TLDR Minoxidil, a medicine initially for high blood pressure, can stimulate hair growth and is promising for treating hair loss, but it may cause side effects like itching and dizziness.
The use of minoxidil, a drug originally used to treat hypertension, has been explored for its potential in treating hair loss conditions. Minoxidil has a vasodilatory effect and can stimulate the onset and prolongation of the anagen phase of hair growth. It is available in various forms for topical or oral treatment. Side effects are present in 15-20% of patients but are generally tolerable. Common side effects of topical use include itching, erythema, and scaling, while oral use may cause hypertrichosis of the facial skin, dizziness, and swelling of the lower limbs. Minoxidil shows promise in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, and alopecia areata.
March 2023 in “International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology” Various medicinal plants like Polygonum multiflorum, Red ginseng extract, and Zizyphus jujuba can potentially treat hair loss, offering benefits like low cost and multiple ways of working. Other effective natural substances include Pygeum africanum, Seneroa, Urtica dioica, and more.
January 2023 in “Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft” Early diagnosis and personalized treatment are crucial for managing hair loss in children.
1 citations,
October 2022 in “PubMed” Patients generally have positive attitudes towards using topical Minoxidil for hair loss treatment.
1 citations,
October 2020 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Using minoxidil and tofacitinib together can effectively treat severe hair loss.
April 2019 in “Zagazig university medical journal” 
1 citations,
February 2019 in “PubMed” Minoxidil is effective in treating various types of hair loss and can improve quality of life, with combination therapies showing increased effectiveness.
32 citations,
January 2019 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” Minoxidil helps treat eyebrow thinning, monilethrix, early hair loss, and shortens chemo-related hair loss.
14 citations,
January 2015 in “Skin appendage disorders” Minoxidil treatment for hair loss can cause scalp allergy and severe hair loss.
