Oral Minoxidil for Androgenetic Alopecia in Men and Women
Minoxidil works in patients with androgenetic alopecia in both men and women. Oral minoxidil works effectively to increase hair thickness in many patients. There is always individual difference in the efficacy of medicine, though.
Oral minoxidil is usually more effective than topical minoxidil. There is a difference in absorption of drugs between oral intake and topical use. Absorption of drugs from the small intestine is much more than that through the scalp skin.
As for topical minoxidil, a part of topical minoxidil is absorbed through the scalp in a short time. Not all of topical minoxidil is absorbed through the scalp skin. Then, minoxidil enters into systemic circulation, and it is distributed to the body.
Minoxidil has direct effect on hair follicular cells. It normalizes morphology and proliferation of inner root sheath.
Minoxidil has been reported to prevent and reverse the balding process.
