By far, the most popular medical treatment available for
hair loss is Minoxidil. There are various companies, which
produce Minoxidil, called Generic Minoxidil. The idea
of using Minoxidil topically to grow hair was discovered
by chance. Minoxidil was originally developed to treat
hypertension, but patients taking Minoxidil started growing
unwanted hair. This side effect led to the testing of
using topical Minoxidil to grow hair on balding sites.
Both males and females may use generic Minoxidil. Generic
Minoxidil comes in two concentrations, mainly 2% and 5%.
It is recommended that males use Generic Minoxidil 5%
whilst females use Generic Minoxidil 2%.
Minoxidil works best on the crown. Why Minoxidil works
remains a mystery. Generic Minoxidil is a vasodilator
and may increase the blood supply to the follicles. Minoxidil
has to be applied twice a day to the affected area for
at lest six months. Since it is applied locally, Generic
Minoxidil is relatively safe as negligible amounts are
absorbed in the bloodstream.
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In the late eighties, a pharmaceutical company in the
United States, Upjohn, today known as Pharmacia &
Upjohn developed minoxidil hair loss lotion. Originally
minoxidil was developed as a tablet for high blood pressure.
Due to a curious side effect whereby patients using minoxidil
tablets grew body hair, Upjohn realized that there may
be some benefit for persons suffering from hair loss.
Clinical trials were carried out and within a few years,
minoxidil was approved by the FDA as the first treatment
for hair loss. Originally minoxidil was developed as a
2% concentration but as years went by a minoxidil 5% was
developed and later on, a minoxidil 5% extra strength.
Today minoxidil is recognized as the No.1 hair loss treatment
world wide.
Once the patent for minoxidil expired, various companies
started manufacturing generic minoxidil. Most companies
produce the minoxidil 2% concentration whilst some twenty-five
companies produce the minoxidil 5% concentration. Generic
minoxidil in now sold world wide especially over the internet.
Generic minoxidil also includes minoxidil with additives.
Experts believe that when adding certain products to minoxidil,
the result may be more effective in certain patients.
For example one may order minoxidil with azelaic acid
or minoxidil with progesterone. Other additives include
minoxidil with tretinoin, minoxidil with finasteride and
minoxidil with nicotinate. The effectiveness of such additives
to minoxidil is said to produce better results. Minoxidil
is also produced in concentrations ranging from minoxidil
2% to minoxidil 6 %. However one or two companies have
managed to mix a minoxidil 12.5% concentration. This mix
is extremely difficult to achieve especially so since
even the minoxidil 6% could cause precipitation.
Minoxidil or generic minoxidil is applied twice daily
to the effected area of the scalp. Some minoxidil products
are produced in spray form with the result that the minoxidil
is mainly wasted on the hair rather than on the scalp.
Applied correctly to the scalp minoxidil would stop hair
loss within six weeks. After ten weeks of continued use
minoxidil will start to thicken the hair and may continue
to do so up to the sixth month. After six months minoxidil
should not be stopped as otherwise hair loss will resume
within a further two months. Using minoxidil continuously
will delay baldness considerably. Generic minoxidil has
in some cases given better results than the straight forward
minoxidil 5% hair loss lotion. Persons suffering from
dandruff or scaly scalp would do well to use minoxidil
with azelaic acid. Minoxidil's side effects are minimum
although the product leaflet of minoxidil lists various
side effects, (but this is so even with the mildest of
medicines). The main side effects of minoxidil or generic
minoxidil are scaly scalp or allergy. Minoxidil is normally
produced in a 60ml bottle which would last one month (30
days). The dosage of minoxidil is 1ml twice daily. Minoxidil
should not be refrigerated but stored in a dark place
at room temperature. Minoxidil is highly inflammable and
should be kept out of reach of children. Both minoxidil
2% and minoxidil 5% are OTC's (over the counter) products,
however any generic minoxidil using additives should be
mixed by a pharmacist under doctor's prescription. Although
another medicine for hair loss has been developed in recent
years, minoxidil still remains the safest and most popular
treatment for hair loss.
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