What Is Rogaine: Can Rogaine Help With Hair Loss?
Research shows that hair loss often directly impacts a person's quality of life. That impact varies from person to person, but it can be very significant.
You've probably heard of or even ordered products like Rogaine to revitalize hair growth. Can Rogaine for men with hair loss really help, though? We're going to explore the ins and outs of Rogaine today.
For those of you looking to get your hair back, this article will help you. Let's get started.
Table of contents:
What Is Rogaine (Minoxidil)?
Rogaine is the popular brand name for a drug called minoxidil. Minoxidil was created in an effort to reduce high blood pressure, but one side effect in clinical trials was hair growth.
There's still some confusion as to the mechanism of action when it comes to hair growth. We'll explore potential explanations in the sections below.
Minoxidil can be effective at opening blood vessels and allowing blood to flow. Those with hypertension might use minoxidil in conjunction with other medication to relieve high blood pressure.
It's important to note that the generic form of minoxidil is distinct from Rogaine. Most medications with different generic and brand names are very similar. While Rogaine and minoxidil are chemically similar, their applications vary. Let's put Rogaine vs. minoxidil and compare them.
What Is Rogaine Taken For?
Rogaine is used to reverse hair loss. Many people claim to have lasting success with Rogaine.
It was created to halt and reverse symptoms of male pattern baldness. In the process, it encourages the growth of stunted hairs. It's most effective at stopping male pattern baldness and less effective at regrowing lost hairs, although it's possible.
It's worth noting that Rogaine is a manipulated form of minoxidil. In high doses, minoxidil is known to promote hair growth to an excessive degree. Some individuals reported hair growth in undesirable places.
Rogaine includes 2% and 5% minoxidil solutions in their product offerings. The 2% solution is standard, whereas the 5% option is for more difficult cases.
Read more: Rogaine Warnings And Precautions
How Rogaine Works for Hair Loss: Does Rogaine Work?
Hair growth from minoxidil was noted in the first clinical trials of the drug. Patients wore patches to see if the drug eased their hypertension (high blood pressure).
Researchers observed unusual hair growth and considered using the drug for the treatment of hair loss. Rogaine is marketed to activate the growth phase and subdue the resting phase of your hair's cycle.
Pattern baldness is mostly the result of hereditary factors. Common contributors include:
- Age
- Hormones
- Genes
- Stress
- Environment
Over time, combinations of these factors contribute to the shrinking and slowing down of our hair follicles' growth cycles. All hair has a period of growth and a period of rest.
The effectiveness of minoxidil only lasts for as long as you continue to apply it. If you stop using it, your hair loss starts after a while.
As we start to lose our hair, the growth period becomes shorter and the rest period extends, eventually solidifying. The result is that hair stops growing. Minoxidil revitalizes that process to different degrees for different individuals.
It's also important to note that as Canadian Dermatology Association indicates, there are different conditions (genetic or otherwise) that could lead to hair loss and make it more difficult to treat.
Read more: Rogaine Side Effects: What You Need To Know
Rogaine for Men: Available Dosages
Rogaine comes in two primary dosages.
The first is a solution of 2% minoxidil. This is the solution that most individuals will find success with. It doesn't seem like very much, but 2% minoxidil is actually a very concentrated amount of the drug to use in a topical application.
For cases of individuals with difficult-to-treat hair loss, there's also a 5% minoxidil option. It's recommended to try the lighter dosage first and upgrade if you don't see results in the expected amount of time.
We should also note that there are doses of Rogaine for female hair loss, although that's not the focus of this article.
For cases of individuals with difficult-to-treat hair loss, there's also a 5% minoxidil option. It's recommended to try the lighter dosage first and upgrade if you don't see results in the expected amount of time.
Rogaine for Hair Loss
You can find Rogaine at most big-name stores online or in-person. Whether you're shopping at Walmart or browsing Amazon, you can get Rogaine without a prescription, but probably at a higher cost.
We run you through a brief questionnaire and offer some curated recommendations for your hair treatment.
How to Store Rogaine
Rogaine solutions do expire after a period of time. You can keep them safe and effective throughout their lifespan if you store them properly in dry, cool places.
Minoxidil expires after a period of time, depending on the form it's in. The standard Rogaine solution expires after roughly three years, whereas the foam solution expires after two years of storage.
It's important to note that Rogaine doesn't become harmful or toxic when it expires. It's just unlikely that you'll notice any benefits from the minoxidil in those bottles.
Avoid exposing your Rogaine to any temperature extremes. A cool cupboard should be effective at storing the bottle without any damage to the minoxidil inside.
Read more: Drug Interactions with Rogaine
What Is Finasteride?
Finasteride is the generic name for another popular hair growth option, Propecia. It's directed toward men only, and women or children should never take finasteride.
The medicine should also never be handled by a woman who is pregnant or plans to get pregnant, as it can be absorbed through the skin. Finasteride is an effective way to treat male pattern baldness and alopecia, though.
