The Main Ingredient of Rogaine Is Minoxidi - Research Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages The main ingredient of Rogaine is Minoxidil which was originally administered as an anti-hypertensive drug. Patients using this drug complained of growing hair as a side effect and hence, its usage as a treatment for alopecia was initiated (Gupta et al 2012; Michael 2012). As a hair loss therapeutic agent, Rogaine has shown a record of successful hair loss management as well as certain limitations and shortcomings in terms of its remedial role.

Rogaine is available as an alcohol-based liquid that has shown better results in younger men with a history of hair loss for less than five years. Known by the generic name of Rogaine, Minoxidil is available as an over-the-counter drug in the form of a topical solution. It is applied directly to the scalp and is used by both genders. Rogaine has been used for this purpose since the 1980s when it first got approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Initially, it was highly acknowledged by the media but with time, various limitations and setbacks were highlighted. Minoxidil is available as both 2% and 5% solutions, but the latter has shown better results than its counter-part in stopping hair loss and stimulating the growth of new hair The most common types of alopecia are alopecia aerate and androgenic alopecia. Minoxidil is indicated mostly in males and females with androgenic alopecia which is also known as male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness, respectively. Rogaine provides a very effective non-surgical treatment for hair loss in both genders (Hayes 2007; Michael 2012; Gupta et al 2012).

It has been observed that women show a better response to Rogaine therapy as compared to men with hair loss. A success rate of 30% is observed in the males who have been using 2% Rogaine while the females have a comparatively improved response rate. The success rate improves in both men and women who use 5% Rogaine. As mentioned earlier, Rogaine is more effective in younger men and women or with those people who have small areas of hair loss. Chronic hair loss or large areas of baldness show poor response to Rogaine therapy. Hence, it is recommended in people who show early signs of hair loss and thus further loss of hair is halted to prevent hair transplantation surgery.

Furthermore, Minoxidil (Rogaine) is comparatively more effective in stopping hair loss in the central areas of the scalp rather than the frontal regions (Hayes 2007; Michael 2012).
Despite its satisfactory response rates, Minoxidil has certain limitations which affect its therapeutic outcomes. One specific shortcoming is the long-term usage of the topical solution. If Minoxidil shows an effective outcome in stopping hair loss, it has to be continued for a lifetime. This is because if the treatment is stopped, the hair recovery attained will be lost in the next three to six months. Another drawback is the restricted area of affectivity of the solution. It is only effective in the central areas and not in the frontal regions of the scalp. The side effects of Minoxidil (Rogaine) are few and very minor.

These include minor complaints of scalp irritation and itching, but these are not of severe intensity. Minoxidil has to be used with care, as it can lead to the development of facial hair if it is repeatedly spilled on the face by accident. Apart from this potential complication, Rogaine does not cause any major complications or adverse effects on the users (Hayes 2007). According to a recent study carried out by Gupta et al, it has been proposed that the topical solution of Rogaine has a limited time of contact with the scalp which might affect its therapeutic outcomes. Hence, gel formulations of Rogaine for topical usage are suggested which will have a prolonged duration of action (Gupta et al 2012).

Rogaine (Minoxidil) has been documented as a recommended non-surgical treatment for hair loss in both men and women. The topical solution of Rogaine comes with minimal side effects and complications increasing its therapeutic value. However, the drug cannot be labeled as a faultless treatment for hair loss. Limitations which include lifetime usage as well as its affectivity for only early hair loss have decreased its success rates in the market. ...Download file to see next pages Read More