Should i try rogaine foam

Rogaine works only for certain types of baldness and only if you keep up with its application. Rogaine is considered a vasodilator. Rogaine is applied to the scalp to help grow hair and prevent hair loss caused by male or female pattern baldness. This is the most common type of hair loss, and it runs in families. Rogaine works best in people with hereditary hair loss at the vertex of the scalp the area at the back of the head, just under the crown or for women with general thinning of hair on the top of the scalp.

Rogaine is most effective in people under 40 years old and for those who start using it at the first signs of hair loss. Rogaine can also be effective for women. An older study showed that 5 percent topical minoxidil was superior compared to 2 percent topical minoxidil. The study was conducted over the course of 48 weeks, and both the 5 percent and 2 percent versions helped to improve psychological perceptions of hair loss in women who had female pattern hair loss.

Propecia, also known as finasteride, is a DHT blocker used to treat male pattern baldness. DHT is one of the main causes of baldness in men because it binds to hair follicles and miniaturizes them. Propecia works to prevent hair loss and baldness by stopping testosterone from converting to DHT. Compared to Rogaine, Propecia stops hair loss while Rogaine triggers new hair growth. Both are effective in treating male pattern baldness.

In fact, a study showed that the two medications can even be used together for the ultimate efficacy. Minoxidil is the generic form of Rogaine, so the active ingredient in the generic or name brand of Rogaine is the same.

According to an older study , Rogaine is considered safe, and its side effects are usually not serious. The most common include:. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store this medication in an upright position, at room temperature and keep it out of the reach of children. The container is extremely flammable and should not be exposed to open flames or heat. Do not place this medication on polished or painted surfaces or use it near them. Do not dispose of medications in wastewater e. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication.

If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time. Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome.

Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects. Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:. Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication. Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health.

These factors may affect how you should use this medication. Effectiveness: Minoxidil topical solution may not work for everyone. This medication is for the scalp of someone who has male pattern baldness or female hair loss or thinning. It has not been shown to work for someone who has a receding hairline. Shedding of hair may occur within 2 to 6 weeks of starting to use this product.

If shedding persists beyond 2 weeks, contact your doctor. If you do not see any results after 6 months of using this product, contact your doctor.

Eye irritation: Minoxidil will cause irritation and burning of the eyes and nasal passages. If the medication comes in contact with the eyes, flush the eyes well with cool water. Hair treatments: It is not known if hair colouring, perming, or relaxing agents affect this medication. To avoid irritation to the scalp, make sure this medication has been washed off the hair and scalp before using these products.

Do not reapply minoxidil for 24 hours after using a chemical treatment to make sure your scalp has not been irritated by the perm or colour treatment. Heart disease: Although this medication is intended to be used as a topical surface only treatment for the scalp, it may be absorbed into the bloodstream and have an effect on heart disease. People with heart disease should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Hair began growing back for a much smaller percentage of individuals, the report said. Experts consider Rogaine to be mostly safe, although the alcohol in the topical application can irritate the skin.

Also, Rogaine may lead to the following side effects:. People can also be allergic to minoxidil or other ingredients that the manufacturers use in the medication. If any of the following symptoms develop, a person should seek medical help and discontinue using the medication:.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology , minoxidil is safe to use on the beard and eyebrows, as well as on the scalp. Some 46 participants applied a minoxidil lotion twice a day. Side effects were reported to be mild and not statistically significant. Female pattern hair loss is not as rare as some people might think. Many females may experience hair thinning or hair loss at some point in their lives, and more do so after menopause. After clinical trials and a few years on the market as a medication for male pattern baldness, the FDA approved Rogaine for use by females experiencing hair loss.

Rogaine can help stimulate the growth of new hair in women, although this new growth tends to be fine hair. It also takes time to develop, and experts recommend females take Rogaine for 6 months to 1 year to see if it is effective. Experts do not recommend Rogaine for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding as there is insufficient information on how the medication could affect the fetus. Side effects tend to be rare, and Rogaine is generally considered safe. Rogaine, which is the brand name for minoxidil, is moderately effective at stopping hair loss and somewhat effective at promoting new hair growth in both males and females.

It takes time to see the effects of this medication, and experts suggest most people try it for several months to see if it will work. Any hair growth benefits from Rogaine will gradually disappear if an individual stops applying the treatment. An itchy beard is a common complaint, but what makes it itch?