It might be a better option for some men than Rogaine or minoxidil alternatives. That's why it's so important to talk with a practitioner who can appropriately medicate you.
Finasteride (Propecia) should never be handled by a woman who is pregnant or plans to get pregnant, as it can be absorbed through the skin.
How to Get the Best Result ?
The best way to improve your chances of seeing results is to contact a doctor right away. The sooner you and your practitioner can address hair loss, the better your chances of reversing the pattern.
Further, the best results come when you're persistent with the treatment and don't take breaks or veer away from the recommended dosages. Over time, treatment has the potential to bring your hair back.
That can only happen if you follow the treatment to the letter, though. Further, it's important to keep checking in with your doctor as you go through the process. You might have better luck with other medications, supplements, or natural oils like rosemary oil, and your doctor can keep their finger on the pulse of your recovery and make changes as necessary.
Read more: Is Taking Rogaine And Alcohol Together Dangerous?
Want to Learn More About Hair Growth?
We hope our look at Rogaine was useful to you. There's a lot more to learn about hair regrowth, though. Being a guy can be difficult, and we get that.
We're here to help you with all of the information and products you need. Explore our site for helpful resources that could bring your confidence back.
5 FAQs About Rogaine
It's normal to have lots of questions when you start to explore hair growth treatment options. Most people don't think about these products until they really need to.
Here are a few of the most common "Rogaine, what is it used for?" questions we see.
This question is a two-parter. First, it's important to note
that Rogaine and minoxidil don't cure hair loss. They can treat
hair loss actively, and the benefits start to go away when most
individuals stop using the product.
Second, the
benefits show up at different rates for different people. The
speed at which your hair grows indicates how fast you can expect
results. Generally speaking, you're looking at a period of two
months to four months for benefits to start showing up.
So, what is rogaine used for?
Rogaine isn't necessarily
used for any particular condition. Minoxidil-based products
might reduce symptoms of male pattern baldness and other types
of hair loss, but there are no guarantees.
A medical
professional is the best person to fill you in on what might
work for your situation and why. That said, thousands of people
have been happy with the results they've seen in Rogaine when
treating hair loss.
It's important to ask your doctor
"what is rogaine for" when it comes to your particular
situation.
A lot of people imagine that dumping more Rogaine, minoxidil, or
finasteride onto the problem area will spur more hair growth.
This is not true. In fact, doing so could lead to more negative
side effects.
Your hair growth cycle needs a little
time to get rebooted, and the treatment protocols listed for
certain products are always the safest and most effective.
It's easy to feel discouraged about your prospects for regrowth.
It's important to note that many people have seen serious
regrowth after using Rogaine. It takes time, but the application
of minoxidil can kickstart your growth cycle and produce a thick
head of hair.
There's a gradient of different outcomes,
with some people showing no results. Other people see that their
hair comes back fuller than it's been in a number of years. As
you keep applying the substance with the appropriate dosage,
your follicles could keep getting thicker and healthier.
In
order for this to occur, the individual needs to keep up with
the application of their Rogaine treatment with regularity.
Remember that stopping treatment typically offsets the benefits,
and people start to see hair loss again within 12 months in most
instances.
Your Doctor Knows Best. Make sure you talk with
your doctor about expectations, though. Different conditions and
circumstances lead to different results. You might have a better
or worse prognosis.
One key factor is where your hair loss
is in its progression. For example, those who lost hair
completely might be less likely to see a total recovery. If
you're still in the process of losing hair, your odds of
regrowth are better.
Rogaine for men's hair loss treatment
is dependent upon numerous factors that your doctor can explain
in more detail.
The final thing most men wonder is whether or not this product
will do them any harm. Rogaine is never expected to do any harm
to the user, and millions of people use the product each year
without any negative side effects.
Some negative side
effects can occur if you use Rogaine improperly or if your body
responds negatively to it. This is why it's so important to get
the opinion of a doctor in advance of Rogaine's use.
Some
of those symptoms could include:
· Scalp
irritation
· Excess hair growth in unwanted areas
·
Weight gain, nausea
· Confusion
· Chest
pain
· Increased heart rate.
Those
symptoms are uncommon, but they have occurred in other
individuals. Another symptom that some people report is a shift
in the colour or feeling of their hair after a long period of
use.
It's worth noting that Rogaine isn't believed to
cure hair loss in any way. It's a solution that works for some
people and serves to regrow hair while the person continues
taking it. Hair loss will return for most people after the
treatment stops, so Rogaine typically doesn't have a permanent
effect of any kind.
So, we can say that Rogaine might
be good for hair loss over a finite period of time. It might not
do anything for some people. Over the long haul, though, the
natural growth of your hair will start to diminish when you stop
taking the treatment.
Another aspect here is the
cause of hair loss. Rogaine might not help someone who's
experiencing hair loss from cancer treatment, for example.
This article is written for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information provided in the articles cannot and should not replace advice from a healthcare professional. Talk to your healthcare provider about any physical or mental health concerns or the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.
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