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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