What is Minoxidil?

When it comes to hair-loss products, minoxidil is the best, proven prescription that can stunt the loss of hair while regrowing new hair for both men and women. But what, exactly, is minoxidil, and how does it work?

Minoxidil is an FDA-approved drug that can stop male and female patterned baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia. This is hereditary, passed from generation to generation. Androgenetic alopecia causes the shrinking of hair follicles, which causes hair that grows in to become thinner and shorter. For men, they typically begin to experience thinning or loss at the top of their head, and their hairline losing hair in an "M" shape, while women might see thinning all over their scalp.The changes in the hormone levels of androgen also plays a role.

Minoxidil counteracts these hormones by stimulating the hair follicles, acting as a vasodilator and therefore bringing more blood to help expand the follicles. It also prolongs the growth period of hair.

Because it reacts to the presence of hormones, minoxidil is most effective for those who have the hereditary hair loss, and will not work in cases where hair loss is caused by something else. Instead, if your hair loss is due to stress, tramua, or a nutrient and vitamin deficency in your diet, you do not need to take minoxidil. In those cases, it's important to get input from a doctor, who can give you a more effective treatment for a non-hereditary hair loss problem. 

Most people, however, will take minoxidil and find great results over time. Once you start taking minoxidil, you will have to keep taking it in order to maintain hair growth.

To learn more about minoxidil, and get your prescription of Xandrox today, contact us. We are happy to help.