Minoxidil

This page contains information about the popular hair growth drug minoxidil, which is applied to the scalp in the form of a topical lotion. Minoxidil is the oldest officially registered medicine against hair loss, which means it can only be sold online by registered providers such as the Hair Growth Specialist.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil

This page contains information about the popular hair growth drug minoxidil, which is applied to the scalp in the form of a topical lotion. Minoxidil is the oldest officially registered medicine against hair loss, which means it can only be sold online by registered providers such as the Hair Growth Specialist.

Table of contents

Buy minoxidil from the Hair Growth Specialist for best results

If you want to buy Minoxidil, then you've come to the right place. We are an official online provider of medicine, allowing you to order minoxidil online easily and without a prescription. We sell Minoxidil of the brand Linn Pharma in the strengths 2% and 5%.

Minoxidil 2% is specially formulated for women with hereditary hair loss Minoxidil is a remedy that combats hair loss and stimulates hair growth It is the oldest and most researched ingredient that stimulates hair growth
Minoxidil is a remedy that combats hair loss and stimulates hair growth It is the oldest and most researched ingredient that stimulates hair growth Minoxidil dilates the hair vessels, stimulating blood flow

Origin of Minoxidil

Minoxidil has been around for quite some time. It was developed in the fifties of the last century as an antihypertensive agent in pill form under the brand name Loniten. During clinical trials, researchers observed that some patients experienced unexpected hair regrowth as a side effect, including on the scalp, face, and body.

This side effect prompted further research into minoxidil as a potential treatment for hair loss. By the late 1980s, the American FDA approved a topical formulation of minoxidil specifically for hair loss, marketed under the name Rogaine in the United States.

Minoxidil as hair growth lotion

By now, the patent on Minoxidil has expired, and many cheap generic versions have been brought to the market (Kirkland, Spectral UHP). Minoxidil lotion is not only available as a 5% solution, but a special 2% solution is also available for women. Apparently, studies have shown that a higher dosage is much more effective: of the 5% version, 45% would be more effective than the 2% version.

Yet, people are often recommended to start with a lighter version to see if any side effects occur, such as unwanted facial hair growth or low blood pressure. It is always advisable to consult your doctor before using higher concentrations of minoxidil.

How does Minoxidil work?

A lot of research has been done in the past years to explain the effect of hair regrowth of minoxidil. The effect is not yet completely understood. Originally, it was believed that minoxidil improves the blood circulation of the scalp, but this seems outdated. The most recent theory is that it is because minoxidil belongs to the group of medicines called 'potassium channel openers' (PCOs). It seems that PCOs stimulate hair regrowth and have a positive effect on the hair density.

It does this by widening blood vessels and increasing blood flow to the scalp, which supplies more oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles. This improved circulation supports hair follicle health and growth. It also extends the growth phase of the hair growth cycle, allowing hair strands to grow longer and thicker before shedding. This effect is particularly useful for people experiencing androgenetic alopecia, where the growth phase is often shortened.

In any case, the agent has absolutely no effect on the hormone balance, unlike finasteride and dutasteride. Because it is not a hormonal agent but has a general stimulating effect on the hair growth, minoxidil can be used for many forms of hair loss (not only androgenetic).

Expected results of Minoxidil lotion

Minoxidil has many satisfied users as a topical hair loss treatment, but it is not a panacea. A positive effect is determined in 60 to 80% of its users (stabilization of regrowth), but the result is only 'cosmetically satisfactory' for 6 to 30% of its users. People who have been suffering from hair loss for a long time can benefit from it, but completely new hair growth on bald spots is a rare occurrence. The agent works best for men and women who have been suffering from hair loss between 5 and 10 years, particularly on the crown.

There is reason to believe that topical minoxidil works as long as it is continuously applied. The recovered hair by minoxidil will remain 'minoxidil dependent'. Research has shown that men who had regrowth with both finasteride and Minoxidil, noticed regression after stopping with the use of minoxidil.

Although a minoxidil solution stimulates hair growth, it actually does not change anything about the underlying cause of androgenetic hair loss (reduction in hair growth due to affected hair follicles by DHT, dihydrotestosterone). So the agent has no anti-androgenic effect and therefore DHT binding to androgen receptors of the follicles is not obstructed. Eventually, the use of Minoxidil alone is not enough for most people to permanently prevent hair loss.

Just like all other hair growth agents, Minoxidil needs to be used continuously in order to maintain any obtained results.

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Side effects of Minoxidil

Minoxidil lotion can be regarded as a safe agent. Because it is a topical solution that needs to be applied on the head, some side effects are reported. The side effects that are occasionally reported are: dry skin, scalp irritation, dizziness and headaches. Additionally, a slight increase in body and facial hair can occur, due to small amounts of minoxidil entering the bloodstream through the skin.

Some doctors believe that minoxidil can be dangerous for people with cardiovascular disease. Other adverse reactions when using minoxidil to regrow hair are mentioned on internet forums. People with hair problems mention side effects such as eye bags caused by fluid retention.

Topical minoxidil foam

In 2006 a minoxidil topical foam was introduced. This is a user-friendly, foam-formulation of minoxidil created to treat hair loss with improved convenience and comfort compared to the traditional liquid solution. Available in 5% concentration for men and 2% for women, the foam contains the same active ingredient, delivering effective hair growth benefits by enhancing blood flow to hair follicles, opening potassium channels, and prolonging the growth phase of your thinning hair.

One of the key reasons for its popularity is its ease of application—this foam dries quickly, doesn’t leave a greasy residue, and is less likely to cause scalp irritation due to the absence of propylene glycol, an ingredient in the liquid version that can sometimes lead to discomfort. Additionally, minoxidil foam is often easier to apply evenly, allowing better absorption for people with sensitive skin or shorter hair.

