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Minoxidil for hair loss

In shortMinoxidil is a foam or liquid you put on your scalp for pattern hair loss. Irish pharmacies sell it without a prescription, at €50 to €85 for a three-month pack. It suits men and women, needs four months before you judge it, and only works while you keep using it.

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What it does

Minoxidil keeps follicles in their growing phase for longer and thickens some thin hairs. It slows pattern hair loss in many people and regrows some hair in fewer, mostly at the crown and top. It does little for a hairline that has already gone.

A comb being drawn back through a man's dark hair

How it's used

Follow the leaflet in the pack. Most men's products go on a dry scalp twice a day; some women's products are once a day. Wash your hands afterwards. Check the label for the age range: each product states its own. Don't use it if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or on a red, sore or broken scalp.

The early shed

In the first two to eight weeks many people lose more hair, not less. That's the old hairs making way for new ones and it's usually a sign it's working. If it's still going after two months, ask the pharmacist or your GP.

Side effects

An itchy or flaky scalp is the common one, more with the liquid than the foam. Some women get fine hair on the face if it runs or transfers. Stop and get medical advice for chest pain, a fast heartbeat, dizziness or swollen hands and feet.

How long to give it

  • Weeks 2 to 8: extra shedding in many people.
  • Month 2 to 4: shedding slows. This is the first sign it's working.
  • Month 4 to 6: fine new hairs, mostly on the crown and top.
  • Month 12: about as good as it gets. From here it is upkeep.

The leaflet in your pack says how long to try it before stopping if nothing has changed. Follow that. Take a photo before you start, or you'll have nothing to compare with.

What it costs

A three-month pack of 5% foam or liquid costs €50 to €85 in Irish pharmacies, and a single pack from about €44. Shop around: the same pack varies a lot between pharmacies.

Minoxidil tablets exist too. They are a blood pressure medicine that some dermatologists prescribe in low doses for hair loss, off label. That is a specialist's decision, with checks on your heart and blood pressure.

Questions people ask

Does minoxidil work for a receding hairline?

It works better on the crown and top than on the temples. It may slow a receding hairline but rarely brings one back.

Can women use minoxidil?

Yes. Some products are licensed for women. Ask the pharmacist, and don't use it in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

What happens when I stop minoxidil?

The hair it kept is shed over the next three to four months.

Foam or liquid?

They work the same way. The foam dries faster and irritates less; the liquid's dropper reaches the scalp more easily through long hair.

Can I use minoxidil with finasteride?

Yes, many men use both: they work in different ways. A doctor should confirm the combination suits you.

More guides

Treatment for menTreatment for womenWhich treatment works?FinasteridePRP for hair lossHair transplantLaser therapyScalp micropigmentationNatural treatmentsWigs and the grantMale pattern baldnessFemale pattern hair lossAlopecia areataSudden sheddingAfter pregnancyMenopauseCauses of hair lossReceding hairlineScalp problemsOur price guideYour GP and blood testsWho treats hair loss?Choosing a clinicReading reviewsTurkey or Ireland?

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