The modern lifestyle, food, social life, and workload have negatively impacted many people’s health. One such effect is hair loss, which is common in men. Several over-the-counter products are available to help with the problem, but they may not be suitable for everyone.
Hair products contain varying chemical compositions that may not be suitable for all hair types and textures. Minoxidil 5% is used to treat hair loss and baldness. This article will explain how it works, as well as different minoxidil 5% benefits.
But first, let’s look at the various hair issues that men face today.
What Hair Problems Do Men Face Today?
1. Male Pattern Baldness
Male pattern baldness, also called androgenic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss in men. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), more than half of all men over the age of 50 will experience some degree of male pattern baldness.
Male pattern baldness is caused primarily by genetics or a family history of baldness. According to research, it has been linked to male hormones known as androgens.
2. Telogen Effluvium
Excessive hair shedding can occur about 2 to 3 months after a shock to the system or a stressful event. An accident, surgery, illness, drastic weight loss, or psychological stress can all cause hair loss. Hair usually regrows within 2 to 6 months.
3. Alopecia Areata
This condition causes your immune system to attack healthy hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. Hair usually falls out in small patches on your head, but it can also affect other body parts. You may also notice a bald spot in your beard, eyelashes, or brows. The hair may or may not regrow.
4. Hair Thinning
Thin hair and balding are not the same. Acute hair thinning can result in baldness. Hair thinning is caused by a decrease in the thickness of the shaft or the number of hairs, but this does not always indicate baldness. However, if you ignore the early signs of hair thinning, you may develop baldness.
5. Dandruff
Dandruff is similar to Seborrheic Dermatitis (SD), which causes itchy, flaky skin on the scalp. It is so widespread that it affects roughly half of the world’s adult population.
The majority of people concentrate on the flakes. Itching, on the other hand, is possibly the most unpleasant side effect. Many factors can contribute to the development of dandruff, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of your itchy, flaky scalp. Here are a few possible suspects:
- Sebaceous gland secretions
- Colonization of fungi on the skin’s surface
- Over shampooing and overdrying the scalp may cause skin cells to accumulate and cause flakes and itching.
- Overbrushing the head, causing too much friction with the sensitive scalp skin
What is Minoxidil?
Minoxidil is a popular hair loss and hair regrowth treatment for men with male pattern baldness. It comes as a hair growth serum or a foam and is applied directly to the areas of your scalp where you have noticeable hair loss. Minoxidil topical solution promotes hair growth and slows the onset of baldness.
It works as a vasodilator, widening blood vessels and opening potassium channels. This allows more oxygen, blood, and nutrients to reach the follicle, resulting in faster growth. You can buy minoxidil 5% for men online or at a drugstore nearby. Hair tonics containing 5% minoxidil act as hair growth serums which you can topically apply on affected areas of the scalp.
How does Minoxidil Work?
Minoxidil’s topical (directly on the scalp) application helps widen the blood vessel, further improving blood flow.
Furthermore, it improves the nutrient and oxygen supply to the follicles, promoting growth. However, there is no exact mechanism or validation of its function, but it aids in the transition of hair follicles from the resting phase, or telogen, to the growth phase or anagen.
Evidence suggests that minoxidil’s application helps lengthen the anagen phase, resulting in thicker or longer hair.
Benefits of Using Minoxidil
Let’s check how minoxidil’s application benefits:
1. Visible Increase in Hair Growth
Minoxidil 5% solution stimulates the scalp and activates dormant follicles. This boosts the process of hair growth in places where there is scanty growth. When used consistently, Minoxidil helps cover bald patches by improving hair growth, density, and thickness.
2. Increases Hair Density
Minoxidil not only promotes hair growth but also increases hair density. It means that using minoxidil for hair growth makes your hair fuller and healthier.
3. Minoxidil for Hair Loss
Minoxidil has been shown in studies to help awaken dormant hair follicles. It can be used as a gel, foam, or solution. The skin absorbs approximately 2% of the medicine in a topical application (involving a low drug concentration). It increases the rate and thickness of hair growth.
4. Suits Most Hair Types
Minoxidil is safe for all hair types in general. People with any type of natural hair should not face any major problems while applying minoxidil. However, those with colored hair may experience mild irritation after using minoxidil.
Why Use Minoxidil 5% Over Minoxidil?
A study compared the effects of 5% minoxidil to 2% minoxidil in men with male pattern baldness. It discovered that participants who used 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil experienced faster results and 45 percent more hair regrowth over the course of 48 weeks.
The study’s researchers also discovered that participants who used the 5% topical minoxidil had improved “psychosocial perceptions” of hair loss.
A group of dermatologists examined the effects of topical minoxidil 5% solution on more than 900 men with androgenetic alopecia in a 2004 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (a medical term for male pattern baldness).
At the end of the 12-month study, they discovered that 62% of the men had a smaller area of skin affected by hair loss than at the start.
A different study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2007, compared the effects of topical minoxidil 5% solution to placebo over the course of 16 weeks of treatment.
After 16 weeks, men who used 5% minoxidil had a statistically significant increase in hair growth when compared to men who used a non-therapeutic placebo.
Summing up
Minoxidil topical solution is a treatment for hair loss in men. When a person uses this as a serum or foam, it can be up to 60% effective in preventing hair loss and encouraging new hair growth.
Minoxidil begins to work immediately but does not produce noticeable results for three to six months. After six months, you should notice some progress, with “final” results usually visible after about a year of continuous use.
Meanwhile, you may notice that your hair shedding has increased slightly. This is a common, normal side effect of minoxidil that will improve as your hair enters the anagen phase of its growth cycle.
A prescription is not required for topical minoxidil. If you have any further concerns about using minoxidil 5% solution for hair loss treatment, you should consult with your hair doctor.
