Finding the right hair growth treatment can be a difficult challenge. Researching Nioxin and Rogaine can often lead to confusion — both seem to include the same ingredient and do the same thing. While these hair loss treatments are the same in a few important ways, Nioxin and Rogaine differ in other ways.
You might start by asking which is better, and if you think you settled on Nioxin, you may be Googling things like “Is Nioxin good for hair health?” and “Should I be worried about Nioxin shampoo side effects?”
You may not always get the most reliable answers from the internet, but you can always rely on us for the truth. Below, we’ve answered your questions in more detail so you can confidently choose the best product for hair loss.
Rogaine vs. Nioxin: Which is More Effective?
Does Nioxin contain minoxidil? Yes. Does Rogaine? Yes. Rogaine and Nioxin both make minoxidil products, but one is the original producer (Rogaine), while the other (Nioxin) began producing their version more recently. Nioxin makes products like shampoos, conditioners, deep conditioners and hair thinning kits. They also sell a 5% minoxidil treatment for hair loss in both liquid and foam forms.
Rogaine, on the other hand, just sells hair loss products. Rogaine was the first brand approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sell minoxidil as a topical hair loss product. Now, they sell two hair loss products — a serum and a foam, both meant to be used on the top of the scalp. While both medications have the same active ingredient (minoxidil), Nioxin does not claim to promote hair regrowth. This may be because there are almost no studies of Nioxin specifically to differentiate its claims from other generics. Rogaine, on the other hand, has been tested repeatedly to determine its effectiveness.
What Is Minoxidil?
Minoxidil is an active ingredient that was shown to be effective in treating hair loss way back in the 1980s. Initially, it was approved by the FDA for androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, as a 2% solution. Over time, 5% solution options became available as well. Now, minoxidil is used to treat a variety of types of hair loss, including:
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Androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness, a type of genetic hair loss)
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Alopecia areata (sudden hair loss)
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Baldness induced by chemotherapy
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Scarring alopecia
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There’s a catch, though. Although minoxidil has been shown in numerous clinical studies to combat several types of hair loss, it is only FDA-approved for one type — male pattern baldness. Though minoxidil’s exact mechanism of action isn’t yet known, researchers believe it works by increasing blood flow to the scalp, encouraging hair follicles to activate and stimulating hair growth. This also changes your hair growth cycle, extending the growth phase (anagen) and shortening the resting phase (telogen).
Do Nioxin and Rogaine Work?
Unfortunately, the question “Does Nioxin work,” has another complicated answer. While Nioxin has been proven to work, most of the study data supporting that claim is based on studies of minoxidil, many of which were performed using products not from Nioxin. Meanwhile, as we mentioned, Rogaine has been extensively studied for its effects on hair loss, and we can say that it’s effective for many men.
Numerous clinical trials have shown minoxidil itself is effective in improving male pattern baldness.
For example, one 2004 study studied minoxidil treatment in almost 1,000 men. Researchers found that minoxidil made the balding area smaller for most of the men in the study.
Another important finding is that different concentrations of minoxidil have different effectiveness. For example, researchers in one study found that a minoxidil 5% solution performed better in men with androgenetic alopecia than the 2% solution and led to quicker results. That said, how effective minoxidil is varies on a case-by-case basis. For example, minoxidil efficacy for pattern hair loss may differ depending on how you process certain enzymes, namely sulfotransferase.
Is There Any Difference?
So, is there really any difference between these two products? Probably not much — both are minoxidil topical treatments.
Both Nioxin and Rogaine offer two types of minoxidil options — a foam and a solution. It’s unclear if the foam or solution works better than the other. However, both are effective.
Nioxin also offers a variety of other products, including a line geared towards hair thinning. That being said, these products have a variety of ingredients that may still need more research to back up their claims.
Nioxin vs. Rogaine Dosage
Nioxin and Rogaine both offer 5% minoxidil products, and Rogaine also offers a 2% product. However, you may find other hair loss products with varying amounts of minoxidil. So just take a look, and remember that a 5% solution has been shown in some cases to be more effective than a 2% solution.
Rogaine vs Nioxin Side Effects
There’s insufficient research to say whether Nioxin minoxidil is safer or more dangerous than Rogaine minoxidil, but both side effects should generally be mild. Since Nioxin and Rogaine contain the same active ingredient, their side effects profiles are very similar.
The most common Rogaine and Nioxin side effects are skin irritations, including itchy scalp or scaliness.
If you have this side effect, consider using a lower dosage of minoxidil, like 2%, as it can still be effective but may cause less scalp irritation. Minoxidil allergies can occur, but they’re much less common. In this case, you should discontinue any minoxidil hair loss treatment and look for a different solution for hair loss.
Alternative Hair Loss Treatments
These two products are similar, but there are other types of hair loss products you might want to consider. Although minoxidil is proven effective, other hair loss remedy options like finasteride are also effective. Herbs and hair products like shampoo may also be popular, but most don’t have research to back their claims like minoxidil and finasteride do.
