The Use of Minoxidil in the Treatment of Male and Female Androgenetic Alopecia: A Story of More Than 30 Years

    Mauro Barbareschi
    TLDR Minoxidil effectively stimulates hair growth in androgenetic alopecia.
    Minoxidil had been used for over 30 years as a hair growth stimulator, although its precise mechanism was not fully understood. It was known to shorten the telogen phase, accelerate the telogen-exogen phase, and induce premature entry of resting hair follicles into the anagen phase, while also increasing hair follicle size. Scientific literature confirmed the efficacy of topically applied minoxidil in humans, with patients showing a significant increase in non-vellus hair count. Minoxidil formulations with low concentrations of propylene glycol were developed for better cosmetic acceptance and dermatological safety. Overall, minoxidil remained a key treatment for androgenetic alopecia.
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      community Why don't Minoxidil regenerated hairs become terminal on the head?

      in Minoxidil  102 upvotes 2 weeks ago
      Minoxidil helps hair growth by increasing blood flow and prolonging the growth phase, but it doesn't address the root cause of hair loss, such as DHT sensitivity. Finasteride can help maintain some gains by blocking DHT, but stopping Minoxidil often leads to hair loss because the new hairs are dependent on it.

      community How does hair loss and recovery work?

      in Chat  12 upvotes 7 months ago
      Hair loss varies due to genetic sensitivity to DHT and other factors. Treatments discussed include finasteride, minoxidil, RU58841, and microneedling.

      community Hair greed made me switch to Dut too early

      in Chat  42 upvotes 1 month ago
      The user switched from finasteride to dutasteride for hair loss but faced increased shedding and anxiety, regretting not staying with finasteride longer. Other users shared mixed experiences, advising patience with dutasteride, as it may take up to a year to show results.

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