Although minoxidil is a highly effective hair-loss treatment, not everyone will experience the same level of regrowth – and some people may not see any noticeable results at all. However, if you notice that minoxidil isn't working as expected, there could be a straightforward explanation.
We’ve examined the reasons why minoxidil might not be delivering the impacts you desire, and outlined the steps you can take to improve its effectiveness.
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What is minoxidil?
Minoxidil is a medication commonly used to treat hair loss and encourage regrowth. It offers people suffering with baldness or thinning hair an alternative to expensive and uncomfortable surgical procedures.
How does minoxidil work?
Minoxidil promotes vasodilation – the widening of blood vessels – enabling more blood and essential nutrients to reach the hair follicles. This extends the active growth phase of the hair, known as the ‘anagen’ phase, and increases the hair’s density by expanding the diameter of the follicles.
When might minoxidil be prescribed?
Minoxidil is typically prescribed for severe hair loss, most commonly alopecia areata which currently impacts around 700,000 men and women in the US. It might also be recommended for thinning hair resulting from hormonal changes or stress.
Why isn't minoxidil working?
There are several reasons minoxidil might not be delivering the results you expected. Identifying the likely factors will help you choose your next steps, and start your journey towards hair regrowth.
Insufficient time
Minoxidil will only deliver noticeable results after several months of continuous use, so ensure you apply it for as long as instructed. If you stop using it suddenly, it can take some time to regain any progress you made.
Lack of consistency
Consistent application of minoxidil is vital for achieving hair growth. By applying it regularly, the active ingredients remain in the scalp and continuously act on the hair follicles. As such, it’s important not to miss any applications.
Incorrect application
Applying the product in the right way will help you achieve better results. It’s vital that the minoxidil reaches the scalp, so be careful to apply it to the area directly, and not just to the hair itself. You can also absorb the product more efficiently if you begin with a clean and dry scalp.
Severity of hair loss
The effectiveness of minoxidil correlates with the stage of hair loss you’re experiencing. As such, it’s more likely to be effective during the early stages of hair thinning, and it’s unlikely to cure baldness.
You don't have genetic hair loss
Minoxidil will affect each person differently, partly due to the fact that genetics have a significant impact on hair growth. In fact, you’re more likely to experience good results from the treatment if your hair loss is genetic than if your hair loss is a result of stress or other factors.
Other products you are using
Other hair products and treatments can create barriers to the scalp or interfere with the product’s chemical composition, rendering it less effective. A dermatologist or medical professional should be able to advise you how to use the medication, and what to avoid using alongside it.
Underlying health conditions
Some health conditions, such as nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalances, can impact the medication’s effectiveness. As such, if you’ve ruled everything else out and your minoxidil still isn’t working, it’s worth talking to a healthcare provider who can check for underlying issues, and recommend any necessary treatments.
What should you do when minoxidil isn't working?
It can be very disheartening when minoxidil does not work for a particular individual. However, there are a few steps you can take if it hasn't delivered the impacts you were hoping for.
Be patient
Minoxidil’s results can take several months to appear, so you may need to wait a little longer than anticipated before you notice significant changes. Make sure you continue to use the medication consistently as directed, and speak to a doctor if you have any concerns.
Double check the instructions
As obvious as it might sound, minoxidil will only be effective if you apply it correctly – which is usually twice a day directly to the scalp. Check the label, and follow the instructions exactly as described.
Consider combination therapies
Combining minoxidil with treatments such as finasteride may make it more effective as they work in different ways that can compliment each other. However, you should always speak to a healthcare professional before you go down this route to ensure it’s safe.
Incorporate lifestyle changes
Other factors – such as a poor diet, lack of sleep, and stress – can exacerbate hair loss. As such, maintaining a healthy lifestyle by exercising, looking after your mental wellbeing, and eating well might improve minoxidil’s effectiveness.
Other medications can also have an impact, so if you’re currently taking anything else, talk to your doctor to ensure it’s not preventing the minoxidil from working.
Consult a healthcare professional
A dermatologist or healthcare professional will be able to advise you on how to proceed if your minoxidil isn’t working. As well as examining why it isn’t effective for your particular problem, they can check for underlying health issues, or suggest alternative treatments.
Try a different treatment
What works for one person might not always work for another, so you could consider alternative treatments such as finasteride, hair transplant surgery, or low-level laser therapy. Your healthcare provider can run through the risks and benefits of each treatment and advise you on the best course of action.
Consider enrolling in a clinical trial for hair loss
By enrolling in a clinical trial for hair loss, you can be one of the first people to benefit from new treatments and therapies, and advance medical discoveries that can help thousands of other sufferers.
One such clinical trial for minoxidil, for example, is often quoted in support of its effectiveness for treating hair loss. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 393 men lasted 48 weeks, and assessed the impacts of 5% topical minoxidil on male pattern baldness. The results clearly demonstrated that minoxidil improved both scalp coverage and hair density for the volunteers.
To locate a relevant clinical trial for minoxidil, speak to your current healthcare provider, or browse our clinical trial database and sign up today.
Conclusion
As clinical trials and subsequent patient experiences have demonstrated, minoxidil is a very effective medication for treating hair loss, and can significantly improve the lives of people suffering with thinning hair or a balding scalp.
Its impacts are not always felt by everyone, which can lead to feelings of frustration. However, by identifying why it might not be working and altering your approach accordingly, you may begin to see more noticeable results.
Alternatively, you could volunteer to take part in a clinical trial or ask your healthcare professional about a different treatment approach.