REGAINE®, one of the most widely recognised treatment options for hair loss in the UK, contains the active ingredient ‘Minoxidil’.
Available over the counter in various strengths, Minoxidil helps promote hair growth1 by treating male/female pattern baldness2.
What is Minoxidil?
Originally introduced in the 1970s, Minoxidil was found to help promote hair regrowth in balding patients2. This discovery led to the official launch of Minoxidil solution as a commercial treatment for male pattern baldness. While initially developed to treat hair loss in men, it was later expanded to treat hair loss in women too3.
How Minoxidil works
Minoxidil helps to increase blood flow to the hair roots.5 Minoxidil also helps to strengthen and encourage existing hairs to grow, by increasing the supply of blood and nutrients to the hair follicles.
Minoxidil helps to promote hair regrowth in 4 ways:
Reverses the miniaturisation of follicles.
Increases blood flow around follicles.
Stimulates follicle movement to growth phase.
Extends each follicles growth phase.
While scientists are still researching the exact mechanism by which Minoxidil works, we know it can help promote hair growth and reverse androgenetic alopecia by the following means:
Helps to reverse follicle miniaturisation
Helps to improve blood flow around follicles
Helps to stimulate follicle movement to growth phase
Helps to prolong the growth phase of each follicle
Male/female pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) is a genetically predetermined disorder that can affect up to 50% of men by the age of 50, and up to 56% of women by the age of 70. Individuals with this condition often start displaying gradual hair loss from the scalp any time after puberty6.
Using Minoxidil for hair growth results
Minoxidil is the only over-the-counter active ingredient clinically proven to help stop and even reverse hereditary hair loss, by reactivating your inactive hair follicles. Minoxidil is most effective for men experiencing hereditary hair loss7.
SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN RESULTS
FOR MEN
90% of men said that they kept or regrew hair
after 16 weeks with Regaine®
for Men Extra Strength Scalp Foam
twice a day.
FOR WOMEN
80% of women studied
experienced hair regrowth with
Regaine® for Women Once A Day
Scalp Foam.
Potential Minoxidil side-effects
Minoxidil is associated with some side-effects. Although not everyone gets them, you may experience5:
Shortness of breath or chest pains
Increased facial and body hair growth
Low blood pressure that causes fainting or dizziness
Increased heart rate and palpitations
Weight gain/ankle swelling caused by fluid retention
Skin rash.
If you notice any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse1.
Minoxidil for hair growth FAQs
Minoxidil helps increase new hair growth in cases where hair loss is caused by male/female pattern baldness. Applying a topical solution or foam on the affected area of your scalp can help promote hair growth1.
Minoxidil (REGAINE®) can work to regrow your hair if you keep using it consistently. But even then, it only works for male/female pattern baldness and won’t work for everyone7.
It depends on the individual. Some people might start to see results from REGAINE® after around eight weeks to four months of use8.
While there is no set date when Minoxidil might not be effective for hair growth, hair loss treatments work best when they're used as early as possible — ideally, as soon as you notice the first signs of hair loss emerging. The sooner you act, the better4.