Many men and women across the globe are waiting and hoping that they can reverse the effects of hair loss as soon as possible.
Hair loss and hair thinning affects millions of men and women around the world. Many people won’t even notice until half of their hair is lost [1].
If you discover you’re suffering from hair loss so late on, it’s natural to want to find a speedy solution that can restore your head of hair to its normal appearance.
If you are looking into different hair loss treatments, the options are plentiful, but that doesn’t mean they’re always going to work for you.
One of the most popular treatments to stop further hair loss and promote hair growth is Minoxidil. Studies have shown that Minoxidil has been effective at treating various types of alopecia [2-5]. However, this popular hair loss treatment might not be right for everyone. In that case, you may be seeking a Minoxidil alternative for the treatment of your hair loss and hair thinning.
In this article, we’ll be discussing:
- What is Minoxidil and how does it promote hair growth
- Reasons why you might not use Minoxidil to treat hair loss
- Alternative treatments to Minoxidil to try
What is Minoxidil and what is it used for?
Minoxidil is a hair loss treatment that is used to help men and women who are experiencing hair loss or hair thinning. Minoxidil is the active ingredient found in the popular topical medication, Rogaine (US) or Regaine (UK).
Users apply Minoxidil to the area where they’re experiencing hair loss twice a day, every day. It’s thought to be so effective as it belongs to a family of medicines known as vasodilators. Minoxidil works by widening your blood vessels in your scalp which in turn increases blood flow and nutrients to hair follicles, stimulating hair growth in the process.
There have been a few studies into the efficacy of Minoxidil that have yielded positive results. For example, in one four-month study, 339 out of 773 participants found Minoxidil to be ‘effective’ and 54 found it ‘very effective’ [2].
Minoxidil comes in various forms and strengths including:
Why should I not take Minoxidil?
Although studies have shown Minoxidil to be an effective treatment for hair loss, it’s not guaranteed to work for everyone.
Everyone reacts differently to treatments. So just because some people have a positive experience using Minoxidil doesn’t always mean that you’re going to have the same experience.
Minoxidil also comes with some side effects, including:
- Skin/scalp irritation
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Temporary Minoxidil-related hair shedding, also known as Minoxidil dread shed.
If you experience an allergic reaction to Minoxidil products, don’t see any improvements in your hair loss, or are concerned about topical or oral Minoxidil safety, you may want to start thinking about other alternatives to Minoxidil you can use instead.
What Minoxidil alternatives are there?
Luckily, there are plenty of other hair loss treatments on the market that have a lot of efficacy research to back up their claims.
Some of these treatments are oral prescriptions, and there is even very early-stage research that has looked into some natural treatments for hair loss.
Here are some hair loss treatment options to try if you are seeking a Minoxidil alternative.
1. Dutasteride
Dutasteride belongs to a group of drugs known as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, or 5-ARIs. These drugs block testosterone from turning into DHT – a key cause of hair loss in men.
If you are genetically more susceptive to hair loss, DHT blockers can be very effective treatment options, and there is a lot of research to back this up [6].
Studies have found that Dutasteride can increase hair count, hair width, and hair growth more effectively than similar hair loss treatments, like Finasteride [7].
However, it’s important to remember that drugs like Dutasteride can take a while to make a difference – sometimes you may have to wait up to 3 months before seeing any noticeable results.
2. Finasteride
Finasteride works similarly to Dutasteride. It blocks testosterone from turning into DHT. It also has a lot of clinical trials that back up its effectiveness, including a study in which more than 80% of test subjects experienced an improvement in hair loss when using a popular brand of Finasteride treatment called Propecia [9].
Finasteride results are particularly impressive for men with crown hair loss [8].
Treatments like Finasteride and Dutasteride are only usually suitable for treating male pattern baldness, rather than other types of hair loss. Finasteride for women isn’t usually recommended. It should only be prescribed in very rare circumstances.
3. Natural hair loss treatments
If you’re looking for natural alternatives to Minoxidil, there are a few ingredients that have a little bit of research behind them.
However, research is severely lacking when it comes to the efficacy of these ingredients in curing hair loss. If you really want to encourage healthy hair growth, we would recommend using one of the treatments like Dutasteride and Finasteride which have a lot more extensive clinical studies.
For example, one study found that acupuncture showed greater hair regrowth than Minoxidil in patients suffering from hair loss due to the increased circulation caused by the treatment [9].
Another study found that applying rosemary oil was ‘not inferior’ to taking 2% Minoxidil [10].
Other small-scale studies have also looked at treatments like caffeine shampoo, zinc, and pumpkin seed oil, and black seed oil but there is not enough evidence to prove these are legitimate treatments for hair loss.
4. Redensyl
Redensyl is a relatively new hair loss formula with promising results. While there’s not yet enough evidence to recommend this as an indisputably effective hair loss remedy, further research may place Redensyl as a good potential alternative to Minoxidil.
5. Low-level laser therapy
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness, female pattern hair loss) along with other types of non-scarring alopecia such as alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, and chemotherapy-induced hair loss.
LLLT works by focusing low-powered lasers of red or near-infrared light onto the scalp to enhance cell metabolism and increase blood flow to the scalp. With increased blood circulation to the scalp, hair follicles receive more nutrients and oxygen, helping them with the hair regrowth process.
Still worried about hair loss?
Hair loss can really affect your confidence and self-esteem. So if you notice that your hair is starting to fall out and you want a more permanent solution, you can also try a hair transplant.
Hair transplantation is still a long process, but it delivers natural and long-lasting results. Although it can be an intense experience, it is a tried and true way to restore the hair on your head and make it appear like you never lost any hair in the first place. Learn more about FUE vs. FUT hair transplants.
At the Wimpole Clinic, we specialise in hair transplants and would love to talk you through the whole process. Take a look at our reviews page and transplant gallery to get an idea of the type of high-quality services we offer at our award-winning hair restoration clinic.
If you are interested in learning more about the services we can provide for you, book a free consultation at the Wimpole Clinic today to discuss your options for hair restoration.
- Combating male hair loss
- Rapid onset of action of minoxidil 5% topical solution in a 4-month German observational study on both patients and physicians
- Similar Response Patterns to 5%Topical Minoxidil Foam in Frontal and Vertex Scalp of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Microarray Analysis
- A randomised clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men
- Trichogenic effect of topical ketoconazole versus minoxidil 2% in female pattern hair loss: a clinical and trichoscopic evaluation
- Assessment of the usefulness of dihydrotestosterone in the diagnostics of patients with androgenetic alopecia
- A randomized, active- and placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of different doses of dutasteride versus placebo and finasteride in the treatment of male subjects with androgenetic alopecia
- Use of Finasteride in the Treatment of Men With Androgenetic Alopecia (Male Pattern Hair Loss)
- Efficacy of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Alopecia: A Narrative Review
- Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial
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