Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is a common issue that can easily creep up on you, whether in the form of a receding hairline or a bald patch around your crown.
These early signs of baldness can be alarming, but they’re also a great sign to take action and protect your hair from further thinning.
If you’ve ever researched hair loss treatments, you’ve probably heard of minoxidil. Available as a generic medication and under the brand name Rogaine, minoxidil is a topical liquid or foam that’s applied directly to your scalp to stimulate hair growth and stop hair loss.
It’s also available as an oral medication that your healthcare provider may prescribe if you have hair loss that doesn’t respond to topical treatments. However, this oral form of minoxidil is not yet FDA-approved, which means it’s only prescribed off-label.
Like other hair loss treatments, minoxidil starts working right away within your body. However, it usually takes several months before the effects of minoxidil — for example, reduced hair shedding and normal hair growth — are visible.
Below, we’ve gone into more detail about what minoxidil is, as well as how it works as a treatment for male pattern baldness.
We’ve also explained how long you’ll usually need to wait before you’ll see results from minoxidil treatment, as well as other options you might want to consider if you’re starting to lose hair.
How Does Minoxidil Work?
You might have heard of minoxidil as the active ingredient in the medication Rogaine. In topical form, it’s approved by the FDA as a treatment for both male pattern hair loss and female pattern hair loss (FPHL).
Minoxidil works in several ways. First, it moves your hairs into a phase of active growth, also referred to as the “anagen” phase of the hair growth cycle.
Second, it may increase blood flow to your scalp, providing your hair follicles with more of the nutrients they need for consistent growth.
To explain the effects of minoxidil in greater detail, it’s important to briefly go over how your hair grows, as well as how conditions like male pattern baldness can cause it to become thinner.
Minoxidil and the Hair Growth Cycle
Every hair on your body goes through a multi-phase hair growth cycle in which it grows to its full length and eventually falls out.
This cycle begins with the anagen phase, or growth phase, in which the follicle creates a hair fiber that gradually increases in size. This phase typically lasts for several years.
As hair exits the anagen phase, it enters the catagen phase — a transitional phase in which the hair stops growing. During the catagen phase, the hair shrinks in diameter and forms into a club hair.
Finally, the hair enters the telogen phase, or resting phase, of the hair cycle. During this phase, the hair is completely dormant and doesn’t grow. Eventually, the dormant telogen hair detaches from your scalp and is replaced by new hair in the anagen phase.
So, what does this have to do with hair loss, and how does it affect the amount of time required for minoxidil to start working?
Minoxidil and Types of Hair Loss
Although a variety of health issues can cause hair loss, the most common cause of hair loss in men is male pattern baldness.
This type of hair loss occurs when a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is made within your body as a byproduct of testosterone, attaches to receptors in your scalp and causes your hair follicles to go through a process called miniaturization.
As your hair follicles become miniaturized, the length of the anagen phase shortens, resulting in hair that’s unable to grow properly.
This process usually starts around your hairline and the vertex scalp (crown), which can lead to the classic receding hairline and bald patch near the top of your head.
Other forms of hair loss include telogen effluvium, traction alopecia and hair loss that develops as a result of fungal scalp infections.
As we briefly mentioned earlier, minoxidil does several things to either prevent hair loss, reduce the severity of hair loss or promote hair regrowth in affected areas of your scalp.
The first is that minoxidil shortens the telogen phase of your hair growth cycle. This means that each hair follicle on your scalp spends less time in a resting state and more time growing to its full length.
It also means that after you start to use minoxidil, many of your hairs will prematurely enter into the anagen phase and start growing.
The second is that minoxidil stimulates the blood vessels throughout your scalp, which may help to provide more consistent blood flow to your hair follicles. This may further promote hair growth by ensuring your hair follicles have the nutrients they need to function correctly.
It’s important to note that these effects only happen as long as you’re using minoxidil — if you stop using it, you start losing it (it being your hair).
How Long Does Minoxidil Take to Work?
Although results can vary from one person to another, you should generally expect to see some improvement from the use of minoxidil after about two to four months, with more significant results after a full year of treatment.
Although minoxidil works quickly, it takes time for your hair to transition from the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle to the anagen phase.
Minoxidil is one most effective hair regrowth products, and there’s more, you can learn about them here.
