Minoxidil For WomenMinoxidil for women, marketed under the name Rogaine for women, is increasing in popularity. While we most often see commercials and advertisements for Rogaine for men, Rogaine does make a product specifically for women. The Rogaine product for women contains an ingredient called minoxidil. Minoxidil was initially developed as a treatment for high blood pressure, but researchers noticed that it also caused hair growth, and they wondered if it would work as a treatment for hair loss. It was found that it did, in some patients. Minoxidil is still used to treat high blood pressure, but now it is also used in a topical solution to treat hair loss. The topical solution is available without a prescription (you need a prescription to get the oral medication used to treat high blood pressure). Minoxidil is most effective for treating hair loss where there is still some hair left, which makes it a good treatment for women in that regard. That’s because women generally have thinning hair all over the head rather than complete bald spots. Rogaine for Women Rogaine for women differs from Rogaine for men in one important way. The FDA approved dose for men is 5% minoxidil. The FDA approved dose for women is only 2% minoxidil. That’s because women seem to be more susceptible to harmful side effects from minoxidil, such as chest pain, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and faintness. Minoxidil for women can cause a decrease in blood pressure (hypotension). To reduce your risk of side effects, use Rogaine only as directed. It should be applied only twice a day. Using it more often, or applying more than directed, will not improve your results and will increase your risk of side effects. If you experience any of these side effects while using Rogaine, you should stop using it immediately and see your doctor. Because of these potentially harmful side effects, Rogaine for women has a lower dose of minoxidil than Rogaine for men. That may cause it to be less effective; Rogaine for women is effective in only 40-50% of women, as opposed to Rogaine for men, which is effective in 50-60% of men. Also due to these potentially harmful side effects, Minoxidil should not be used by pregnant women or by women who may become pregnant. Minoxidil for women should not be used by women who are nursing because it is not known how it might affect the baby. Minoxidil for women can also have a relatively harmless but undesirable side effect - it can cause hair growth on the face. This can occur even when minoxidil is not applied to the face, because it is absorbed into the system through the skin. This hair usually goes away within three or four months of discontinuing the use of minoxidil, but it can be very disturbing for many women. Women and Hair Loss Despite the risks of minoxidil for women, many women are looking for hair loss treatment. Hair loss affects nearly 25 million women, and they want answers. Women with hair loss often feel very self-conscious about their appearance. They may withdraw from social situations because of this. Women will often try to disguise their hair loss with styling tricks and by wearing hats, scarves, and wigs. These are temporary solutions at best and can still cause women to feel self-conscious. The emotional impact of hair loss in women cannot be over-emphasized. Recommended Hair Loss TreatmentThe editors of ezHairCare have carefully researched the many hair loss products on the market today. After considering both their effectiveness and their safety, we have identified a product that we can confidently recommend to our female readers. We prefer it to Rogaine. For more information about our recommended hair loss treatment, just follow this link.More about minoxidil for women on our does rogaine work page
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