Women may start losing hair at later life stages due to multiple conditions, such as menopause or alopecia. But can women use men’s Rogaine?
Rogaine’s principal ingredient is Minoxidil. This medicine was first used as a treatment for people with hypertension. After some time, its use was approved for treating hair loss. In 1991, the FDA approved its use for women at a 2% concentration.
It is still unknown whether 5% concentration, the dose percentage approved for men, will be authorized for women, at least in the liquid presentation. Minoxidil in foam has been proved to be hugely effective at 5% for women, and it’s been commercialized for some years now.
Still, to answer the question that gives the title to this article, we certainly can say that women using Minoxidil at 5% or men’s Rogaine may experience effective results. However, there may be intensified side effects.
Side effects of using men’s Rogaine as a woman
Minoxidil in any presentation or percentage may cause similar side effects. This includes the following:
Low Blood Pressure – This symptom is one of the most common side effects in men and women. However, using the 5% solution prescribed to men as a woman can make this effect even worse. You may feel dizziness, tiredness, and in the worst scenario, you may even faint. Your physician then will discontinue the use of Rogaine for men.
Excessive hair growth in different areas – Some women have reported suffering from unwanted hair growth after submitting themselves for treatment with Rogaine for men. Although this effect probably is caused by the liquid dripping down to other areas, such as the face upon application, it is uncertain whether being careful can prevent this from happening as Minoxidil will enter the bloodstream once it penetrates through the scalp.
Contraindications during pregnancy and lactation – According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Minoxidil is categorized as a “C” product. Therefore, it is known that it has demonstrated adverse effects on animal fetuses. There are no studies about how this product may affect pregnant women, but its use should still be avoided.
Furthermore, lactating women should not use Minoxidil as they can pass it to their child via breast milk. If the treatment is needed with urgency, other measurements should be taken.
Women’s Rogaine hair regrowth treatment
Although 2% percent of Minoxidil is the dose approved for women, many physicians worldwide recommend using men’s formula when the situation is too extreme. However, please note that the dose prescribed is usually once a day, and it has been proved to be more effective than the other treatment.
Additionally, it may cause hair growth in adjacent areas, which is why you should be careful during the application.
Before using Men’s Rogaine, please ask a professional about the problem and what options there are if you are not sure about using men’s Rogaine. Depending on the causes, a different treatment may be prescribed.
So why can’t women use men’s Rogaine? Generally speaking, Minoxidil’s use at 5% is relatively safe for women, as the side effects are essentially the same.