Another treatment top stimulate hair growth with minoxidil is called oral minoxidil, or minoxidil in tablets. Read more about it here.

Minoxidil in combination with other products

The combination of Finasteride and Minoxidil is popular among people with androgenetic hair loss. Although studies have shown that the use of Finasteride alone is more effective than using only Minoxidil in the battle against AGA in the long term, it was revealed that the agents work great together, better than just one or the other. The reason for this could be because both the growth is being stimulated and the androgenetic causes are dealt with.

Another popular combination is minoxidil with a good quality shampoo.

The new generation minoxidil: nanoxidil

Nanoxidil is an ingredient which is available in the lotion Spectral DNC-N. Unlike Minoxidil, Nanoxidil is especially developed to stimulate hair regrowth. For this, it has been studied how the molecule of Minoxidil could be improved to make it more effective and to reduce side effects. From this research, Nanoxidil has been developed. Nanoxidil has a lower molecular weight, improving absorption.

Spectral DNC-N contains various extra ingredients to stimulate the effect of Nanoxidil and to increase the effect on the hair growth. Also, there are far fewer side effects to be expected. For people who experience side effects with Minoxidil, switching to Nanoxidil might be a good alternative.

Nanoxidil is also a good replacement for brand name Minoxidil lotions like:

  • Foligain.F5 Foam

  • Minoxidil 5%

  • Foligain.P2 Minoxidil 2%

  • Regenepure Minoxidil 5%

  • Foligain.N5

  • Foligain.P5 Minoxidil 5%

  • Foligain.D5

  • MinoxidilMax

      What's the difference between Minoxidil and Nanoxidil?

      Minoxidil is a drug that was initially developed against hypertension. Clinical studies have shown that the test subjects got stronger hair growth because of the use of minoxidil. As a lotion, it is one of the most well known treatments against hair loss. However, apart from this excellent effect, a minoxidil treatment comes with a lot of side effects, such as heart problems, headaches, acne and local irritation. Women are more sensitive to Minoxidil, that is why it is recommended that women use a maximum concentration of 2%.

      Nanoxidil was especially developed to maximize the stimulation of hair growth, by taking away the side effects of Minoxidil as a lotion and to surpass the effectiveness of stimulating hair growth. The difference between Minoxidil and Nanoxidil is mainly the difference in molecular structure. The agent Nanoxidil, which is responsible for opening the ion channels, has a larger molecular weight than Minoxidil. This is the reason it is absorbed better by the skin. Clinical studies have shown that Nanoxidil has much fewer side effects than Minoxidil.

      The lotion Spectral.DNC-N contains, apart from Nanoxidil, various ingredients to promote the absorption and to improve the hair growth in multiple ways. Minoxidil lotions however usually only contain Minoxidil. Additional substances that stimulate hair regrowth include Adenosine, Aminexil, procyanide B2 and copper peptides.

      Spectral.DNC-N with Nanoxidil has been clinically tested for safety and effectiveness in over 250 people for 1 year:

      93%

      noticed a decrease in hair loss

      83%

      saw hair regeneration (measured by the quantity per cm2)

      80%

      saw significant improvement (according to medical evaluation)

      Switch from Minoxidil to another lotion

      Many customers who have used Minoxidil in the past have switched because of side effects or a non-satisfactory effect.

      If you are currently using Minoxidil and want to switch to a different lotion, we recommend using both lotions next to each other for two weeks. For example Minoxidil in the morning and the new lotion in the evening. After two weeks, your scalp and hair follicles will get used to the new lotion and you can start using the new lotion twice a day.

      Start using the better alternatives to minoxidil for hair loss

      The Neofollics hair growth stimulating lotion is clinically proven to stimulating new hair growth and combating hair loss. The lotion can also ensure thicker and fuller hair. Neofollics lotion contains a high concentration of 10 proven active ingredients, combined in the Neoxyl® hair growth complex.
      Spectral.DNC-N with Nanoxidil is designed to surpass the limitations of Minoxidil lotion. Nanoxidil is a complex matrix that opens ions channels within cells and exerts multiple mechanisms of action to address over a dozen triggers that lead to hair loss.
      Spectral.CSF is specifically developed for women. This lotion is particularly suitable for women with hair loss and thinning hair due to hormonal changes, for instance after pregnancy or menopause. This lotion contains new key ingredients that have clinically shown to be effective in women.

      Frequently asked questions

      No, to maintain the desired results, you need to continue using the product daily. If you stop using the product, hair loss may eventually return.

      It's not a big deal to forget Minoxidil once. In that case, do it anyway, unless it is already almost time for the next application, and think about what you can do to do better the next day. Put the product in sight, so you see it when you need to use it. Try to get a rhythm into it, make it a daily ritual. After a while, just like brushing your teeth or styling your hair, it will start to feel more and more normal and come naturally.

      Minoxidil can have side effects. The most common are itching and other skin irritations in places where you applied the Minoxidil. Minoxidil contains alcohol, so you might experience a burning sensation and/or (skin) irritations. These irritations sometimes occur in sensitive areas such as around the eyes. Does the product accidentally come into contact with the skin? Then rinse it off a copious amount of running tap water. Does the irritation and itching persist for a longer period of time?

      If so, contact your doctor. If you experience any side effects, contact our customer service or your doctor. This also applies to possible side effects not listed in the leaflet.

      It means that the Dutch Ministry of Health allows us to sell medicines like Minoxidil online. We have to meet strict requirements for this, and we are regularly reviewed by the ministry on this.