Chemicals for Bald Men - Minoxidil

Minoxidil was originally developed to treat high blood pressure. Its use for preserving thinning hair was discovered when it was noted to cause increased hair growth as a complication of this treatment. It may work by increasing the local blood supply of the thinning area.

The key to using Minoxidil is to begin using it early. The best candidates are those who are thinning but not bald. Those with a higher density of hair at the beginning of treatment are good candidates.

It is usually applied in a 1-3% solution twice a day. It must be used for a about six months to see the benefits. The most common problem is irritation of the skin. If the medication is stopped, after prolonged use, hair loss may increase.

Major complications are rare, but patients who suffer from heart disease or hypertension should check with their doctor before beginning treatment

Chemscape Chime is a Netscape Navigator plug-in that allows scientists to view chemical information directly on a Netscape Navigator HTML page.

Chime Commands: [Press mouse to rotate] [Press SHIFT and mouse to zoom] [Press and hold for more Instructions and Options] [ Other Molecules]

Bald is beautiful web site

Other "Molecules of the Month" Copyright Karl Harrison 1996.