Minoxidil Spray For Hair Loss (Topical)

About minoxidil 6% topical solution

Key points

• Topical solution for hair growth
• Results within 3-6 months
• High strength minoxidil formulated in a UK NHS approved lab

Buy minoxidil online

You can buy minoxidil topical spray by completing an online questionnaire, which is assessed by one of our inhouse pharmacists. If suitable, you will be offered treatment.

What is minoxidil?

Minoxidil is a drug which helps to treat male pattern baldness. It encourages hair regrowth and helps to prevent further hair loss. It was first used as a medication to treat high blood pressure, where its effects on hair regrowth were discovered as a side effect of treatment.

How does minoxidil work?

Minoxidil belongs to a class of drugs known as vasodilators. This means that it works to widen blood vessels. Whilst minoxidil’s mechanism of action is not fully understood, it is thought that widening of blood vessels in the scalp, helps to deliver oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles. This helps to stimulate growth and reactivate follicles that are not producing hair.

It is also thought that minoxidil stimulates hair to move from the resting phase (where hair does not grow), to the growth phase. This will not only help to promote hair growth but can also help to increase the overall thickness of hair.

How to use minoxidil for hair loss

Apply 1ml (6 sprays) to a dry scalp, massaging the liquid in with your fingertips. Do this twice daily, preferably in the morning and at night.

Wash your hands after application.

Ensure that your scalp is dry before applying the spray. Do not wet your scalp for up to 4 hours after application.

You can style your hair after applying the solution, providing that the styling products are dry.

Side effects of topical minoxidil

Most of the side effects of minoxidil relate to the oral tablets. It is unlikely that the topical formulation will be absorbed through the skin to cause side effects.

There is a small chance of side effects with topical minoxidil, and these usually relate to issues surrounding the hair and scalp.

The most common side effects of topical minoxidil include:

• Irritation at the site of application
• Itchiness of the scalp
• Burning of the scalp
• Temporary increase in hair loss (minoxidil shedding)
• Change in hair texture
• Change in hair colour

Does minoxidil have any sexual side effects?

Minoxidil is not known to cause sexual side effects.

Will I experience shedding?

Minoxidil shedding is when you lose hair at a faster rate than you did before starting treatment. This happens because minoxidil is moving hair out of the resting phase, causing it to fall out at a faster rate than usual. This is to make way for newer, thicker, and healthier strands of hair. It is a sign that minoxidil is working. Shedding usually starts anywhere between 2-8 weeks into treatment and lasts for around 8 weeks. From week 12 onwards, shedding should have stopped and you should start to notice better hair growth.

Minoxidil warnings

This medicine is suitable for most people, however, not everyone can use it. If you are in any doubt, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not use this medicine if:

• You are allergic to minoxidil or any of the other ingredients contained in this medicine (listed in section 6)
• You are female
• You are under the age of 18 or over the age of 65
• You have hair loss caused by medication
• You have total baldness or complete loss of all body hair
• The cause of your hair loss is unknown, uneven, or it is sudden and unexpected
• You have high blood pressure (treated or untreated)
• You suffer from a heart condition(s), including but not limited to abnormal heart rhythms or rates, angina or chest pains and/or circulation disorders, high blood pressure
• You have any condition that affects your scalp, including sunburn and psoriasis
• You have a shaven scalp
• You are using creams, ointments or lotions used to treat scalp conditions
• You have any kind of dressing or bandage on your scalp
• You are at all unsure whether your scalp is normal and healthy

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if:

• You are not sure where your scalp is normal and healthy
• You are taking other medicines, including certain blood pressure medicines called ‘vasodilators’ e.g. hydralazine. There is a potential that minoxidil can interact with these medicines and increase their effect
• There may be underlying causes of hair loss, such as hormonal issues or mal-nutrition

How long does minoxidil take to work?

It takes around 4 months of consistent use to see any signs of hair growth. Several missed doses can hinder results.

