A 50s BP drug called Minoxidil is having its moment in hair-loss treatment and experts are not so happy
Minoxidil is also known as a 'miracle drug'. Photo: dailyO
If you are getting bombarded with advertisements of hair loss treatment on your Instagram feed and are often hearing the word 'Minoxidil' as a new 'way' to help solve your hair loss problems, just like Retinol or Vitamin C for all your skin problems, you're not alone.
This prescription drug, which is sold as an over-the-counter hair serum, 'is not entirely safe to use it on your own', as per experts.
But first things first...
What is Minoxidil, the 'Miracle Drug'?
Dr Sujit Shanshanwal, a dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon from Mumbai, explains that Minoxidil was actually discovered 'accidentally'. This drug was first developed and used in the 1950s by a pharmaceutical company called Upjohn. Later, in the 1980s, it was used as an anti-hypertensive (a type of drug used to treat high blood pressure).
Dr Shanshanwal, says that now the drug is FDA-approved, and is used for patterned hair loss.
- Minoxidil is known as a 'miracle drug' because when people started taking this drug as an anti-hypertensive, they started seeing excessive hair growth all over their bodies.
- And a few years later, scientists and experts started wondering if this 'side-effect' can actually help in hair growth treatment.
- Cut to today, and brands like Manmatters or Thriveco are all over social media, with targeted ads boasting the benefits of Minoxidil for people who are suffering from hair loss.
Minoxidil is available in two kinds:
- Oral (in the form of medicine)
- Topical (in serum drops or lotion)
According to Dr Shanshanwal, the Minoxidil that is being used for hair loss treatment is LDM (low dose minoxidil treatment). To put it simply, the percentage of Minoxidil in hair loss treatment formulations is very low, than what is used for blood pressure treatments.
He also said that Minoxidil needs a minimum of 6 months to work; so if you are using Minoxidil to prevent or treat hair loss, all you need is patience.
However, Dr Reema Jain, a dermatologist from Noida, explains that she does not recommend the drug because of the side-effects it has.
Check out the side effects of Minoxidil, according to her:
- Unusual weight gain
- Tiredness
- Swelling of hands/feet
- Unwanted facial/body hair
- Headaches
- Serious allergic reactions
- Trouble breathing
- Severe dizziness
- Rash
- Itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
Dr Shanshanwal on the contrary, explains that in the 5 years of his career, he hasn't seen people getting any severe side-effects apart from the hair growth on the face (that's why he majorly recommended this drug to men).
If used carelessly, Dr Shanshanwal says, especially in the form of lotions, Minoxidil can cause hair growth wherever it touches your body.
How effective are the newly marketed ones?
Both Dr Jain and Dr Shanshanwal agree that Minoxidil which is available in the form of serums (that you see in your Instagram ads) are not too safe to use, because 'of the way they are made'. Without getting into too much technicality, here's why the experts believe so:
Imagine this: Minoxidil is the angry best friend who needs ethyl alcohol to keep its calm or else it will not be so stable. But the brands that are selling Minoxidil in serums, remove the alcohol; hence making Minoxidil unstable.
So, experts are not quite sure about how safe it is to use the 'serum viz, alcohol-free Minoxidil', and how effective it will be.
The best way to deal with hair loss, according to experts, is to stick to the old tried and tested lotions and tablets, and not get too carried away by the advertisements.
But what causes hair loss and can it be treated?
Rajesh Annamalai, health, diet and nutrition consultant, explains the reasons behind hair loss:
- Your genetics
- The kind of lifestyle you are living, i.e, what are you eating, drinking, etc
- And obviously, pollution (if you are living in polluted cities, you would have definitely felt an increase in hair loss).
Treatment: According to him, the best way to reduce hair loss is to opt for PRP treatment; that too, in the initial phase of hair loss. If you are wondering what on earth is this PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment; well, to put it simply, it is a crazy three-step medical treatment in which a person's blood is drawn, processed, and then injected into the scalp.
Even though there is no clear scientific research that proves the effectiveness of this treatment, some people in the medical community think that PRP injections trigger natural hair growth. It does so by increasing blood supply to the hair follicle and increasing the thickness of the hair shaft.
However, Dr Jain explains that we can actually use natural products to promote hair growth; and of course, maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet can also be effective against hair loss.
Bottom line: Consult a physician before taking drugs like Mixoidil; and if used properly, you might see good results.