How Does Minoxidil Work for a Receding Hairline?

This post on how does Minoxidil work was originally written in 2014. It has now been updated with newer studies discussing Minoxidil’s mechanism of action in stimulating hair growth.

Minoxidil Chemical Structure

Minoxidil (brand name Rogaine) is known to be one of only two medications officially approved for hair loss treatment (the other being Finasteride).

Minoxidil was first approved by the US FDA to treat hair loss in men in 1988. In 1991 the product was also made available for women with hair loss. Make sure to read my post on whether Minoxidil can grow a beard.

Also see some before and after results of patients on Minoxidil and/or Finasteride.

How does Minoxidil Work?

Scientists do not know the exact mechanism via which Minoxidil® has a positive effect on hair growth. However, there are a number of proven mechanisms of action that suggests how Minoxidil stimulates hair growth.

The original use of Minoxidil was as an oral medication for high blood pressure. The side effect of hypertrichosis (excessive body hair) led to its becoming a popular treatment option for hair loss.

To date, the main hypothesis about how Minoxidil works relates to its vasodilatory, potassium channel opening and increased blood flow effects. There are also other theories about how Minoxidil helps grow scalp hair, and further below I have outlined all of the main ones.

It should be noted that Minoxidil, besides prolonging the growth phase of the hair cycle, has also been shows to increase the diameter of existing hair follicles. According to a study from 1988, seven subjects who received a 5 percent dose of minoxidil had a mean hair shaft diameter of 0.029 mm before treatment, which then increased to 0.043 mm at 12 weeks.

Minoxidil and Hair Growth Studies

The current findings provide evidence that minoxidil could be used to treat both cancer and age-related disease, and open a new avenue for applications of minoxidil in treating androgen-AR pathway-related diseases.

Minoxidil enhances hair keratinocyte proliferation and activates hDP cells to induce growth factors. IGF-1 is among these growth factors, and has been shown to exhibit a potent hair elongation effect.

Minoxidil Side Effects

In general, topical Minoxidil is well tolerated in most people at the typical 5% dosage. Most people even tolerate higher concentration levels of the drug. However, some people will get side effects.

The most common entail adverse skin reactions such as burning, itching, redness and stinging in the areas of application. Another common complaint is an increase in body hair growth after taking Minoxidil, especially in the forehead, eyebrow and beard regions.

In rare instances, people complain about dizziness or breathing difficulties after taking Minoxidil. Allergic reactions, including rashes, are also possible in some cases. Please see a doctor immediately if you get such serious side effects. Also make sure to stop using this medication right away.

Minoxidil Shedding

Some people will shed a lot of hair after changing their Minoxidil® dosage. For those who quit Minoxidil entirely, a major shed of scalp hair is almost always guaranteed. Sometimes this can take weeks or even months after drug use cessation. In many instances, sheds are temporary and just the regular part of the hair cycle.

Minoxidil Toxicity in Cats

If you own pets, note that Minoxidil® is very poisonous to some animals, especially cats. If your cat is exposed to Minoxidil via a spill or accident, some side effects to look out for include:

  • Fatigue and lethargy.
  • Changes in heart rate due to cardiac damage.
  • Dehydration.
  • A drop blood pressure (hypotension).
  • Coughing.
  • Changes in appetite.

Prompt action and treatment by a veterinarian will prevent your cat from dying. If the medication was applied topically, make sure to wash the cat’s paws and fur promptly and thoroughly.

48 thoughts on “How Does Minoxidil Work for a Receding Hairline?”

  1. Hi
    I had hair loss a couple years ago due to some underlying issue, which has now been resolved.
    I resorted to Minoxidil immediately (which in hindsight I wish I hadnt), and my hair began to shed like crazy.
    I stopped using for a month, and almost a year later my hair has not recovered from the shedding period.
    The underlying issue is no longer present, I have no real hair loss, and no miniturisation of the hair shafts.
    Can you shed some light as to why this might be?

  2. Minoxidil is undoubtedly an effective treatment until it stops use ; as if you have not used a cure ; Minoxidil is also effective in some men and women and is negative with them too; I see that it is not a cure but it repairs the damage.
    We are waiting for a real treat.

  3. Regarding the risk to cats, what about indirect exposures?
    For example, If you apply rogaine, wash your hands but minutes later you put your hands on your head and then put these hands on the cat? Or If the cat lick your hairs or even the pillow you use to sleep.

    Can the cat be intoxicated?

  4. As far as I’m concerned, Minoxidil is the only thing in existence that has a good shot at regrowing significant portions of your hair. It has been an absolute life-saver for me, and I’m only I’d say about an average responder. Best part is that it’s relatively cheap, and has no real side effects (for me). For people that respond incredibly well, it effectively reverses slick baldness.

