Oftentimes, we tend to associate higher-concentration medications with a more potent effect. And when it comes to hair loss treatments, most patients want to experience substantial hair growth as soon as possible, so some are tempted to try the strongest options available. One study shows a 20-60% hair fall reduction [1] in over 70% of patients with male pattern baldness treated with Minoxidil 10%; but is it more effective than Minoxidil 5%?
Unfortunately, when it comes to this hair growth medication, a higher concentration does not necessarily amount to better results. Some studies indicate that while topical Minoxidil 10% may perform somewhat better in improving frontal hair density in men [2], the 5% formula is more effective in promoting overall hair growth [3].
Moreover, the stronger variety can produce more side effects. However, the research on this topic is still limited. This article will tell you everything you need to know about the effectiveness of 10% vs 5% topical Minoxidil such as:
Minoxidil is a medication originally developed to treat high blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels. However, researchers noticed that when used to dilate the capillaries in the scalp, it increased the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reached the hair follicles. This led to improved strand density, as it allowed the follicles to remain in the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle for longer[4].
Thus, some lower-strength Minoxidil formulas were approved as a hair loss treatment, quickly becoming one of the most popular and effective treatments for androgenetic alopecia.
Minoxidil 10% is a stronger concentration of this medication, formulated to contain 10g of the active ingredient Minoxidil in every 100ml of liquid. It can be applied to the scalp to promote hair growth in male or female pattern baldness or as an adjuvant treatment in other types of alopecia, such as alopecia areata or advanced traction alopecia. Although, the 10% concentration of this drug can only be used off-label, as it has yet to be approved for hair loss.
Because there’s a higher concentration of the active ingredient in Minoxidil 10% than in Minoxidil 5%, you might expect it to be more effective for treating hair loss than lower-strength topical Minoxidil formulas. But research suggests this isn’t usually the case.
In one 2019 small study comparing Minoxidil 10% and Minoxidil 5%, researchers found that the latter was moderately superior to the 10% formulation for increasing hair regrowth in men with male pattern baldness [3]. It was safer and more effective at improving average hair count in the scalp’s crown and frontal regions after 36 weeks.
However, a recent (albeit even smaller) study published in 2024 revealed that 10% Minoxidil increased frontal hair count somewhat better than the 5% formulation. Still, they had comparable efficiency in other parts of the scalp. However, there were significantly more side effects in the 10% group [2].
No, there is no argument that Minoxidil can be quite effective against androgenetic alopecia hair loss. A 2016 study [1] performed using the dermatological records of almost 1800 patients with androgenetic alopecia shows this formulation can be quite effective in improving hair thinning.
The data revealed that 55% of patients had a 25-50% improvement in scalp appearance, and 20% had a 50-75% improvement after 6 months of treatment with Minoxidil 10%. Dermatologists also noted that 75% of patients treated with this medication showed a 20-60% improvement in hair density. Furthermore, over 70% of patients experienced a 20-60% decrease in hair loss.
However, 5% Minoxidil has been repeatedly shown to be at least as effective as the 10% variety and produce fewer unwanted side effects, which can increase treatment compliance. So, when deciding between these two strengths, it is a good idea to consider the safety aspect alongside the data regarding their effectiveness.
The side effects of Minoxidil 10% tend to be more severe than those of Minoxidil 5% (which are, in turn, more substantial than for Minoxidil 2%) [4].
One study noted that participants experienced more psychosocial stress after using a Minoxidil 10% compared with Minoxidil 5%, due to heightened Minoxidil hair shedding (temporary hair loss) and skin irritation [3]. Other noted side effects include skin redness and folliculitis [4].
If you’re concerned about Minoxidil side effects, it’s best to stick with a lower concentration. You could also try a natural Minoxidil alternative such as caffeine shampoo, or rosemary oil for hair loss.
Normally, women are recommended lower-strength hair growth medication, such as Minoxidil 2%. This concentration is often sufficient to curb female pattern hair loss and has fewer unwanted side effects. However, some female patients don’t respond well to it and are recommended Minoxidil 5% instead. It is a rare occurrence for women to be prescribed Minoxidil 10%, especially since it is an off-label treatment and its efficiency is still being assessed, but its side effects are known to exceed those of lower-strength formulations.
One study found that a solution containing 10% Minoxidil sulphate could stimulate hair growth in women with female pattern baldness who hadn’t responded to Minoxidil 5% treatment [6]. However, Minoxidil 10% treatments normally contain Minoxidil base, rather than sulphate (which is an activated metabolite).
In any case, women should exercise caution with high-strength topical Minoxidil formulas.
Even Minoxidil 5% can cause hypertrichosis (excessive body or facial hair growth) in women. So while more research is needed to establish the safety of 10% Minoxidil for women, it’s generally recommended that female patients stick to lower concentrations to avoid substantial side effects.
Unlike Minoxidil 2% and Minoxidil 5%, Minoxidil 10% is not approved by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) or MHRA (UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) for treating androgenetic alopecia.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Minoxidil 10% isn’t effective or safe. It just means there isn’t enough evidence for these agencies to recommend its use yet. However, there are still some commercially available 10% Minoxidil formulas.
You don’t always need a prescription for Minoxidil 10%. You can buy it from some online retailers, though it is less widely available than 2% and 5% topical Minoxidil solutions.
