A slowly emerging practice among American dermatologists is bringing incredible results for people suffering from hair loss and is relatively cheap.
But the medication isn’t actually new – in fact, the ingredient minoxidil, has been used for years in topical hair loss treatments in the forms of sprays, foams and even shampoos.
What’s different, is that it’s now being provided to hair loss patients in the form of a low-dose oral tablet.
But while more dermatologists in America are looking to provide access to the tablet treatment, in Australia it’s a lot harder to access minoxidil tablets.
First of all, the tablet has to be consumed in low-enough doses that it doesn’t significantly impact blood pressure. Commonly, minoxidil is sold as loniten in 10mg doses to treat high blood pressure. But in order to treat hair loss, tablets need to be at around 1-2mg doses, and are made to order by compound pharmacies who specialise in catering to custom medication order.
But most importantly, accessing tablet forms of minoxidil requires a medical prescription. This is because, in Australia, the use of low-dose minoxidil tablets hasn’t been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Similarly in America, dermatologists will approve the use of tablets via “off-label’” prescriptions which allow patients to access medication that isn’t necessarily approved by the FDA.
What is it?
Minoxidil in higher dose tablets was originally used to treat medical conditions like high blood pressure but was later developed into a lower dose lotion after patients noted hair growth all over their body as a side effect of the medicine.
Popularly sold as Rogaine, the topical treatment needs to be rubbed onto the scalp directly in order to effectively stimulate hair regrowth. However, the topical treatment doesn’t have the same effectiveness for everyone, and for some – it simply doesn’t work at all.
This is because in order for minoxidil to stimulate hair growth, it needs to be converted into an active form by specific enzymes. And when applied topically on the scalp, the roots of the hair may not contain enough of the enzyme to sufficiently activate the medicine. But when taken orally, it’s converted automatically.
It then works to dilate the blood vessels, allowing more nutrients to make their way to the hair roots and nourish the follicles.
Speaking to the New York Post, Dr Amanda Doyle, a board-certified dermatologist with Manhattan’s Russak Dermatology Clinic said that using the low dose oral tablets is an effective treatment for some people.
“It’s found to be effective in certain patients and, generally, a very safe medication when we use it as such a small dose, like we do for this purpose,” Dr Doyle said.
“So when it’s used at a lower dose, in most patients, it doesn’t really have the effects on blood pressure or cardiovascular measures like when it’s used at high doses.”
The hair-pill can make you … hairy
But just like how painkiller not know where pain is – just dampens pain receptors all over the body. Accidentally prescribing even a few micrograms more than what your body can handle may result in you seeing excess hair all over your body including facial hair, back hair, across the arms and legs.
“It can stimulate hair growth or what’s called hypertrichosis on the temples and sideburns … So a woman wouldn’t want to get sideburns, or more facial hair, which could happen with this medication,” Dr Doyle told theNew York Post.
But one of the biggest pros is that, especially as sold in America, the treatment is relatively cheap. Hair treatments can be extremely expensive and can cost as high as a few hundred dollars. And with the sheer quantity of unproven and ineffective hair loss treatments, ointments, sprays and tablets available – the long since document effects of minoxidil means it is a proven hair growth stimulant.
Treating hair loss in Australia
While your dermatologist here is less likely to prescribe you low-dose minoxidil tablets to treat your hair loss – it’s not the only treatment available that is cost effective and has proven results.
For treatment of male-pattern baldness, finasteride oral tablets – a DHT inhibitor – are often prescribed. When testosterone breaks down into DHT, it works to prevent hair growth. By inhibiting the breakdown, men often experience a reversal of male-pattern baldness.
It’s also easy to buy minoxidil topical treatments like sprays and foams, and can be used in combination with finasteride tablets.
More Coverage
Together or on finasteride tablets alone, men can begin to see significant hair regrowth in a matter of months. Online clinics like Mosh, specialise in providing access to doctors to provide hair loss treatments but also provide generic hair loss tablets and minoxidil topical sprays.
Some men across Australia have seen significant hair growth over a few months.
However, it’s important to note that if the baldness is severe, and the scalp no longer contains follicles in a particular area, oral and topical treatments will not work.
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