Minoxidil results timeline

Results after 1 month

You are unlikely see any results after 1 month of treatment. In fact, you may experience an accelerated rate of hair loss. This is known as minoxidil shedding, and it is a sign that treatment is working. Hair shedding is a sign that older hairs are making way for newer and healthier strands of hair.
 

Results after 3 months

After 3-4 months of consistent use, you should start to notice the visual benefits of treatment. Taking before and after pictures can help you to ascertain whether treatment is working. You should not be experiencing any shedding after 3 months of use. If you have not noticed any positive results, you should contact your pharmacist for advice.
 

Results after 6 months

Minoxidil results should be clearly visible after 6 months. If you have not noticed any positive results, it is unlikely that treatment is going to be effective.
 

Results after 1 year

After 1 year of using minoxidil, you should have a strong indication of how successful the treatment is. Whilst some users may still see hair growth at this stage, minoxidil is primarily used as a maintenance treatment at this stage.

How effective is treatment?

Minoxidil is a proven treatment for hair loss in men. It is most effective in:

• Younger men
• Those that have been displaying symptoms of male pattern baldness for a short period of time
• Small areas of baldness
• Those that use treatment consistently

A study conducted an America found that topical minoxidil had a positive outcome in 84% of men who were experiencing hair loss.

Another study concluded that topical minoxidil was significantly more effective in regrowing hair, when compared to a placebo.
 

What happens if you stop using it?

Stopping minoxidil will reverse any positive results you have experienced from treatment. You cannot stop using minoxidil without losing hair that has been regrown.
 

Does Minoxidil work on a receding hairline?

Minoxidil can have a positive effect on a receding hairline, however, studies have predominantly been conducted on men experiencing hair loss on the crown, or the top of the scalp.

The hair follicles at the front of the head are similar to those on the top of the head. If treatment is started early enough, you may experience reactivation of these hair follicles, resulting in hair regrowth in the frontal area.

Minoxidil interactions

Do not use this product at the same time as applying other topical treatments to the scalp. This includes, but it not limited to corticosteroids, retinoids or dithranol.

There is limited information on the interactions between topical minoxidil and other medication. Although not clinically proven, it is theoretically possible that the absorption of minoxidil into the bloodstream may cause a drop in blood pressure. Patients at risk include those with a history of low blood pressure, the elderly, and those taking medication to lower blood pressure.

Minoxidil alternatives

Oral minoxidil tablets vs topical spray

Oral minoxidil tablets are effective. A study analysing the effects of minoxidil tablets on blood pressure, found that a side effect of the tablets, was improved hair growth. As a result, topical minoxidil was successfully trialled. Both formulations are effective in treating hair loss. However, as the tablets are absorbed into the bloodstream, they have a higher side effect profile.

Side effects of oral minoxidil tablets include:

• A drop in blood pressure which can cause headaches, dizziness, or light-headedness
• Cardiovascular symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, or shortness of breath
• Fluid retention causing swelling of the face, hands and feet
• Unwanted hair growth in areas of the body such as you neck, hands, and feet
• Nausea and vomiting

Topical minoxidil is applied directly to the scalp, with little to no absorption into the blood stream. This means that side effects are milder and will generally be localised to the scalp. 

Ultimately, oral minoxidil tablets are seen to pose a higher risk than the topical formulation.
 

Minoxidil 5% vs 6%

Minoxidil 5% is available over the counter. It is an effective hair loss treatment for men and has been used for several years. We supply a higher 6% strength. Studies have demonstrated that a small increase in percentage, is likely to yield better results. In theory, a small increase in percentage is likely to produce better results, without a proportionate increase in side effects.

Minoxidil ingredients

Active ingredient: Minoxidil 6%

Inactive ingredients: Glycerol, Water, Sulphuric Acid and Methylated Spirit

Sources

NHS UK. (n.d.). Hair Loss. Retrieved August 11, 2024, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hair-loss/