Hair loss is treated pretty casually among men until it starts becoming too noticeable. The arbitrary beauty standards do not pressure men as much, which could be why initial hair loss may fly under the radar, but today, the emphasis on societal male beauty standards has led to more people looking into it. This type of hair loss keeps progressing in the background until you start noticing more hair on your pillow or in the shower. What can start as a very subtle receding hairline can quickly progress into a more obvious pattern. This is called androgenic alopecia and is more commonly known as male pattern baldness among most people.
Male pattern baldness is a very common form of hair loss in men, which starts affecting them right from their teenage years. As the name suggests, the hair loss follows a typical pattern. The hair at the crown starts thinning, and the person’s hairline keeps moving further back on the head. At present, there are roughly about 50 million men in the United States who are going through male pattern baldness.
Today, minoxidil has earned its reputation as the most commonly recommended treatment option. Minoxidil for male pattern baldness has gained a lot of momentum over the years and is one of the few hair loss therapies that have been approved by major regulatory bodies. Tons of research has been done on minoxidil, along with real-life examples of its success in gaining back lost hair.
As effective as minoxidil is, there are few things like its benefits, side effects, and treatment options that you should be aware of before making an informed decision. This article will break down the science of minoxidil for you and what products in the market are proving to be effective treatment options.
Best Seller
-
Rogaine Men’s 5% Minoxidil Foam for Hair Regrowth (Male)
Hair Care Price range: $30.00 through $50.00 -
Rogaine Women’s 5% Minoxidil Foam for Hair Regrowth (Female)
Hair Care Price range: $30.00 through $57.00 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Understanding male pattern baldness
Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is when an individual’s hair starts thinning at the crown and near the hairline. Two of the most common drivers of male pattern baldness are genetics and hormones, especially dihydrotestosterone, also termed DHT. There are factors like environmental stress and aging too, but genetics and hormones can tip the scale for the person. DHT, which is a byproduct of testosterone, can weaken the hair follicles by binding to them. DHT binds itself to androgen receptors present in hair follicles. When this DHT level increases, the hair follicles start to shrink, and shrinking follicles produce thinner and shorter hair.
Male pattern baldness is a very common condition that affects millions of men worldwide. In fact, it is more commonly seen in Caucasian men than in other nationalities. Because of the high prevalence of it, treatments like minoxidil for male pattern baldness have gained huge momentum. Let’s look at this androgenetic alopecia treatment option and understand what minoxidil does.
What is Minoxidil and How does it work?
Minoxidil is a vasodilator which was originally formulated to treat blood pressure, but medical professionals noticed an interesting phenomenon happening. The people being tested started reporting seeing extra hair growth. Since then, minoxidil has been used heavily for the treatment of hair loss. Today, topical minoxidal for hair loss is a very common treatment option.Â
Using minoxidil for male pattern baldness is a fairly easy task. Minoxidil comes in 5% and 10% solutions and 5% foams as well. For instance, Rogaine Men’s 5% minoxidil foam is a very popular product used by many. When it’s applied to the scalp, it flushes more blood towards the hair follicles, which in turn leads to better blood circulation around the follicles. Good blood circulation is able to provide the follicles with more oxygen and nutrients and extend the growth phase of hair.Â
Our hair has a growth cycle in which the hair growth stage is called the anagen phase. Minoxidil for male pattern baldness helps in extending this anagen phase, which usually stops after a point. As we have mentioned before, hair follicles can shrink due to a multitude of reasons, this shrinking then leads to follicle miniaturization, which altogether makes the follicle inactive and unable to grow hair. Minoxidil for male pattern baldness is a key element here, which helps in enlarging these miniaturized follicles.Â
The 5% foams, which have a higher concentration of minoxidil in those products, are said to work better for men than the 2% concentration products and produce longer and thicker hair in men.
Minoxidil: #1 Choice for Men
Minoxidil is highly recommended as one of the best and most effective treatments for receding hairlines and hair thinning due to its non-invasive approach. Using minoxidil for male pattern baldness at home is a very easy process and doesn’t even need a prescription most of the times. As mentioned, it slows down hair loss and thinning and helps in growing back thicker and longer hair.