Some clinics do require a prescription to purchase Minoxidil 10%, especially if it’s combined with other ingredients. Getting a product on prescription ensures it’s suitable and likely to work for you, so it’s best to go down this route and get the recommendation of a trichologist.
More research is needed to say for sure whether Minoxidil 10% can bring any real advantage to certain kinds of patients over the 5% alternative. However, when considered standalone, existing studies indicate that the 10% formulation might be most helpful to men who are experiencing a receding hairline or frontal balding caused by androgenetic alopecia.
Moreover, as previously addressed, there is some evidence that 10% Minoxidil sulphate may produce hair growth in women who did not respond to 5% Minoxidil base (although their response to 5% Minoxidil sulphate should also be researched).
There are no studies to show the impact of Minoxidil 10% on other hair loss conditions aside from male and female pattern baldness. So, it is difficult to say if this higher concentration would have increased effectiveness in treating patients with other types of alopecia.
As Minoxidil 10% isn’t approved for use, there’s no official guidance on how often you should use it. However, most sellers recommend using it twice a day, morning and evening, like other Minoxidil products. To be on the safe side, always get the recommendation of a hair doctor before using this medication, as it can cause side effects in certain patients and interact with certain preexisting treatments.
If lower-strength Minoxidil proves insufficient to treat your hair shedding, you can also try other treatments, either alongside it or instead of it. Here are some of the most effective options available:
This is the most commonly prescribed medication for androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride works through an entirely different mechanism than Minoxidil: it lowers the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in your blood. When your body produces excessive amounts of this male hormone, it binds to specialised androgen receptors in your hair follicles. This prevents them from producing healthy hair, resulting in male or female pattern baldness.
Finasteride can curb and sometimes reverse this process. Premenopausal women cannot use Finasteride, as it can produce foetal malformations or disrupt hormonal activity.
Dutasteride works in a similar way as Finasteride, and it is likely to be even more effective against pattern baldness. However, it can only be prescribed off-label, as this prostate medication hasn’t yet been approved for hair loss treatment. Unfortunately, premenopausal women can’t take Dutasteride either, on the same safety considerations as Finasteride.
If you were using Minoxidil for a type of hair loss which manifests with inflammation, such as alopecia areata or frontal fibrosing alopecia, you may respond better to corticosteroid treatment. Depending on the severity of your condition, your trichologist may recommend steroid creams or intralesional steroid injections. These medications can reduce inflammation, reducing hair loss and in some cases, fostering hair regrowth.
Patient with male pattern baldness before and after a hair transplant performed at the Wimpole Clinic
If you are experiencing moderate to advanced androgenetic alopecia that does not respond to non-surgical treatments, getting a natural-looking hair transplant may be the best solution for you. The procedure is safe, painless and performed under local anaesthesia, in an outpatient setting. It involves harvesting some healthy hair follicles from the back of your scalp and implanting them into your balding areas.
The advantage is that the follicles from your donor area are less sensitive to DHT (which is why the back of your head rarely goes bald). And when they’re transplanted to a different part of your scalp, they maintain this property, which means you’re not likely to lose them to pattern baldness. So you can still enjoy your youthful-looking hair transplant results after 10 years or more.
Deciding the right medication strength for your type of hair loss depends on many factors and it is best to leave it up to the specialists. Book a consultation today with one of our top trichologists and get a personalised recommendation, which takes into account your medical history, your diagnosis and hair properties.
If you haven’t been formally diagnosed yet, our experienced hair doctors will perform all the necessary trichology tests to determine the exact reason why your hair is falling out. Then, they will prescribe the most effective treatment for that specific condition. And should your hair loss be too advanced to respond to non-surgical treatments, you may be a good candidate for a hair transplant.
If that is the case, your hair woes might be over because a hair transplant is permanent and almost always effective. Take a look at our before and after hair transplant gallery to see our results for yourself.
If you are curious to find out more about Minoxidil 10% and its effectiveness for hair loss, check out the answers to these frequently asked questions:
Presently, no clinical trials have been published to compare the effectiveness of these formulation strengths. However, one 2020 study revealed Minoxidil 15% to be more effective than Minoxidil 5% in treating androgenetic alopecia, with no difference in side effects [7].
More research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of this medication, but if the 15% strength can indeed outperform the 5% formulation, it may also be more effective than 10% Minoxidil.
While these two concentrations have not been directly compared so far, research shows Minoxidil 5% to be significantly more effective than 2% [8]. Since the 10% strength formulation performs closely to 5%, it can be reasonably expected that it may outperform Minoxidil 2% as well.
However, more evidence is needed to demonstrate this. And it must be kept in mind that Minoxidil 2% is often used by women, who are at a higher risk of adverse effects such as hypertrichosis than men and the 10% formulation could increase the odds of side effects.
No, unfortunately, when used for hair loss, you can’t get any Minoxidil on the NHS, as it is considered a cosmetic treatment. And since Minoxidil 10% is used off-label, and not yet authorised for treating alopecia, it is even less likely to be subsidised by the NHS any time in the future.
Minoxidil 10% is less widely available than the 2% or 5% strength formulations, but you can still purchase it, usually as a topical solution that you can apply to your scalp with a dropper. However, you can also find this medication as a spray or foam, albeit more rarely.
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