subject: Does Minoxidil Work At Treating Frontal Hair Loss? [print this page] Minoxidil was the first drug approved to work on hair loss by the FDA, but does it work on a receding hairline?
The confusion begins on the packaging. The box states that it is only "approved" to treat hair loss on the crown and vertex of the head. This is true, and the keyword here is "approved." During the clinical trials for minoxidil, tests were only performed and measured on these two locations. Since that is what the official clinical trial data is based on, the marketing material for minoxidil must only recognize those benefits.
If that's the case, does it really work on the frontal hair line? Most dermatologists and hair transplant surgeons say yes. In addition, many users have voiced their success using minoxidil for treating their frontal hair loss.
Why don't they just have another clinical trial so they can know for sure, and make the claim? The simple answer is money. In 2005, over $25 billion was spent on clinical trials. On average, pharmaceutical companies spend between $100 and $800 million for each new drug candidate. In 2006, sales of Rogaine (the largest name brand of minoxidil) was just $31 million. Economically, it just doesn't make sense to fund another one.
If it works, what kind of results can I expect? The answer is the sooner your start the better. Minoxidil is very effective at stopping hair loss, but it usually only regrows hair that has recently been lost. If your hair has been gone for years, it likely isn't going to come back unless you get a hair transplant, so it's important to start treating your hair loss early!
