Hair loss can be attributed to many factors such as: malnutrition, stress, illness and more. Men and women alike also suffer from hair loss or thinning as they get older. One treatment option is Rogaine. Unlike options that cover up hair loss with color and fibers, Rogaine claims they can actually stimulate hair follicles to regrow.
Unfortunately, there are limitations to Rogaine’s abilities. Users cannot apply it to their forehead to help receding hairlines. These follicles are already dead and cannot be revitalized. The ideal area is the crown, and areas associated with male pattern baldness. For women, areas where hair is thinning or balding is ideal.
The Dawning Of Rogaine
Rogaine was an accidental discovery. Medical trials were being done on a drug called Loniten, which is made up of minoxidil,which was developed to remedy high blood pressure. Patients started complaining about a surprising side effect; hair growth in both desirable and unwanted areas.
Every problem tends to have a silver lining, and doctors jumped on this opportunity. They created a lotion form of minoxidil. This enabled the ability to topically apply the product to only desireable areas; thus Rogaine was born in 1988.
Starting out at a 2% concentration of minoxidil and as a prescription, Rogaine slowly began to take off. In 1995 it was approved by the FDA to be safe enough to be an over the counter solution. Eventually, Rogaine and the generic spin offs increased the concentration to 5% which made the results much faster and the company's reputation grew.
How Does It Work?
Researchers are not sure on the exact science behind how Rogaine works. According to Rogaine, minoxidil reduces the speed at which the hair follicles shrink. Additionally, it causes shrunken hair follicles to be able to grow full-sized hair strands once more.
In order to see results, Rogaine claims consistency is key. Twice a day, apply the foam or serum to the desired area, and make sure the hair is dry. The regeneration is a somewhat slow process, so patience is key. According to their website, it can take up to 4 months on average to really start seeing results.
For the first two months, there most likely will be hair loss. At first, hair will come in like peach fuzz, and colorless. Then, Rogaine claims fuller, thicker, hair that is the natural color will come in. However, if the treatment is stopped, the new hair will fall out in as little as 2 to 3 months.
Does Rogaine Have Any Side Effects?
There are cases of people experiencing side effects, but it is not a common occurrence. If there are any lesions, sores, sunburn, etc. then the rogaine has the ability to get into the bloodstream. This causes the customer to experience the otherwise less common side effects, and to a more intense degree. There are a number of possible side effects. The more common ones are:
- Itching
- contact dermatitis
- irritation of the skin
- dryness of the scalp, or skin flaking
Other reported side effects are:
- fainting
- headaches
- chest pain
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- increase or decrease in blood pressure
According to a large number of reviews, customers who had pre-existing heart conditions were more likely to have these side effects, and experience them more intensely. Therefore, checking in with a doctor is a wise decision if there has been a history of heart disease, illness, or the like. Nursing or pregnant women should also check with their doctors prior to using Rogaine.
What Is It Made out of?
The main active ingredient in Rogaine is minoxidil and is either a 2% or 5% concentration. The remainder of the product is made up of ethanol, Propylene Glycol (PPG), and water.
There are foam and serum versions of the product for both men and women. The product for women contain 2% of the minoxidil since they do not have as aggressive of hair loss as men do, according to Rogaine. The cost of products is the same for both men and women. In both cases, the serum is a more concentrated version and is more likely to cause skin irritation.
The Lowdown On The Cost
You can buy Rogaine from the official website or at Target, Walmart, Amazon, or any drug store.Just to note, the prices for both the serum and foam are the same. On the Rogaine website, they do offer the products in different levels of bulk:
- 1 month supply- $29.99
- 3 month supply- $49.99
- 4 month supply- $59.99
- 6 month supply- $84.99
- 12 month supply- $159.99
The Manufacturer’s Guarantee
After 120 days of everyday use, if the customer is not satisfied, Rogaine offers to refund the purchase price of the products up to $94.00. There is a mail-in certificate that needs to be filled out, and a sales receipt must be included. Also, all the original Rogaine products must be sent back. Only one refund per address is allowed.
If the customer wants to return or exchange any product within 30 days of purchasing them, there will be a full refund of the retail value. However, this only applies to unopened and unused product. For a full refund or exchange of the 6 month or 12 month supply, the entire supply must also be returned within the first 30 days after purchase, unopened and unused.
The Bottom Line With Rogain?
Rogaine is used to treat male pattern baldness for customers who are experiencing gradually thinning hair located on the top, or crown, of the head. This product claims to also be of service to women with androgenetic alopecia. According to the Rogaine website, almost 9 out of 10 men who try Rogaine have success with growing back hair. If the treatment is stopped for a significant amount of time, the new growth will stop and fall out.
With 20 plus years under their belt, Rogaine has been a spearhead for the hair loss treatment market. They claim to be the number one dermatologist recommended brand available on the market. While Rogaine claims only 6% of their customers experience side effects, it is always good to check with a doctor first in regards to using the product. Especially if nursing, pregnant, or if there is a history of heart issues.
