Minoxidil: Understanding Hair Growth & Its History

Regaine was originally formulated for hypertension and is now used by millions to reverse hair loss and stimulate hair growth. Stress to the body caused by a major illness or surgery can cause a temporary loss of hair. In those days it was packaged with the warning that it may cause the growth and darkening of fine body hairs. Originally, Minoxidil was introduced to the market as "Loniten" in the contour of an oral medication. The primary function of Loniten was as a blood pressure treatment; it was prescribed and then individuals whose blood pressure was not manageable by the use of other blood pressure medications. Loniten was reputed for its capacity to lower the blood pressure of a subject within half an hour to be ingested. This was accomplished by causing the dilation of the blood vessels to ensure that blood was then better able to flow throughout your body, and was so effective it is still even today prescribed to people with difficulty managing blood pressure. However, a curious side effect was soon noticed, hypertrichosis, patients began to report the growth of additional hair. Following this enlightening discovery, the Upjohn Corporation soon reformulated the treatment and began testing. The FDA approval of the new formulation, then referred to as Regaine, as a "hair loss treatment" soon followed and regaine was born. Minoxidil is available as an easy to use extra strong 5% topical solution that gets the active ingredient directly to the area where it is needed and takes very little time to apply. In addition, an oral pill is taken as 2 capsules daily. Male pattern balding is progressive, runs in families, and has now thus far resisted virtually all attempts to obtain a cure. But all is not coming up roses with minoxidil. Despite good results within the section of hair re-growth the high concentration of alcohol coupled with the mild drying affect of minoxidil itself has made my scalp very dry, resulting in a problem with dandruff. This has created another issue which requires constant attention. Regaine works best in younger men ages 18 to 41. One study, carried out over the course of 32 weeks, showed that healthy men in this age group who applied minoxidil as directed saw a typical increase in hair count of 32 hairs per centimeter squared as opposed to an increase of just five hairs per centimeter squared in men who had been given a placebo. The treatment is less effective in large areas of baldness. Additionally, it is only useful for treatment of vertex or central balding. Does minoxidil work for people who are afflicted with high blood pressure? There are not any studies to prove that minoxidil works better as a topical solution or as a supplement. Minoxidil happens to be proved to be effective in hair loss no matter just what form it was in. The point is that regaine does work for thinning hair, regardless of what form it comes down in.