How long does minoxidil take to work?

Minoxidil is a medication that helps treat hair loss. Its original use was for treating high blood pressure, and doctors still sometimes prescribe it for this condition. But it is also well-known for its use to slow hair loss under the brand name Rogaine.

Minoxidil is a vasodilator and an antihypertensive. This means it works by dilating blood vessels, which helps reduce blood pressure and stimulate hair growth by dilating the blood vessels in hair follicles.

Minoxidil comes in oral and topical forms. The oral form is typical for treating high blood pressure. The topical form, which comes as a liquid to apply to the scalp, is used to treat hair loss.

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article uses the terms “women,” “men,” or both when discussing people assigned female or male at birth to reflect language that appears in source materials. 

While gender is solely about how you identify yourself, independent of your physical body, you may need to consider how your personal circumstances will affect diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment. Learn more about the difference between sex and gender here.

How long does it take?

Minoxidil gets to work right away, but you’ll likely start seeing results after about 8 weeks of use. Most people using topical minoxidil begin experiencing the best results after 4 months of use.

Topical minoxidil for hair loss comes in liquid or foam that you apply directly on the scalp about twice a day. It comes in 2% and 5% solutions.

The dosage of topical minoxidil is as follows:

Doctors also prescribe minoxidil off-label to treat conditions like:

• alopecia areata
• scarring alopecia
• hair shaft disorders

People may also use it to encourage hair growth in other areas like the eyebrows and beard.

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What to expect when applying minoxidil 

You may not experience visible results during the first few days and weeks of use. But after 2–4 months, you can start seeing results. These include:

• hair regrowth 
• reduction of areas with hair loss
• Increased hair density

Topical minoxidil can cause side effects, such as:

• itching of the scalp
• scaling and flaking
• burning
• irritation
• dryness

Be sure to apply the medication only to the affected areas. If you miss a dose, wait until it’s time for your next dose — don’t apply double the dose when you skip one.

Minoxidil can also lead to more serious symptoms, such as swelling, chest pain, and a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia). If you experience any of these symptoms, talk with your healthcare professional as soon as possible. 

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Factors that can affect hair growth

Many factors can play a role in hair growth and loss. These include:

• Genetics: Hair loss can be hereditary for both males and females. It’s mainly due to something known as “the baldness gene.”
• Stress: Long-lasting stress can impair the hair growth cycle, leading to hair loss
• Age: Hair growth slows with age. Hair also starts to thin and lose its color.
• Medications: Some drugs can cause hair loss as a side effect. Some of these medications include chemotherapy drugs, birth control pills, anticonvulsants, and steroids.

• Pregnancy: People experience more hair shedding after giving birth. However, experts don’t consider this to be “hair loss.” People usually regain their hair fullness after 1 year of giving birth.
• Hairstyles: Regularly wearing tight hairstyles that pull the hair back can lead to permanent hair loss.
• Health conditions: Psoriasis, alopecia, and thyroid disease can lead to hair loss.

Other causes of hair loss include hormonal imbalance, scalp infections, nutrient deficiency, sexually transmitted infections, and poisoning.

Summary

Minoxidil is a medication that doctors initially used to treat high blood pressure. Now, people commonly use topical minoxidil to help treat hair loss. 

Minoxidil is a vasodilator and can stimulate hair growth by dilating the blood vessels in hair follicles.

You should apply topical minoxidil to the affected areas of the scalp up to twice a day. Most people using topical minoxidil can experience visible results after 8 weeks of use. For others, it can take a little longer.

Using topical minoxidil can have side effects, such as irritation, flaking, and itching.

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