Minoxidil is another popular ingredient for well-known products in the hair loss prevention and hair regrowth industry.  This was an interesting find because the original use for Minoxidil was for treatment of high blood pressure.

Side effects, however, included an increase in hair growth in many cases. While one time a strictly prescription only medication, Minoxidil is now available over-the-counter.

About Minoxidil

Minoxidil was first introduced as a prescription drug taken orally for the treatment of hypertension. However, the very common side effect of new hair growth was reported.

Soon, the drug’s potential in the treatment of hair loss became evident and has even now overshadowed its first use in lowering blood pressure.

Minoxidil works to relieve hypertension by acting as a vasodilator. This means that it opens and relaxes blood vessels enough to reduce the force with which blood is pumped through them.

This same vasodilatory property is responsible for the effectiveness of Minoxidil in stimulating hair regrowth.

Minoxidil causes vasodilation of the blood vessel by releasing nitric oxide which is known to widen the diameter of the vessels.

As an antihypertensive, Minoxidil (sold as Loniten) is not the first-line drug in the management of high blood pressure. This is because oral Minoxidil produces some serious side effects on the circulatory system.

Because of its systemic side effects, when it was formulated for hair loss treatment, Minoxidil was presented in topical preparations to be applied directly to the hair.

While Rogaine was the first such preparation of Minoxidil, other brands of the medication are now available and sold as over-the-counter products.

For those who struggle with androgenic alopecia, Minoxidil may be the right hair regrowth method to use or at least try.

There are a few basic things to know about this blood pressure medication turned hair growth stimulant.

• The reason for the ability to cause or stimulate hair growth in users is actually unknown.
• Minoxidil contains moiety, which is a nitric oxide.
• Minoxidil is designed for topical use for treatment of baldness or hair loss.
• For men the products that contain Minoxidil generally use five percent, while women's products use less at around two percent.

The Pros and the Cons

Before deciding on a hair loss product or treatment for your own hair loss prevention or reversal, it is a good idea to know the potential pros and cons for each alternative you have.

Minoxidil Pros:

• It has proven effective in many products for certain users.
• In some cases, this ingredient has helped cause significant increase in hair growth.
• This can be obtained over the counter in different types of products.

Minoxidil Cons:

• Minoxidil may not work well for larger surface areas of hair loss.
• This product also has proven to show better results when it comes to men who are younger and have not been suffering with hair loss for more than five years.
• It appears that once users discontinue it, the effects wear off and the hair may even revert to previous status.

Potential Side Effects of Minoxidil

It is also important to know what you may be getting into when it comes to side effects. This is important so you know what to watch for and also what issues you may need to discuss with your doctor before agreeing to use it.

• Irritation or burning of the skin or eyes has been reported by some users. Apart from skin irritation, Minoxidil can also cause dandruff and itchy scalp. Some women report hair growth in the forehead and cheeks when using the medication. 
• With increased chance for hair growth comes the possibility of having hair grow where you don't want hair to grow thicker.
• Some users may experience more serious side effects, and all users should carefully monitor for these issues. These include chest pain, shortness of breath or an elevated heartbeat. Also unexplained weight gain could be the sign of a more severe reaction to using a product that contains Minoxidil. Although you may notice skin irritation, a more serious reaction such as hives could be the indication of a more severe side effect.

Examples of Reviews from Some Minoxidil Users

A good majority of consumers who used products containing Minoxidil to help treat hair loss had good news to report. There were, as expected, a certain percentage of users who claimed there were no results.

The problem with this is it is difficult to determine if the users followed the twice a day regimen required to make this a successful hair regrowth treatment.

In general, users of this product shared some similar experiences. For example, many users could certainly report a good amount of regrowth but did feel the new hair was not as thick as their original, natural hair.

In addition, many hair loss sufferers using this product reported actual filling-in, along the hairline.

Not to mention a general consensus seemed to be that the results actually began to be noticed earlier than expected. Since it can take at least half a year to see results those who were seeing promising results within two and a half to three months.