Finasteride
The FDA has approved finasteride for male pattern baldness. Finasteride is an oral medication that can significantly increase scalp coverage and male hair counts compared to scalp coverage and hair counts in those who do not take it. However, it’s important to note that finasteride is only available with a prescription, whereas Rogaine and Nioxin are over-the-counter hair loss products. You can also get finasteride and minoxidil together for double the power to fight hair loss.
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is an herbal remedy some people choose for hair loss, often sold in shampoos. It can help with a medical condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (an enlarged prostate) without impacting testosterone, which may have made some people think it can also help with hair loss. There are limited studies showing saw palmetto may be beneficial, and while these studies look promising, more research is needed.
Biotin
Biotin is another popular remedy to help stimulate hair growth, as well as nail and skin health. This B vitamin is found in many foods like eggs, organ meats (liver, kidneys, etc.), nuts, soybeans and other legumes, bananas and more. It can also be taken in supplement form. However, biotin has only proven effective in helping with hair loss in studies with patients experiencing a biotin deficiency, which is a rare condition.
Nioxin vs. Rogaine Recap
Nioxin and Rogaine are both effective options for hair loss. Deciding between the two may simply depend on personal preference of brand. Both contain minoxidil, which is an effective option for hair loss and can help treat male pattern baldness by increasing hair count and coverage. However, the exact results vary from individual to individual.
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For thinning hair, receding hairline and other signs of androgenic alopecia, topical minoxidil is an effective treatment for regrowing healthy hair.
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Minoxidil scalp treatments promote new hair growth, a healthy scalp and the thickening of fine hair. They can also improve hair health and resistance to breakage.
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Minoxidil solution is made by several brands, including Rogaine, Nioxin and, yes, Hims.
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Minoxidil hair care products, like the common topical solutions, can include different formulations of the medication, so not all Nioxin products are necessarily comparable to Rogaine products. Each company may formulate its products differently, and Rogaine has been making minoxidil products for much longer.
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However, because Rogaine and Nioxin contain the same active ingredient, the potential side effects, effectiveness and quality of both products should be roughly the same — at least on paper.
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If you experience side effects with one brand, a healthcare provider may suggest trying another.
If you have a specific medical condition causing hair loss, you may want to consider other options or speak with a medical professional, such as a dermatologist.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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8 Medications That Cause Hair Loss ( & What to Do About It)
Hair loss is an unfortunate, yet real, part of growing older, and if you’re still young, you may think you have at least a few years before you start seeing signs of balding. Case in point — 30 to 50 percent of men experience male pattern baldness by age 50.
But if you’re in your 20s or 30s and you’re noticing your hairline creeping further back or bald spots growing bigger each day, you’re probably thinking, “What the heck?! Isn’t hair loss only for old guys?”
Ageism aside, there can be many reasons for the extra shedding you’re seeing — one of which is hair loss from drugs. Yep, there are certain medications that cause you to lose hair.
Fortunately for you, we’ve covered what medications cause hair loss, as well as how to grow healthy hair again below.
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If it seems unfair that you can lose hair because of drugs that are necessary for other health conditions, we get it. But it does happen, and we’re here to help.
Medications can cause hair loss in several different ways. Some medications disrupt your hair’s growth cycle, causing it to shed before it reaches its full length. Other medications may increase your production of hormones that cause male pattern baldness, such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Most medications with this side effect only cause temporary hair loss, although there are some that can cause permanent loss of hair. Some of the different types of hair loss medications can cause include:
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Telogen effluvium is a type of nonscarring, temporary hair loss that can happen to both men and women. It develops as a response to stress, infection, surgery or medication use. When using a new medication, the sudden shock to your system may prematurely push hair follicles into the resting (telogen) phase of the hair growth cycle. Unlike male pattern baldness, which causes a receding hairline, telogen effluvium usually causes diffuse hair loss all over your scalp.
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Anagen effluvium is another type of temporary hair loss that’s commonly linked to medications, particularly chemotherapy medications used to treat cancer. This type of hair loss occurs when medication affects your hair in the anagen (growth) phase of the growth cycle. Most people notice hair shedding within a few weeks of starting medication.
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Male pattern baldness (which can also happen to women and is referred to as female pattern baldness in that case) is the most common form of hair loss. It’s caused by genetic and hormonal factors, particularly the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on your hair follicles over time. Although male pattern baldness isn’t directly caused by medication, medications that affect your production of testosterone and DHT can speed up the progression of male pattern baldness. Unlike telogen effluvium and anagen effluvium, male pattern baldness results in permanent hair loss.
And although it may seem obvious if you’re losing hair (one day it’s there and the next it’s not), some signs are less clear.
So what medications cause hair loss? Does Lexapro cause hair loss, or do other antidepressants? Which blood pressure medications cause hair loss? Is hair loss from isotretinoin a possibility? Keep reading to learn more about the drugs that cause hair loss.
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Hair loss is a well-known side effect of many chemotherapy drugs used to treat certain forms of cancer.