It also takes time for your hair to grow. On average, it takes about a month for your hair to grow one inch. This means that you may need to wait several months after your hairs enter into the anagen phase before any improvements in growth or coverage become visible.
Minoxidil and Hair Shedding
In the meantime, it’s actually quite common to notice your hair appears thinner after you start using minoxidil. This is a temporary problem that’s likely caused by minoxidil moving your hair follicles from one phase of your hair growth cycle to another one.
Although it can look alarming, any minor hair shedding that occurs after you start treatment with minoxidil isn’t permanent hair loss and typically resolves over the course of a few months.
If you’ve recently started to use minoxidil, stay patient and focus on the long term. Your hair will almost always look better two to four months from now (and even better after a whole year), but it may be a slightly bumpy ride in the meantime.
Stick with it and keep up your daily application of minoxidil. Over the long term, your hairline and total hair count will thank you.
How Effective is Minoxidil?
Minoxidil isn’t a magic potion for hair loss and everyone’s experiences may differ. However, the odds are good that you’ll see positive, significant results if you have hair loss and use minoxidil consistently as part of your treatment routine.
Over the last few decades, several clinical trials and observational studies have looked into the effects of minoxidil, with almost all research showing positive results for men with hair loss.
In a study published in 2004 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, a group of dermatologists looked at the effects of topical minoxidil 5% on more than 900 men with hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia.
At the end of the 12-month study period, 84.3 percent of the men rated the minoxidil solution as either “very effective,” “effective” or “moderately effective” based on its ability to regrow hair.
A different study from 2007, which was also published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, compared the effects of topical minoxidil 5% with a placebo over the course of 16 weeks of treatment.
After 16 weeks, the men who used the 5% minoxidil displayed a statistically significant increase in new hair growth and a reduced degree of hair loss compared to those who were treated using the non-therapeutic placebo.
The men in the minoxidil group also displayed improvements in a subjective assessment of hair loss.
Finally, another study compared the effects of minoxidil 5% with minoxidil 2% in men with male pattern baldness.
The researchers found that both dosages of minoxidil were well-tolerated, but the stronger 5% solution was more effective at promoting satisfactory hair regrowth.
In addition to showing that topical minoxidil is safe, most research on this medication suggests that side effects, while possible, aren’t common.
Potential side effects of topical minoxidil include:
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Seborrheic dermatitis
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Temporary hair shedding
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Scalp irritation and/or burning skin
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Pruritus (itchy, dry skin)
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Allergic reactions, such as contact dermatitis
Out of more than 900 men that participated in one study, fewer than 40 experienced any adverse effects from topical minoxidil, with none of the side effects classified as serious.
Research also suggests that oral minoxidil is generally safe and effective for men with hair loss, although it should be used with caution in men with hypertension (high blood pressure) or heart health issues.
Although uncommon, both topical and oral minoxidil could cause more severe side effects and allergic reactions.
How to Get Better Results From Minoxidil
If you’re using minoxidil to treat hair loss from male pattern baldness, there are numerous things that you can do to improve your results:
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Start minoxidil as early as you can. Hair loss treatments work best when they’re used as early as possible — ideally, as soon as you notice the first signs of male pattern hair loss emerging.
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Apply minoxidil properly. Minoxidil is an easy medication to apply, but it’s important to practice consistent use to get the best results. This means starting with the right amount of minoxidil and applying it to your entire scalp, not just specific areas.
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Make minoxidil a habit. You’ll only see the effects of minoxidil as long as you’re using it. Once you stop applying it on a regular basis, your hair growth will stop and you’ll likely start to see excessive shedding or thinning again.
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Use minoxidil with oral finasteride. Minoxidil works well on its own, but it’s even more effective when used with finasteride, a prescription hair loss medication that prevents your body from producing DHT.
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Consider topical finasteride and minoxidil. If you don’t like the idea of taking an oral medication to treat hair loss, you can also apply minoxidil and finasteride together in the form of a topical medication.
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Avoid habits that can damage your hair. These include wearing your hair tied back tightly or slicked back with strong hold styling products, brushing your hair excessively, smoking or exposing your hair to excessive UV radiation from the sun.
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Eat a hair-friendly diet. Although your diet won’t prevent hair loss, the foods you eat and your intake of essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients can have a visible impact on your overall hair condition.
