Minoxidil is an effective solution for several different types of hair loss, including male-pattern baldness, female-pattern hair loss, and alopecia areata. To get the best results, you need to use Minoxidil consistently over several months.
It’s usually recommended that men use Minoxidil twice a day. However, some people prefer to reduce their Minoxidil use to once a day to minimise side effects.
So will using Minoxidil once a day also minimise your chances of seeing good hair regrowth? Let’s find out if using Minoxidil once a day is an effective treatment for hair loss.
It’s recommended that men use 5% Minoxidil twice a day, while women should use 2% Minoxidil once a day.
That’s because women are more likely to see unwanted side effects like hypertrichosis (excessive facial and/or body hair growth) when using a high dose of Minoxidil.
When used in combination with Minoxidil, derma rolling for hair may speed up the hair growth process.
Research suggests Minoxidil can improve symptoms of hair loss even if you use it just once a day [1-3].
However, most evidence suggests it’s more beneficial to use Minoxidil twice a day. Reducing your use of Minoxidil — especially if you use it less than once a day — can lead to slower progress and reduced effectiveness.
Yes. It’s safe for men to use Minoxidil just once a day, but you can expect to see slower results than if you use Minoxidil twice a day.
Most research has studied the effectiveness of Minoxidil when applied twice a day. However, one comparative study found that twice daily application of topical Minoxidil was preferable to once daily application for men seeking to maintain their hair growth following a one-year course of applying Minoxidil twice a day [1].
Men who reduced their Minoxidil usage to once a day lost more hair on average than those who continued to apply Minoxidil twice a day.
Female hair loss patients are usually advised to use Minoxidil once a day. However, some women with severe hair loss may benefit from using Minoxidil twice a day.
That said, women are more likely to experience negative side effects from overuse of Minoxidil. Hypertrichosis on the face and body is a common concern for women using Minoxidil.
One study found that applying 5% Minoxidil once a day was as effective as twice the daily application of 2% Minoxidil in women with female pattern baldness [3]. It could also reduce local side effects like Minoxidil scalp itchiness and dandruff, although the impact on hypertrichosis remains unknown.
It’s not always easy to diagnose and treat female hair loss. There are often several contributing factors, which is why it’s important to get a diagnosis from a female hair loss specialist.
Oral Minoxidil is an effective hair loss treatment, but it’s not officially licensed in the UK. However, some hair loss specialists will prescribe oral Minoxidil in certain circumstances.
If you take oral Minoxidil for hair loss, you’ll usually take it once a day. Studies show that 5mg of oral Minoxidil once a day can improve symptoms of male pattern baldness [5].
Be aware that oral Minoxidil is more likely to lead to systemic side effects, such as lightheadedness, fluid retention, and a rapid heartbeat.
Using Minoxidil alongside another hair loss treatment, such as Finasteride, may mean you can use it less often and still see strong, sustained new hair growth.
Some formulas combine Minoxidil and Finasteride as part of the same solution. Unlike Minoxidil-only formulas, you’ll need a prescription for any solution that contains topical Finasteride. So it’s recommended that you apply the solution as often as prescribed (usually once a day).
Studies have shown that it’s also safe for male pattern baldness patients to use oral Finasteride alongside topical Minoxidil [6].
If you haven’t seen results from using Minoxidil, or you’re unsure about using it more than once a day, there are several Minoxidil alternatives available, including:
Establishing the underlying cause of your hair loss is important for finding the right treatment. It’s not always easy to self-diagnose hair loss, so book a consultation at the Wimpole Clinic to get a personalised diagnosis and treatment plan at one of our UK clinic locations.
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