Similar to other toxins that cause hair loss, hair loss from cancer medications usually isn’t permanent. Your hair will often grow back in two to three months after you finish chemotherapy, or three to six months after you reach the end of radiation therapy.
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If you take a high blood pressure medication and have noticed thinning hair, you may have wondered if metoprolol causes hair loss.
The short answer: It’s possible. Some blood pressure medications, including beta-blockers, have been linked to hair loss from telogen effluvium.
Commonly prescribed beta-blockers include propranolol, atenolol, metoprolol, timolol, nadolol and others.
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If your healthcare provider has prescribed an ACE inhibitor (another type of high blood pressure medication), you may have asked: Does lisinopril cause hair loss?
Unfortunately, ACE inhibitors are another type of drug that causes hair loss, so lisinopril hair loss could be a possibility.
Commonly prescribed ACE inhibitors include benazepril, captopril, lisinopril, moexipril, ramipril, trandolapril and enalapril/enalaprilat.
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We’ll save you the trouble of looking up if statins cause hair loss or something like “atorvastatin side effects hair loss.”
Although it’s uncommon, some statins, which are used to lower cholesterol levels, may cause hair loss. According to Harvard Medical School, approximately one percent of people prescribed a statin report some level of hair loss during treatment.
Commonly prescribed statins include atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and others.
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If you’ve been prescribed medication to prevent blood clots, you’re taking anticoagulants, or blood thinners — and telogen effluvium hair loss is a well-known side effect of this type of medication.
Blood thinner medications that cause hair loss include warfarin, heparin, dalteparin, acenocoumarol, enoxaparin and tinzaparin.
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Several anticonvulsants — medications used to treat and prevent epileptic seizures and conditions such as bipolar disorder — are associated with hair loss.
Anticonvulsants like valproic acid (Depakote) and trimethadione (Tridione) have been linked to hair loss. It appears to be most common with valproic acid, with some research showing around nine percent of people who use this medication report some degree of hair loss as a side effect. So that Google search for “Depakote hair loss” wasn’t totally unfounded.
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If you’re one of the many who take antidepressants for your mental health, you’re probably well-aware of side effects. But you may not know that hair loss is a possible side effect, since it’s a less common one.
Some case reports have connected hair loss with common antidepressants such as Wellbutrin, sertraline, paroxetine, venlafaxine and fluoxetine. It is worth noting though that this is reported to occur only in a small minority of people.
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As we mentioned earlier, your body converts a small amount of testosterone into a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, the main hormone responsible for male pattern baldness.
Since DHT is produced from testosterone, any medication that increases your testosterone levels may also increase the amount of DHT that’s produced by your body.
If you use testosterone for hormone replacement therapy, you may notice an increase in hair loss during treatment as your testosterone level increases.
Anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs that are produced from testosterone may also cause hair loss.
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Hair loss from all these different medications is often temporary and can be treated with several different options.
If you’re prescribed medication, it’s important that you don’t stop taking it without first talking to your healthcare provider. While dealing with hair loss can be frustrating, stopping medication suddenly may worsen your medical condition or cause you to experience other side effects.
This is especially important if you’re taking medication for a life-threatening condition, such as cancer or severe depression.
Here’s what to know about treatments for hair loss from medication:
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If you notice hair loss after starting a specific medication, letting your healthcare provider know is a good first step. They may suggest adjusting your dosage or using a different medication that’s less likely to cause hair loss.
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Hair growth medications such as minoxidil (Rogaine) can stimulate the hair growth process and help you to grow back your hair faster. Minoxidil foam and minoxidil solution are topical treatments that you can apply directly to the parts of your scalp with noticeable hair loss.
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Another hair growth medication called finasteride is an FDA-approved medication that reduces your body’s production of DHT to help with hair regrowth. You can use this medication on its own or use a combination of topical finasteride and minoxidil spray.
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While your diet won’t contribute to (or stop) male pattern baldness, some vitamins and minerals may affect your hair growth. Try to eat a balanced diet that’s rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients for healthy hair.
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Stress can also cause hair loss, as it can lead to more hairs falling out or even cause you to pull your hair out. While a couple of days of stress won’t suddenly make you bald, being in a stressful environment for a long time can increase the potential for hair loss. Reducing or eliminating stress may help hair grow back strong and healthy.
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If you’re dealing with hair loss and are using medication, there’s a chance the medicine is the culprit. A variety of medications have been linked to hair loss, resulting in bald patches, excessive shedding and more.
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While the majority of male pattern hair loss is thanks to genetics, some drugs can cause different types of hair loss, such as telogen effluvium, anagen effluvium and male pattern baldness.
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The drugs that can cause hair loss include antihypertensive medications (such as ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers), cancer medications, statins, anticoagulants, antidepressants and medications that increase testosterone.
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Drug-induced hair loss is often temporary, and hair loss treatments can be used to grow healthier hair back. Medications like finasteride and minoxidil are proven to help hair grow, while lifestyle changes like stress reduction and a healthy diet may also help.
Be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you’re concerned about hair loss from medication before you stop taking the drug or change your dosage.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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