A drug normally used to treat hypertension may help patients suffering from Male androgenetic alopecia (MAA), says the dermatologist.
Male androgenetic alopecia (MAA) is one of the most common forms of hair loss in men, affecting 30-50 percent of men by age 50.
MAA occurs in a highly reproducible pattern, preferentially affecting the temples, vertex, and mid frontal scalp. Although MAA is often regarded as a relatively minor dermatological condition, hair loss impacts self-image and is a great cause of anxiety and depression in some men.
- Neuroscience Breakthrough: Study Pinpoints Brain Activity That Helps Prevent Us From Getting Lost
- Brief Anger Hampers Blood Vessel Function Leading to Increased Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke – New Study
- New Blood Test Pinpoints Future Stroke Risk – Study Identifies Inflammatory Molecules as Key Biomarker
- Enceladus: A Potential Haven for Extraterrestrial Life in its Hidden Ocean Depths
- New Experiment: Dark Matter Is Not As ‘DARK’ As All We Think
A number of reviews have shown the effectiveness of minoxidil and increasing hair regrowth.
Minoxidil was originally on the market as a drug for hypertension.
However, it quickly became an open secret that the drug stimulated hair growth, and a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine made these claims scientific.
Anthony Chu, professor of dermatology, Buckingham University, and consultant dermatologist and honorary senior lecturer, Imperial College, London, explains that, before minoxidil, balding men were ready to try anything to make their hair grow back.
He added:
In a study published in the National Library of Health, minoxidil use for hair loss was investigated.
The study noted:
In another study, the effects of minoxidil in helping to increase hair regrowth was researched.
- Neuroscience Breakthrough: Study Pinpoints Brain Activity That Helps Prevent Us From Getting Lost
- Brief Anger Hampers Blood Vessel Function Leading to Increased Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke – New Study
- New Blood Test Pinpoints Future Stroke Risk – Study Identifies Inflammatory Molecules as Key Biomarker
- Enceladus: A Potential Haven for Extraterrestrial Life in its Hidden Ocean Depths
- New Experiment: Dark Matter Is Not As ‘DARK’ As All We Think
In the one-year observational study, 62 percent of the 984 men using 5 percent minoxidil reported a reduction in hair loss.
As for hair regrowth, the drug was rated as “very effective” in 16 percent of participants, “effective” in 48 percent, “moderately effective” in 21 percent, and “ineffective” in 16 percent.
Image Credit: iStock