Although one should be aware that at the start of the process, you may see your hair fall more than usual. Do not panic if that happens. Think of it this way, the minoxidil is just flushing out older hair out of the follicles and is making space for new growth. Using it consistently, though, for 2-4 months will help greatly in seeing some noticeable difference. After using it for about 12 months, you will be able to see some real difference. The outcomes will differ for different people, but all-in-all, there will be huge differences.
You should keep in mind that using minoxidil for male pattern baldness will not necessarily cure or get rid of your baldness. What it’s going to do is slow down the progression of hair fall and help in opening up follicles and regrowing hair. The person has to use it regularly, and they will be able to see a good amount of hair thickening in the crown and frontal regions of the scalp.Â
Sometimes people also use other products like finasteride, which helps in blocking DHT, along with using minoxidil for male pattern baldness.Â
Rogaine Men’s 5% minoxidil foam is a popular product and is very easy to apply in any area that needs minoxidil for male pattern baldness the most.
Rogaine 5% foam benefits
As mentioned, when you start using any minoxidil for male pattern baldness, you will see a little flushing. The Rogaine 5% foam has become a kind of benchmark in the hair care industry. There are a few benefits of the Rogaine 5% foam that we will have a look at.
- Easy to use
The Rogaine foam dries off very quickly and can be used on wet or dry hair. The person doesn’t have to constantly time their application and can apply the foam any time they remember.
- Easy on the scalp
Medical professionals report that many men use the foam rather than the solution since the foam doesn’t irritate the scalp as much as some other solutions might.
- Evidence-based
The biggest advantage under minoxidil’s belt is how much it has been studied. There have been countless studies done on the efficacy of minoxidil. For instance, a study found around 50%-60% of men found the 5% minoxidil for male pattern baldness as effective. Another study found that it was very effective in reducing spot baldness on a man’s head, and 67% of men found that those bald spots got smaller after 4 months of consistent use.
- Improves scalp health
You must be wondering what a vasodilator is. A vasodilator widens blood vessels by relaxing vascular smooth muscles. This gives way for blood to flow more smoothly and reduces the blood pressure. Because of the fact that it improves blood flow, it increases how much oxygen and nutrients our scalps get. That in turn makes our scalps very healthy.
Final thoughts
Hair loss can really end up negatively impacting a person’s confidence, their self-image, and overall well-being, but do remember that it doesn’t have to be a losing battle. If you’re thinking of going for minoxidil for male pattern baldness, it’s good to start early since your follicles won’t shrink as much at an early age. Hair regrowth for men is a very long and arduous journey that one goes through, and maybe its results depend on the individual, but minoxidil’s proven reliability makes it a top choice for many men and women. Using minoxidil for male pattern baldness can significantly improve a man’s appearance and, consequently, their self-confidence.
While minoxidil is a top choice for balding spots and the best treatment for receding hairline, you should always consult a dermatologist or physician if you notice any severe irritation, burning, or any other unusual symptoms. With the right approach and correct products like the Rogaine 5% foam, minoxidil is your best friend in this journey, and we wish you all the best and safe travels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stop using minoxidil after my hair has grown?
Unfortunately no. Minoxidil is a product that has to be used regularly. If you stop using it after seeing some difference, you may start falling again after a while. So, it’s best to stick to it.
Can minoxidil regrow my hair if I have a completely bald scalp?
Minoxidil is typically used on a scalp which has hair follicles that are still active but just a little weak. If the scalp has been bald for a while, then the follicles may have gone dormant or completely inactive. Unfortunately, minoxidil won’t be able to work here.
What should I do if I miss a dose of minoxidil?
Missing a singular application dose won’t completely halt your hair regrowth process, nor will it affect your progress. Men are advised to apply minoxidil twice a day. If you end up missing one application, that’s fine. But missing more and more applications can definitely affect your progress.
Should I apply more doses of minoxidil to see faster results?
Using more than the recommended amount of minoxidil won’t help at all. You’d be doing more harm than good. Using more product than necessary can actually increase the risk of side effects, so it’s advisable and better to stick to the typical dosage amounts.