The Bottom Line on How Long Minoxidil Takes to Work
Minoxidil doesn’t work overnight, but it does work. On average, research suggests that it takes around four months for some new hair to appear, with more significant results after one year of continuous use.
If you’re considering minoxidil, or if you’ve recently started treatment with this medication, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind:
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Your hair might look worse before it gets better. Because of the way minoxidil works, it’s common to notice more shedding before your hair gets thicker. Hold steady and keep using minoxidil — after a few months, your hair should look thicker.
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Both forms of minoxidil can produce side effects. These usually get better over time, but if you have persistent or bothersome side effects, it’s important to let your healthcare provider know.
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Using finasteride can improve your results. Finasteride and minoxidil work great as a team for treating hair loss. Try adding oral finasteride to your hair loss prevention routine, or use a topical medication that combines both ingredients.
When it comes to treating hair loss and stimulating hair growth, patience is a major virtue. Once you start using minoxidil, focus on applying it twice a day, not on checking your mirror every few hours for new hairs.
Then, check your scalp on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Over time, you’ll likely start to notice a small increase in hair growth that might turn into a thicker crown, stronger hairline or fuller head of hair over the course of the next year.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
More from MediaFeed:
7 Common Causes of Hair Loss for Men (& How to Treat Them)
What probably comes to mind when you think of hair loss, or alopecia, is an older man with a receding hairline and a bald spot on the top of his head. But from male pattern baldness to hair loss caused by autoimmune conditions, vitamin deficiencies, or stress, hair loss comes in many patterns and affect men of all ages.
You might be thinking, “Why is my hair thinning?” or “Why is my hair falling out?” More importantly, you might be wondering if your hair falling out is permanent or if there’s something you can do to treat it.
Some forms of hair loss can actually be reversed, and the sooner you start, the better the outcome.
So let’s dive into all things hair loss — its symptoms, causes, treatments, and more.
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Classically, symptoms of hair loss in men include a receding hairline (particularly over the temples, creating a characteristic “M” shape) and signs of balding at the top of the head, referred to as the crown.
But, as we mentioned, this only represents one of many types of hair loss (more on these below).
Hair loss can be sudden or gradual. In can come in waves or happen in stages. It can be permanent or temporary. In some cases, hair loss might not be a complete loss of hair. Instead, the hairs get thinner, shorter and lighter.
It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation, and it comes with many potential signs and symptoms. Some of the common ones include:
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Hair loss on different parts of the head or body
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Thinning hair
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Patchy hair loss
In some cases, hair loss can also include:
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Itching
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Irritation
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Redness
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Scaling
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Oozing
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Pain
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Burning
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Tenderness
If your hair loss is related to a medical condition or vitamin deficiency, you could also experience:
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Skin changes
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Nail changes
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Other symptoms
Lastly, depending on how you feel about your hair loss, you may have symptoms such as:
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Stress
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Distress
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Low self-esteem or confidence
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Depression
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As you can guess, each type of hair loss has its own causes.
Broadly speaking, the different types of hair loss can be broken down into two categories: non-scarring alopecia and scarring alopecia (also called cicatricial alopecia).
With non-scarring alopecia, hair follicles are preserved, meaning hair loss is potentially reversible. With scarring alopecia, hair follicles are irreversibly damaged, leading to permanent hair loss.
Of the two, non-scarring alopecia is the more common. Let’s take a look at each common cause of hair loss.
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Male pattern hair loss — also called androgenetic alopecia or androgenic alopecia — is a progressive type of hair loss. It’s mostly influenced by genetics, meaning the genes you get from your parents determine if you develop this type of hair loss.
In the case of male pattern hair loss, in susceptible men, a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (or DHT), which is a derivative of testosterone, causes hair follicles to undergo a process called follicular miniaturization.
Follicular miniaturization is what it sounds like — hair follicles get smaller, and the hairs they produce get thinner and lighter. Technically speaking, hairs transform from terminal hairs (the longer, darker hairs like the ones typically found on the scalp) to vellus hairs (the tinier hairs on the rest of the body).
As the hair follicle shrinks, it also loses attachment to the arrector pili muscles under the skin that help hold it in place.
This whole process takes time. If you start addressing male pattern hair loss early on, hair loss can be delayed or even stopped completely. In some cases, it can even be reversed and you can regrow hair. But if the process is allowed to go on for too long, hair follicles can reach a point of no return.
