Minoxidil Before and After: What To Expect After 6 Week Trial
Is your hair thinning out? Minoxidil can help.
If you have noticed your hair thinning or falling out as you have gotten older, you may be dealing with androgenic alopecia, also known as male or female pattern baldness.
Androgenic alopecia can cause the hair in certain parts of your head to significantly thin out. Male pattern baldness often causes a receding hairline and a bald spot in the center, top region of the head, whereas female pattern baldness typically causes thinning in the part of the hair.
If you suspect that you are dealing with pattern hair loss, minoxidil can potentially be a major help. Minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, is an FDA-approved, over-the-counter hair growth treatment that is applied topically to your hair and scalp.
In this post, we will walk you through what to expect during and after your first six weeks using minoxidil. In addition, we’ll discuss some of the potential issues you might run into when using minoxidil, as well as how to deal with these issues by giving your hair the optimal care it needs to thrive.
Reasons Why Your Hair Might Be Thinning Out
As you get older, your body begins producing more of an androgen (a male sex hormone) called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT is found in higher amounts in males but is also present in the female body. During puberty, DHT helps your body make the transition towards physical maturity, accounting for the bodily changes you experience in your teens. However, as you age, DHT can start to work against you when it comes to keeping your hair full, healthy, and long.
Excess production of DHT as you age can start to thin out your hair in certain areas. In addition, the process of aging often does no favors for your hair as is.
As you get older, your body can undergo more of what is known as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs in your body due to too much free radical activity. Free radicals are molecules in your body that have unpaired electrons. These molecules seek out electrons from within your healthy cells, eventually causing reactions that negatively affect the production of important proteins needed for your hair and skin.
In your skin, this means reduced production of collagen and elastin, proteins that keep your skin strong, flexible, and able to hold its shape. This lack of sufficient collagen and elastin can lead to wrinkles and fine lines.
For your hair, oxidative stress can lead to reduced production of the protein keratin, which gives your hair its strength and durability. Excess free radical activity in your body can also thin your hair and make it turn gray.
One of the best ways to balance out the impact of oxidative stress on your hair is to supply your body with enough antioxidants. Antioxidants work against free radical activity in your body, meaning that your hair will be able to continue producing enough of the proteins it needs to stay healthy and strong. We’ll talk more about antioxidants in other posts!
How Minoxidil Can Help Prevent Hair Loss
Some of the aspects of how minoxidil works to prevent hair thinning and hair loss are still unknown, but it was originally created to be a medicine for treating high blood pressure. Its impact on hair growth was essentially discovered by accident, though hair restoration is what minoxidil is best known for.
The primary explanation for why minoxidil helps to prevent hair loss is that it increases blood flow, allowing your hair to get more of what it needs to grow better. Your hair needs enough oxygen, blood, and nutrients to stay healthy and keep growing, and minoxidil works to keep it supplied with these essentials.
Minoxidil often provides significant results for users of the treatment. However, most people who see results with minoxidil are seeing a decrease in hair loss rather than a significant amount of hair regrowth. This means that it is better to start using minoxidil to treat hair loss, but not necessarily expecting an immediate, dramatic return to long, fast-growing hair.
While some users of minoxidil may experience more hair regrowth than others, what the treatment is best known for is preventing further hair loss.
What to Expect After 6 Weeks Using Minoxidil
The first few weeks of using minoxidil may not yield noticeable results. It usually takes a few months (about three) to start seeing a major change in your hair. However, some users of minoxidil have noticed results earlier than others.
The key when using minoxidil, as with any other hair treatment, is patience. After several months of consistent use, minoxidil can make a big difference in the fullness of your hair.
Remember, not everyone who uses minoxidil experiences the same level of results.
Some users of the treatment will see hair regrowth, whereas others may only experience a reduction in overall thinning and hair loss. Either level of results is definitely a victory, and your success can be increased by pairing minoxidil with a high-quality hair growth shampoo and conditioner that is packed with ingredients conducive to your hair’s health and ability to grow.
Potential Side Effects of Minoxidil
One of the most common side effects that users of minoxidil experience is irritation and dryness of the scalp. This side effect is generally harmless, but it can definitely be uncomfortable and make you want to stop your treatment.
If your scalp gets dry and irritated while using minoxidil, don’t let it stop you from continuing your treatment. There are ways to keep your hair and scalp moisturized and nourished to reduce the irritation and dryness that you may experience while using minoxidil.
How to Get the Most Out of Minoxidil
One of the best ways to deal with the dryness and irritation caused by minoxidil is to use a shampoo and conditioner that contains argan oil. Argan oil can help to provide your hair with the moisture it needs to keep from drying out.
We paired argan oil with multiple growth-promoting ingredients that can stimulate your follicles and provide your hair with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and keep growing.
When you use minoxidil, don’t use it alone – combine it with groMD’s Shampoo & Conditioner and Follicle Activator Spray to keep dryness and irritation at bay and maximize the benefits for your hair.
Minoxidil on its own can help prevent hair loss and, for some, can even lead to regrowth. However, it can be much more effective when paired with growth-promoting ingredients that make your hair care regimen complete.
Overall, minoxidil is one of the most promising hair loss treatments available. It is easy to access, affordable, and FDA-approved, and can make a great addition to your anti hair-loss routine.
It may not yield significant results in just a few weeks, but over a longer period of time it can make a major difference in your hair’s health and length. Just remember to keep your hair and scalp hydrated and supplied with plenty of antioxidants by using groMD’s shampoo, conditioner and follicle activator spray alongside minoxidil.
With these powerful tools combined, you are well on your way to faster-growing, healthier hair.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/qa/what-is-androgenic-alopecia