• How can minoxidil be used to treat baldness
• How can minoxidil be used to treat baldness references

How can minoxidil be used to treat baldness

Minoxidil is the generic name for products originally developed by UpJohn and called Rogaine in the USA or Regaine in Europe and elsewhere. Rogaine and Regaine are the trade marks of UpJohn Inc., USA. Rogaine and Regaine are exactly the same but simply packaged in differently. The FDA would not allow UpJohn to call their product Regaine in the USA as it implies hair regrowth (Re-Gain) whereas the FDA regards Minoxidil as a hair loss prevention drug. UpJohn had to change the name to Rogaine before receiving the FDAs approval to sell the product in the USA.

First introduced in 1988, Rogaine was originally only available on prescription and used under the supervision of a doctor. However, extensive trials by UpJohn convinced the FDA to pass Minoxidil as acceptable to sell over the counter direct to the public. Rogaine or Regaine 2% concentration is widely available throughout the USA and Europe and it is the only proven hair loss treatment available without prescription.

For many years Minoxidil was only available as a 2% concentration and exclusively from UpJohn as they held the patent rights. The patent ended in 1996 and since then several other drug companies have started to produce and sell Minoxidil 2% under many different brand names at a lower price than UpJohn. As of 3 July 1998, the distributors of 2% Minoxidil registered with the Federal Drug Administration are; Alpharma, Bausch and Lomb, Copley Pharm, Hi Tech Pharma, Morton Grove, Sight Pharms, Teva, and of course Pharmacia and Upjohn. These manufacturers/distributors supply pharmacies and supermarkets with Minoxidil in a wide variety of packaging as retailers require.

In response to losing the patent on Minoxidil 2% UpJohn embarked on clinical trials of a 5% concentration solution. This is now available over the counter in the USA as Rogaine extra strength. UpJohn retains a new patent on this 5% concentration. However, it is possible to buy 5% Minoxidil solutions from other manufacturers. The solution usually has extra ingredients to distinguish it from UpJohn's product and circumnavigate any patent lawsuit brought by UpJohn.

Minoxidil for hair loss is used as a topical application. The drug is dissolved in a mixture of water, alcohol and glycol which is applied to bald regions of the scalp as directed by the manufacturers. For men it is believed most effective for hair regrowth on the vertex rather than for treating hair loss at the temples.

Minoxidil is a stable and inactive drug. When it is applied to the scalp and penetrates into the skin it must be converted to an active, but unstable, product called Minoxidil sulphite. Our body produces a catalyst called sulfonyl transferase that converts the stable inactive Minoxidil into the unstable active Minoxidil sulfite. Minoxidil sulfite activates potassium channels in cells and this leads to hair growth.

The exact molecular mechanism operating in the cells that results in hair growth is not known. Some have suggested that minoxidil, as a known vasodilator, dlilates the blood vessles around hair follicles and the increased nutrient supply permits increased hair growth. However, this is an unlikely explanation as other vasodilator drugs do not promote hair growth and studies have shown no significant changes in scalp blood supply when using minoxidil.

Topical minoxidil apparently induces an increased rate of DNA synthesis in follicular cells in early anagen, but not in nonfollicular cells such as fibroblasts or epidermal keratinocytes. Minoxidil induces a significant increase in DNA synthesis in all hair follicle cells in a dose-specific manner. Recently, researchers at L'Oreal suggested that minoxidil works by activating PGHS 1 (prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-1) which may help promote hair growth.

How can minoxidil be used to treat baldness references

• Uno H, Cappas A, Brigham P. Action of topical minoxidil in the bald stump-tailed macaque. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987 Mar;16(3 Pt 2):657-68.
• Mori O, Uno H. The effect of topical minoxidil on hair follicular cycles of rats. J Dermatol. 1990 May;17(5):276-81.
• Baker CA, Uno H, Johnson GA. Minoxidil sulfation in the hair follicle.
  Skin Pharmacol. 1994;7(6):335-9.
• Kurata S, Uno H, Allen-Hoffmann BL. Effects of hypertrichotic agents on follicular and nonfollicular cells in vitro. Skin Pharmacol. 1996;9(1):3-8.
• Buhl AE, Waldon DJ, Baker CA, Johnson GA. Minoxidil sulfate is the active metabolite that stimulates hair follicles. J Invest Dermatol. 1990 Nov;95(5):553-7.
• Kurata S, Uno H, Allen-Hoffmann BL. Effects of hypertrichotic agents on follicular and nonfollicular cells in vitro. Skin Pharmacol. 1996;9(1):3-8.
• de Boer EM, Bezemer PD, Bruynzeel DP, Nieboer C. Does topical minoxidil increase skin blood flow? A laser Doppler flowmetry study. Acta Derm Venereol. 1988;68(3):271-4.
• Uno H, Cappas A, Schlagel C. Cyclic dynamics of hair follicles and the effect of minoxidil on the bald scalps of stumptailed macaques. Am J Dermatopathol. 1985 Jun;7(3):283-97.
• Bunker CB, Dowd PM. Alterations in scalp blood flow after the epicutaneous application of 3% minoxidil and 0.1% hexyl nicotinate in alopecia. Br J Dermatol. 1987 Nov;117(5):668-9.