In women, this form of hereditary hair loss is called female pattern hair loss.
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Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss that occurs when hair falls out rapidly.
It’s caused by stress (such as by experiencing a trauma) or a sudden change to the body, such as being in an accident, getting surgery, weight loss, having a change in your hormones (like during menopause, in women), childbirth, having an illness or starting a new medication.
This type of hair loss is usually temporary.
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Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss that results in patches of complete hair loss. It’s an autoimmune hair loss disease, so it’s caused by the body’s immune system attacking your own hair follicles.
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Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that can occur from certain hairstyles. When hair is pulled too tight repeatedly or for a prolonged period (like in tight braids or ponytails), it can result in areas of hair loss where the hair is being strained. While certain hairstyles can cause traction alopecia, wearing a hat is not considered a cause of hair loss.
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Some vitamin deficiencies, such as a biotin deficiency and iron deficiency, can lead to hair loss or unhealthy hair.
(Related: 12 Best Vitamins for Hair Growth)
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Trichotillomania, also called hair-pulling disorder, is a mental health condition in which a person habitually and compulsively pulls out their own hair. The hair can be pulled directly from the scalp, but can also include other parts of the body including the eyebrows, arms, legs, and elsewhere.
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Other medical conditions can cause hair loss, such as psoriasis, syphilis, thyroid disease or a fungal infection like ringworm (tinea capitis). Depending on the medical condition and severity, these may also be scarring alopecias.
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Hair loss can sometimes be a side effect of medication. If you suspect this is the case, talk to your healthcare provider — don’t stop taking any medication without their guidance. Other medical interventions can also cause hair loss, such as chemotherapy, which is associated with anagen effluvium.
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There are many different kinds of scarring alopecia. In these cases, hair follicles are damaged by inflammation. Types include but aren’t limited to frontal fibrosing alopecia, lichen planopilaris, discoid lupus erythematosus, folliculitis decalvans, dissecting cellulitis and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia.
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Just like there are many types of hair loss, there are also many different risk factors.
Chief among them is your genes. Having a history of hair loss on either side of the family — your mother’s or your father’s — can increase your risk of experiencing hair loss.
Other risk factors include:
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Advanced age
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Poor diet
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Having a medical condition that can cause or contribute to hair loss
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Taking a medication that can cause hair loss as a side effect
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Stress
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Certain hairstyles that pull on the hair
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A sudden change, such as something major happening physically or emotionally
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According to the American Academy of Dermatology, losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. So, if you’re waking up with just a few hairs on your pillow or you see some hairs stuck in your comb after using it, there usually isn’t cause for concern — this is normal hair shedding.
However, if you notice a sudden change in how much hair you’re losing, feel like your hairline has changed or your hair feels thinner when you run your hands through it, it can be time to talk to a healthcare provider.
In some cases, you might not be the first person to notice hair falling out. A friend might tell you that the hair at the top of your head looks thinner, or after looking at an old photo of you, a friend might say it looks like your forehead has gotten larger. These can also be signs that your body is changing, and a conversation with a healthcare professional is a good idea.
You should also contact a provider if your symptoms are sudden or if you’re experiencing other symptoms along with your hair loss, like irritation, redness, flaking, skin and nail changes and more.
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To diagnose hair loss, a medical professional will typically start by asking you about your symptoms and taking a medical history.
They may ask things like:
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How long you’ve been experiencing hair loss
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If you have hair loss in your family
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If you recently started taking any new medications or supplements.
Next, a healthcare provider might do a physical exam in which they pay close attention to your hair, skin and nails.
During this physical exam, they’ll look for signs of what could be causing your hair loss and other skin conditions you might have. There are also specific tests they might do, like the pull test. The pull test involves pulling several hairs at once to see how many come out.
In some cases — like if you have very classic male pattern hair loss — additional testing might not be necessary.
In others, your healthcare provider may run additional tests — like a scalp biopsy, blood tests or microscopic hair exams — to help figure out what might be causing your hair loss.
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The specific medical treatment for your hair loss will depend on the type of hair loss you have.
For many, medication is the right approach for treating hair loss. And there are lots of treatment options to choose from. The two most common medications used for treating male pattern hair loss in men are finasteride and minoxidil. They can be used separately or together. So let’s take a closer look at each of these.