    1. I’m a good responder. I was a early NW 2.5 (Hair line & Vertex). Used it in May 2019 and now… a NW 1.5 (straight hairline and 90% filled out vertex). Still regrowing hair interestingly.

      @admin in your option, for folks who just started maintaining early hair loss (Nw 1.5-2.5), do you suspect (and if approved) a combo of Follica (follicle Neo genesis) and Breezula (halts hair loss) to essentially be a “cure” for this subgroup ? And obviously a transplant for those who want a Ronald Regan NW 1 hairline.

      1. Hi Handsome Squidward,

        That sounds correct, although I will only truly believe Follica’s efficacy after many users give their ratings and opinions on it.

  5. Minoxidil has been good to me. I just use it and nizoral and have done for 5 years. Still losing ground but thankfully at much slower rate. Perhaps had a slight impact on dark puffy circles under eyes but that could just be genetic, some friends have it way worse and don’t use it. I’m knocking on the door of 30 now. Started at 24 and glad I did. The foam works great and absorbs fast. Takes 2 mins in AM and PM. I would recommend to anyone.

  6. Random topic and hopefully it doesn’t hurt the topic of minoxidil too much, but I am very sad and I am trying to figure out if my hairloss could be fungal related?

    I have MPB style hairloss, a lot of the sides/back top has thinned out aggressively, the front middle has decent thickness but its clearly thinning out too. Was wondering if it could be fungal related because I do have acne and I have acne spots on my upper chest/upperarms/back which is a sign that my acne problems could be related to malassezia (fungus).

    When I am running outside, I have moderate itching when I get super sweaty not only on my scalp but my face and neck area as well. I did take antibiotics when I was younger for my acne(minocycline) which POTENTIALLY might have made the fungus more resistant which could potentially have triggered these issues (mpb/redness of face/itching)

    Any opinions about this?

  7. Off topic but I thought noteworthy that Frequency Theraputics pulled in another $62 million in venture capital on top of the $80 plus million they got last week from Astellas. This seemingly adds weight to their progenitor cell regeneration model with the hope that scalp hair isn’t far behind in their research timeline.

      1. Seems promising, but their main project is on hearing loss… My bald and balding fellows I’m only 20 years old with severe diffuse AGA and starting to lose hope already. So many breakthroughs, still nothing though.

        1. This won’t be the next possibility out there, but at 20, this is a solid development. Their platform is attracting a lot of capital: “We were impressed by …….the elegance and the underlying science of their platform…” While you are correct that their current trials are for regenerating ear hair, the latest funding will be used to develop other therapeutic uses and they are already researching a treatment for androgenic alopecia. See PCA Regeneration Opportunities

          1. Even at 20, as you probably know by now, progress moves painfully slow in this arena. But relatively speaking, Frequency seems to be moving quickly. They just came on the radar in February of 2018, and by April of this year, they had already announced positive Phase 1/2 trial results although I’m not sure what a 1/2 trial is. Phase 2 to commence this year. Theoretically, this could pave the way for similarly quick development of an androgenic alopecia treatment, research on which has already been ongoing for the past year. So as possibilities go, I personally rate this one high.

        2. GreedBlocksTheCure … Your name shows that you have a real understanding of how establishment money makers will aggressively squelch progress on any threats. That said, you’re lucky to be so young, with just a few years left until a real cure. Guys are in physical prime until age 35, so you have plenty of time.

          Right now, I recommend shaving your hair short. There are incredible SMP artists out there to supplement with a subtle texture (to avoid horse shoe pattern and maintain your youth). You can get FUE transplant to supplement, and it’ll never limit your future options to clip hair short or use the future “cure”. Never ever get linear strip scars (FUT)! That’ll limit your ability to clip your hair short and sucks terribly for very bald people (who start losing hair at 20).

          That’s all the advice I got. Just clip it short, get some sun, work out, and enjoy life. SMP can help you keep a young hairline illusion (highly recommended finding a good artist.. I know a guy). Good luck!

          1. Thanks for the advice mate, really appreciated. But, I think I’ll pass by on SMP cause it looks unnatural on most people and you turn into a play-mobile ( my opinion ). Concerning FUE, it seems like a good idea once I turn 26. Let’s hope till then that something else has come on the surface.

            1. SMP is extremely effective if you have a good artist who does a subtle job with a realistic irregular hairline. I’ve had 4 hair transplant surgeries and hair systems, but modern fine-point SMP looks the most natural by far for keeping a young and natural look (helps that my hair transplants give it 3D stubble). The key is to be subtle so that hardly anyone notices, yet they just think you shaved your hair as a choice. Anyway good luck!

  8. My greatest concern with Minoxidil are the old studies that showed an increase in Left Ventricular Mass with use of 2% topical Minoxidil. To my knowledge no further studies have been done on the subject. Here is one of the old studies:

    Do someone have any more knowledge about studies on Minoxidil and heart health? Its hard for me to understand why the 1988 study was not followed up by studies with longer duration.

