
High blood pressure
-
Hypertension
-
Iron deficiency
-
Malnutrition
-
Telogen effluvium (a disturbance in the hair growth cycle)
-
Diseases like prostate cancer or diabetes
It's best to have a doctor examine the root cause of your hair
loss.
What Is Minoxidil, and How Does It Work?
Minoxidil is a popular hair loss treatment, usually bought over the counter. You've probably heard of its more famous brand name: Rogaine. Another popular hair loss treatment is finasteride (Propecia).
Minoxidil is available as a topical solution or in foam form. It
belongs to a class of drugs called vasodilators.
Minoxidil works
by shortening the resting phase (telogen) of your hair growth cycle and
pushing it into the active growth (anagen) phase.
Every hair on a man's head goes through a growth cycle that typically
lasts anywhere from 2 to 6 years. This includes the growth phase,
resting phase, and finally, the shedding phase.
During the anagen phase of the cycle, your hair grows as long as it
can. After anywhere from 2 to 6 years, it will move into the catagen
phase, where your scalp "lets go" of the hair. Then, new hair grows out
of the hair follicle and replaces the old hair.
However, when a man has male pattern hair loss, this growth cycle begins to weaken while the hair follicle shrinks.
This makes the hair shorter and finer until, finally, it stops growing
at all.
By shortening the telogen phase of the cycle, your hair spends a
shorter amount of time "at rest" and begins the anagen phase, or growth
phase, earlier.
Minoxidil also improves blood flow throughout the scalp, which helps
your hair get the nutrients it needs to grow fuller and thicker.
Together, these effects help stimulate the growth and thickness of your
hair, even if it has grown relatively thin.
Read more: Mixing Minoxidil And Alcohol
Do You Lose More Hair When You Start Using Minoxidil?
Because minoxidil forces your hairs to enter the growth cycle
prematurely, it might seem like you're actually losing more hair at
first — but don't panic. This is a sign that it's working.
This is because your hairs have to go through the shedding phases of
your hair growth cycle before starting the growth phase
again.
Think of it as starting a new game with your hair—except this time, you
have a better strategy and tools.
So, don't freak out when you first use minoxidil and notice more hair
than usual on your pillow and in your drain. Just keep using minoxidil
on your regular schedule. After a few months, the shedding should end as you enter a new phase of hair growth.
Does Minoxidil Really Work?
Yes! There have been several studies that have proven positive results
for men that have male pattern hair loss.
In this study, a group of dermatologists compared the effects of topical minoxidil
(5%) on almost a thousand men with androgenetic alopecia. 84.3% of the
men reported that minoxidil was effective.
In another study taken in 2007, researchers compared topical minoxidil
5% to placebo over 16 weeks. Those who took minoxidil reported a
significant increase in hair growth compared to those who took a placebo.
With millions of men worldwide taking minoxidil, it's safe to say that
it works.
How Do I Take Minoxidil?
Before taking minoxidil, read
all the directions with the product and
consult with your doctor or
pharmacist if you have any questions.
To use minoxidil, thoroughly clean and dry your scalp before applying
any medication. Using it on damp hair is okay.
If using the topical solution, fill the applicator to the 1-millilitre
line. This is around 20 drops. Part your hair where your hair is
thinning the most, and apply the solution as evenly as possible to the
balding part of your scalp.
After you do this, gently rub it in. Let the solution dry before
putting other products like gel or mousse into your hair or before
bed.
If you're using the foam version of Rogaine, clean your hands well
before applying it. Use the foam dispenser to spread about 1/2 a capful
of foam to your scalp and rub it evenly and gently into the balding
area. Let the foam dry before styling or going to bed.
Read More:
How to Use Minoxidil
Easy and Discreet
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If you're having issues
with scalp irritation, don't use minoxidil if your hair is coloured or treated with chemicals.
Do not apply minoxidil to any other part of your body unless
specifically directed by your doctor to do so. Avoid getting it in your
eyes. If you do, rinse your eyes out with cool water. Don't use
minoxidil more than you were directed to. This can lead to serious
side effects.
Minoxidil takes time to regrow hair. Most people do not see any results
until after four months of regular use. Also, it must be used
continuously to maintain any hair growth. If you stop using it, you will
lose the hair that you've regrown.
Now let's take a look at how much minoxidil to take for hair
loss.
Read more: The Cost Of Minoxidil In Canada
What Minoxidil Dosage Should I Use?
One of the most common questions people have is how much minoxidil to
take for hair growth. The minoxidil dose will depend on the patient's
situation, so consult with a doctor first.
Here is the average amount for how much minoxidil to take:
-
Apply 1 millilitre of the topical solution to the scalp twice a
day
-
Apply half of one capful of the topical foam to the scalp twice a
day
What If I Miss a Dose of Minoxidil?
We get it. Applying Rogaine to your hair twice a day can be quite a lot
of work. If you do happen to miss a dose of minoxidil, use it as soon as
possible.
However, if it's already almost time for the next dose, just skip the
one you missed and return to your regular schedule.
Read more: Minoxidil Warnings & Precautions
Is It Possible to Overdose on Minoxidil?
There is very little likelihood of significant overdosing effects
or death when taking too much minoxidil. However, taking a higher dosage
of minoxidil than recommended by the instructions or your doctor can
lead to a higher risk of side effects.
Although not all of these side effects will happen, seek medical
attention if you experience any of these.
Less common to rare side effects:
-
Itchiness or skin rash
-
Swelling of the face
-
Increased hair loss
-
Reddened skin
-
Facial hair growth
-
Burning of scalp
-
Inflammation or soreness at the root of your hair
Rare symptoms of too much medicine being absorbed into the body:
-
Chest pain
-
Rapid weight gain
-
Flushing
-
Headache
-
Blurred vision or change in vision
-
Dizziness
-
Fainting
-
Fast or irregular heartbeat
-
Lightheadedness
-
Numbness in hands, feet, or face
-
Swelling of face, hands, feet, or lower legs
If you notice any of these side effects, contact a healthcare
professional immediately.
Key Takeaways
That's all you need to know about taking the correct minoxidil dosage for hair loss.
It's not too complicated, but don't take more than directed. It can be
tempting to think that "more medicine equals more hair," but know this
isn't true.
Have patience, and you'll be one of the 4 million other men worldwide experiencing hair regrowth. Consider the results that millions
swear by if you're asking yourself, "Can minoxidil regrow hair?"
If you want to be one of those minoxidil success stories, you've
already finished the first step by learning more about the
medication.