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Finasteride is a type of prescription medication known as a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. Remember DHT, the hormone that can lead to follicular miniaturization and male pattern hair loss? Well, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors like finasteride prevent the conversion of testosterone to DHT.
Finasteride is available as a generic medication or as the brand name Propecia, which is FDA-approved to treat male pattern hair loss. It’s also available in a higher dose as a generic and as the brand name Proscar.
Proscar is FDA-approved to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is an enlarged prostate.
There’s another 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor called dutasteride that’s also FDA-approved to treat the symptoms of BPH, but is sometimes used off-label to treat hair loss in men.
Propecia, or generic finasteride, is a pill intended to be taken daily. It is also sometimes found in compounded medications — alone or combined with other active ingredients — and in a topical form that can be applied directly to the scalp.
Some men may prefer this form of finasteride because it reduces the risk of experiencing unwanted finasteride side effects, such as intimacy side effects (including decreased libido and ED).
(Related: Finasteride for Hair Loss: Side Effects, Dosage & More)
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Minoxidil is the active ingredient found in the brand name Rogaine. It is a topical medication that is available over the counter, and it comes in different strengths — 2% and 5% — and in various forms — as a topical solution or foam.
Researchers aren’t entirely sure of how minoxidil works, but it’s thought that it increases blood flow to hair follicles and could prolong the anagen phase (growth phase of the hair growth cycle) of a hair.
Recently, there has also been a lot of buzz about oral minoxidil. Oral minoxidil is an FDA-approved blood pressure medication, but research shows it can effectively be used off-label to treat hair loss.
Like all medications, both finasteride and minoxidil can cause side effects. They also aren’t appropriate for everyone and could interact with other medications you’re taking. Keep your healthcare provider up to date with all of your medications and medical conditions.
(Related: How Much Does Rogaine (Minoxidil) Cost?)
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While finasteride and minoxidil are the most common medications used for hair loss and the only ones specifically FDA-approved for male pattern hair loss, other interventions can also be effective. The exact treatment depends on the type of hair loss you are experiencing — some of these treatments can be effective for male pattern hair loss, while others are better for other hair loss types.
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Ketoconazole, an antifungal medication, has some activity against 5-alpha-reductase (similar to how finasteride works).
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Spironolactone, another blood pressure medication, can be used to treat hair loss in women because of its effects on hormones.
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Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) uses a laser, typically over several treatment sessions, to stimulate hair growth.
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Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) involves injections of your own blood components to prevent hair loss and promote new growth.
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Other injections, such as corticosteroids, can be given as a potential treatment.
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Supplements like biotin (vitamin B7), vitamin E, saw palmetto and more. Research on the efficacy of supplements for hair loss is generally weak or mixed, so we still need to learn more before these can be considered hair loss “treatments.”
In general, medications and treatments to treat hair loss and promote hair growth can take time to work — typically several months. In some cases, it can also appear that things are getting worse before they get better.
And if all of this doesn’t work for you, surgery can be an option, too. Different types of hair transplantation surgery include follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). To learn more about whether hair transplant surgery is right for you, talk to a healthcare provider.
Lastly, let’s not forget about hair tattoos, wigs and toupees. Is it your natural hair? No. But can it be just as stylish? Yes!
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Hair loss is a BIG topic. It affects many people. There are many different types. There are many different causes. There are many different treatments. It seems like it would be easiest just to avoid hair loss in the first place. So, is that possible? Can you prevent hair loss?
Unfortunately, preventing hair loss altogether just isn’t in the cards for some people. Nearly everyone’s hair will thin with age and, for a large part of the population, genetics determines what you get to keep on your head.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything you can do. If you’re concerned about hair loss, try to:
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Eat a healthy, balanced diet
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Manage stress
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Use hair care products that aren’t damaging to your hair and scalp
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Avoid hairstyles that tightly pull on your hair
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Cut back on unhealthy habits, like smoking
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Treat other health conditions you might have
And if you notice your hair is falling out and want to do something about it, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider. For some kinds of hair loss, the sooner you intervene, the better — and you could not only prevent further hair loss but potentially even regrow some new hair.
You can go to your primary care provider or a dermatologist, or you can connect with a healthcare provider online from the comfort of your own home and start addressing hair loss today.
When it’s that easy, why wait? A fuller head of hair — if you want it — might be just around the corner.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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