  9. What happened to the Italian lotion (don’t remember the name) that everyone was waiting for and was hyped a few months ago? Any update on that? Anyone seen result?

    1. The name of the lotion I mean is Trinov.. It was really hyped and not seen a word about it since anyone knows what about it?

      1. I think you’ve answered your own question. 2019 has seen Brotzu and Aclaris throw down the gauntlet. Soon to be Shiseido. I was originally very optimistic but their delayed release of the results has me sceptical.

        1. @Scott what got me really sceptical is the dispute between shiseido and RepliCel. They either have a real breakthrough and shiseido ( as the big player ) wanted to get RepliCel off the game through the legal path, or got nothing so they buy time by delaying the results release.

    1. Pier, The link doesn’t work. I went to the investor presentation tab (reports and presentations) and there is 7/23/19 report but I do not see the comments you mention and page 21 deals with LYT-210. Can you check your link?

  10. My apologies if this is the wrong place to post this information. But I believe its significant and wanted to share . I have HMO insurance and seeing my dermatologist for AGA (Loyola clinic in Chicago). The clinic is now performing PRP shots, which is new procedure for them. My insurance only covered the scalp biopsy , but the dermatologist performs 6 session PRP shots for 1500 (~250 per session) which they perform at the Loyola clinic. Hopefully, the insurance companies eventually agree to pick up the tab for PRP sessions in the future.

    1. I have had it done and know others who have had it done. For sports injuries it’s amazing. For hair loss, it’s useless. Save your money and wait for something whereby you can tell the difference without a microscope.

  11. My 2 cents:
    Pontus, you have some very good concerns with minoxidil. I have wondered the same. Could it be that if they uncovered more minox bad side effects that there would be a major major law suit beyond what anyone has ever seen?

    Eddie, insurance companies will never approve to cover prp. Sorry man, not gonna happen. It’s an aesthetic thing. That would be like insurance companies paying for rhinoplasty. Not happening.

    I’m less impressed with follica and puretech every day. Not only are they taking forever, but their technology/invention is based on current treatments. If you dont believe me, just look on their web site. All they are doing is giving you some new hair that you can maintain with the current treatments.

    I enjoy coming to this site however one thing I would like to see change is the small number of people that respond to others questions or statements. How many of you passed up on responding to Eddie’s and pontus? You knew the answers or info yet you just pass them cause it doesnt suit your needs. It gets annoying when you throw a question out there and you get skipped over by the community, I’m sure.

    1. I like to respond if I think I can save someone a lot of money by telling them my experience doing the same thing.
      And I don’t do it to act superior, because after all I was the original idiot that did the PRP / laser cap / etc. I wasted thousands and I still look like the villain from the second blade movie.

  12. Who cares if follica uses current methods. If it can grow 30cm2 hairs than bring it. So you would rather wait another decade for something revolutionary to come out like tsuji and still be banding all those years? I don’t get some people’s logic. If they can find a more effective way of wounding and minox cocktail that grows new hair and thickens existing then they got a good product. They are taking forever because they have to go through all the bs redtape. I’m rooting For follica. That other company focusing on hair loss sounds great but they don’t focus on hairloss. It’s just polaryte with their skin growing. They said hair loss is next…….two years later they went quiet. It’s all about funding and boosting awareness…same circle

    Top 2 new treatments that has a chance for release


    Everything is a decade away for commercial use or will fail…

    1. He is still on time as far as his schedule goes, but he shouldn’t be expecting new results from him until mid next year at the absolute earliest.

  13. I agree with mjones christiano hairclone polarity terskikh all these companies are 5 years away.

    I believe tsuji will be on time however I think it couldl be expensive. As for shiseido we should be finding out within weeks. Follica is best deal yet.

    Mjones they said 100 terminals per cm2 or 30?

  14. Egghead- follica said 30cm2 terminal hairs and 100cm2 neogenic. Not sure what neogenic is…hopefully new created hairs that go terminal with continued used of their cocktail. Either way 30 new terminal plus thickening of miniaturized hairs is great. It will do wonders for my diffuse loss and those with nw1 to 4. It will help those higher norwoods grow hair and be acceptable for ht.

  15. MJones have you ever given thought that many people cant use fin or minox? That they react badly to a prostrate shrinking drug and heart medication?! Of course we want something other then something that amplifies current treatments. Commonsense. .

  16. So I came accross a website selling 15% minoxidil combined with Finastride and some other good stuff. It’s called DualGen-15 NO PG Plus and is sold by .
    Does anyone know if one would stand a higher chance regrowing some of the lost crown hair with this product instead of the standard 5% formula?

Leave a Reply
