Rogaine for Hair Loss: How It Works, Risks and Alternatives

1. How it works
2. For men
3. For women
4. Before and after
5. Side effects
6. How to use
7. Alternatives
8. Products & prices
9. Conclusion

Rogaine is one of the most popular medications for treating hair loss, which is clinically proven to help regrow hair for both men and women. It’s also incredibly straightforward to use!

Rogaine’s secret weapon is its active ingredient, minoxidil, which helps improve blood flow and circulation to your hair follicles. The result? Stronger, healthier-looking hair that stays on your scalp for longer.

But it is not a miracle drug. Like any medicine, it has limitations. You must take it regularly to maintain results; if you stop treatment, your hair will fall out again.

Furthermore, it may only be effective with specific hair loss and has certain side effects which you must consider.

But Rogaine also has so much potential; you must know all the facts to make an informed decision on your haircare. Our in-depth article will help you find all the answers to your questions.

What is Rogaine?

Rogaine is a vasodilator medication, which essentially means it opens blood vessels up, improving circulation.

When applied on the scalp, an increased blood flow ensures hair follicles receive all the nourishment required to sustain hair regrowth.

Its active ingredient is minoxidil. It’s thought that it increases the size of the hair follicle and extends the growth phase of hair strands during the hair growth cycle.

For these two reasons, Rogaine is often the perfect package to reverse hereditary hair loss.

Rogaine for men

Research has shown that Rogaine can be an effective way to stimulate new hair growth in men suffering from hereditary hair loss.

A 2002 study showed that patients who used a 5% topical minoxidil reported clinically visible results; fuller hair, less hair shedding, and an overall increased hair count over the course of 48 weeks.

Rogaine for women

It can also promote hair regrowth for women, too. Two studies examined the effects of a 5% and 2% solution of minoxidil on hair and found they lead to fuller appearances in women suffering from female pattern hair loss.

That said, the treatment is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Rogaine before and after

How long does Rogaine take to work?

Generally, it takes about eight weeks of consistent use for patients to notice any results. At four months, hair loss should have stopped, with new hair growth developing.

When patients start a course of this treatment, they might become alarmed that they are losing more hair than usual. Don’t be alarmed – this is to be expected.

The active ingredient minoxidil speeds up the resting phase of the hair follicle. But minoxidil also extends the growth phase, leading to stronger, longer, thicker hair regrowth.

Who will see the most impressive results?

As with any cosmetic treatment, appearances do matter. No doubt you’re interested in who responds well to this medication.

Firstly, let’s talk about the condition and state of hair loss. Rogaine is an effective way to reverse hereditary hair loss, especially in specific areas at the back of the head and around the scalp vertex. It can also be effective in treating hair thinning in women.

Finally, Rogaine is most effective for people aged 40 and under. The closer you start treatment to when symptoms first appear, the better. If you’ve already lost all of your hair, it will not help you.

Who should avoid Rogaine?

As effective as this treatment can be, there are, of course, certain people who should not take it. These include people who may exhibit the following:

• Your scalp is itchy, inflamed, overly sensitive, or discolored.
• You’ve had an allergic reaction to minoxidil
• You’re experiencing sudden, patchy hair loss
• Your hair loss was a result of chemical products, treatments, excessive styling, or physical trauma
• Your hair loss results from alopecia areata (spot baldness), a hormone disorder, scarring, medication, or nutritional deficiency.
• You’re younger than 18 years of age
• If there’s no history of hereditary hair loss in your family

If in doubt, seek advice from your doctor, as they may recommend you try alternative hair loss treatments.

Rogaine side effects 

Rogaine is a safe, clinically proven medication for hair loss. Any potential side effects are considered low-risk and very easy to manage. They include:

• Irritation of the scalp
• Unwanted facial hair growth
• Changes in hair color and texture
• Hair growth in unusual places like the forehead

You may shed more hair when you start a course of treatment – do not panic. This is perfectly normal, as affected follicles begin to push out older hair. This process clears space for brand new hair strands to grow.

Though rare, some people may have a more severe reaction to the medication. Seek medical attention if you develop a medical problem such as:

• Feeling dizzy or faint
• Develop an irregular heartbeat or heart disease
• Start to feel chest pain
• Lose weight with no explanation
• If feet or hands begin to swell

If the solution accidentally comes in contact with your eyes, you must rinse them immediately with cool tap water.

How to use Rogaine products?

Rogaine is a very straightforward hair loss medication to apply. But to get the most out of your treatment, consider the following tips:

1. Always refer to the patient information leaflet supplied and follow its guidelines carefully. The average dosage is half capful two times per day.
2. Only apply the solution to a dry scalp. About half a capful is the standard amount to use per session.
3. Allow the appropriate time for the foam to dry before you style your hair

Can I touch my hair after using Rogaine?

