What is Rogaine?
Rogaine or Minoxidil as it’s known generically, is a topical medication used to treat hair loss caused by androgen alopecia. Androgen alopecia is also known as male or female pattern baldness. It occurs due to many factors such as age and genetics.
Minoxidil works by widening hair follicles. This creates a thicker hair strand which gives a fuller, denser look to your hair. It also lengthens the time your hair is in the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. During the anagen phase, your hair develops in the follicle and grows longer. A prolonged anagen phase means more and longer hair growth.
What you need to know about Rogaine:
Rogaine is effective in approximately 40%-60% of individuals who use it. In order to see these results you must use the medication as instructed, daily and consistently.
Rogaine must be used indefinitely to keep up results. It is not a cure to hair loss, rather a treatment method. This means that you must continue using it, even after seeing your desired results, in order to keep your hair from reverting back to previous or worsened hair loss.
While adverse or allergic reactions are rare, they are a potential risk factor. Side effects include itching, burning, redness, and irritation. Some individuals have reported an increase in hair loss symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms after using Rogaine, discontinue use immediately. But in general, minoxidil is safe and effective when used properly.
Minoxidil is a great tool, but don’t expect a miracle. Rogaine is a great tool when it comes to maintaining hair, preventing future hair loss, promoting hair growth, as part of a medical management of hair loss plan, recovering from hair transplant surgery, or reversing recent hair loss. But, it is not going to regrow or reverse years of hair loss. Once a hair follicle has died, there is no bringing it back to life. If you have been experiencing hair loss for some time, Rogaine on its own is not going to treat your hair loss. You most likely will need a more aggressive approach to restoring your hair. It is often beneficial when coupled with hair loss medications, hair transplant surgery, and alternative methods of hair restoration such as PRP and laser therapy.