The 3 Top Differences Between Topical And Oral Minoxidil

Throughout the UK, millions of men experience hair loss every year. But instead of simply ignoring the fact that you’re losing hair, the good news is that you can do something about it. One of the medications commonly used to treat male pattern hair loss is oral Minoxidil.

But there are two ways to take it – as a topical solution and as an oral tablet. So, with that in mind, we look at some of the differences between topical and oral Minoxidil and help you decide which is the best option for you.

Introducing Minoxidil

Minoxidil is a medication that has been clinically proven as an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss). It is a vasodilator, which means Minoxidil increases the flow of oxygen and blood to the affected areas of your scalp.

As a result, it revitalises the hair follicles, which can increase the thickness and fullness of your hair.

Studies have found that a 5% topical solution of Minoxidil is the most effective way to use this medication for hair loss, but it’s not the only way that Minoxidil can be effective, as we explain below.

Oral Minoxidil

When it first emerged as a medication, Minoxidil was initially used in tablet form to treat men with high blood pressure.

However, when it was used in the 1970s and beyond, researchers discovered that Minoxidil promoted hair growth in patients, which led to its licensing for hair loss in the nineties.

Today, some people are turning to oral Minoxidil in low doses (typically 2.5mg) in order to treat male pattern hair loss, and it is seen as a viable alternative for some people who are not suited to topical Minoxidil.

So, if you experience scalp irritation or any other issues with topical Minoxidil, an oral tablet could be a good option for treating androgenetic alopecia.

Topical vs oral Minoxidil

Research has shown that both topical and oral Minoxidil can be effective for treating male pattern hair loss.

Some people prefer oral Minoxidil because a topical solution requires twice daily application, while the tablet only needs to be taken once a day.

What’s more, scientists have found that oral Minoxidil is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for men who don’t use a topical solution, highlighting the fact that it’s safe and effective.

Which should you choose?

As explained, topical and oral Minoxidil are both effective when it comes to treating androgenetic alopecia. In fact, lots of people are turning to oral Minoxidil as a viable alternative to topical solutions due to scalp irritation.

So, while topical Minoxidil is perhaps still the most common way to take this medication, oral Minoxidil in the correct dose has undoubtedly emerged as a viable alternative.

How to get the most out of Minoxidil

Whether you opt for topical or oral Minoxidil, you need to be routine and consistent with your application.

Skipping days or forgetting to take Minoxidil can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment in the long term, so it’s super important to incorporate it into your daily routine.

What’s more, you can combine Minoxidil with Finasteride – the other medication that has been clinically proven to treat androgenetic alopecia.

You can check out Sons’ range of clinically proven hair loss treatments – including the effective Full Works Treatment Plan – for the best course of action if you’re suffering from male pattern hair loss.

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