After you apply the solution, you must allow it to dry for at least 4 hours. Don’t wash, blow dry or cover your head during that time.

Because minoxidil is a medication known to stain clothing, it’s recommended you time your treatment at such a time that you avoid touching clothing, bed linens, towels, and other fabrics.

Do you have to wash your hair everyday when using Rogaine?

Once the solution has dried, you should wash your hair. If the medication stays on your scalp for too long, it may trigger unpleasant side effects, including scalp irritation, a burning sensation, or redness.

While you don’t have to wash your hair beforehand, your scalp must be dry and clean before application.

Can you sleep with Rogaine in your hair?

Yes, you can sleep as you usually would. That said, ensure the treatment has been washed off, as it can stain linens on contact.

What happens when your stop Rogaine?

Sadly, it is not a permanent solution for hair loss. If you stop, regrown hair will begin to fall out within 3 to 4 months. Only by continuing treatment will results stay.

Alternatives to Rogaine

Currently, there are only two FDA-approved medications to treat androgenetic alopecia; Finasteride and Minoxidil.

Finasteride (Propecia)

Finasteride can be an effective medication to combat hair loss. It works by blocking a hormone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which shrinks follicles to such a degree that they cannot grow new hair.

So how is finasteride different from minoxidil? Well, finasteride is primarily a preventative medication against hair loss.

Finasteride prevents testosterone from converting into DHT, dramatically reducing its presence in your body and subsequently preventing hair loss.

Despite their differences, both finasteride and minoxidil can be effective treatments. Some studies show you may even take both to increase hair recovery and prevent hair loss.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is clinically proven to increase blood flow to your scalp. This, in turn, provides more nourishment and support to your hair follicles, which produce stronger, healthier new hair.

Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine, though other hair growth products are similarly designed to achieve equally impressive results.

The only thing that distinguishes Rogaine from other drugs is the inactive ingredients that may be used in production.

Minoxidil can be especially useful when used in combination with a derma roller. These devices can increase your scalps’ ability to absorb minoxidil, leading to better overall results.

Rogaine price

Like any cosmetic medication, the price can vary depending on the type of treatment (foam, solution, etc.) and the store you buy it from.

For example, on Amazon, let’s take a quick look at two of the most popular products and their prices, the extra strength scalp foam and solution.

• A 3-month prescription of Rogaine Men Extra Strength scalp foam costs around £68.
• A 3-month supply of Rogaine Men Extra Strength scalp solution costs £63.

Product	Price	Size	Amazon reviews
Rogaine for Men foam	£ 22.90	73ml	4.2 based on 6702 Amazon reviews
Rogaine for Men solution	£ 23.90	60ml	4.0 based on 1981 Amazon reviews
Rogaine for Women foam	£ 24.50	73ml	4.2 based on 2217 Amazon reviews
Rogaine for Women solution	£ 24.90	60ml	3.9 based on 1448 Amazon reviews

When should you seek medical help?

Hair loss in and of itself can be challenging to face. And it can be a sign of an underlying condition. You should consult with your doctor and get their advice on treatments. If you show the following symptoms:

• A receding hairline
• Thinning hair
• Your hair part is widening
• Bald spots increase in size
• Losing hair from around your body, including facial and chest hair.

Although Rogaine is proven to regrow hair, it is not the only solution for you, as several other products can still prove more effective. Visiting your doctor for a proper diagnosis is therefore essential.

Patients using this medicine should see results within six months of continued use. You should refer your doctor for alternative therapies if you do not see any changes.

It also has some side effects that you must be aware of when using. If you begin to suffer from these, stop using the product and visit your doctor immediately. Minor side-effects include scalp irritation, burning, itchiness, or redness, to more extreme side-effects like chest pain, irregular heart rate, or hand and foot swelling.

Conclusion

The science doesn’t lie – Rogaine can be an effective treatment to help restore hair, but only for hereditary hair loss conditions, like male pattern baldness. Clinically visible results have inspired many doctors and haircare professionals to recommend Rogaine as the sole solution to their patient’s hair problems.

But depending on your situation, it may not be a helpful medication. Moreso, it is not a permanent solution to hair loss. It requires continuous use for you to maintain Rogaine hair growth, which over long periods can cost a small fortune. Moreover, the long-term side effects of rogaine use are still largely unknown. And as soon as you stop taking it, all of the recovered hair will fall out again.

You’ll be glad to know that a permanent solution to all hair loss woes does exist – a hair transplant. This simple operation sees a highly-skilled surgeon strategically transplant your own hair into balding areas, recreating fuller hair in an instant. The surgery is so innovative that it has a success rate of 90-95%.

Techniques like the industry-standard FUE2 ensure a seamless restoration of your hair, with quick recovery and natural-looking hair regrowth. Moreover, hair transplants are suitable for many hair types and various forms of hair loss in women and men.

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