Eat Drink Live Science: Minoxidil for balding?

Thursday, 14 July 2011

Minoxidil for balding?

Went for Miss Singapore Universe Gala dinner last weekend and one of the awards given out was Miss Crowning Glory. 18 year-old Amanda Leong bagged the prize.

Amanda Leong, 1st runner up and Miss Crowning Glory of MSU 2011.

That reminded me of the bottle of Minoxidil I have sitting at home. Well, unlike Miss Leong, I have very thin and fine hair. A few months back, I consulted a skin specialist and asked if there is anything I could do to have fuller hair. I was prescribed with 5% Minoxidil and told to use it religiously twice daily everyday for the rest of my life. After 2 weeks, I gave up because I found it made my hair too oily.

However I thought I should share this article:

Here, the researchers compared the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of once daily application of 5% minoxidil topical foam (MTF) with twice-daily 2% MTS in women with hair loss problems.

113 women with female version of male-pattern baldness were given either 5% or 2% MTS for 24 weeks. The researchers conclude that once-daily application of 5% MTF just as effective as twice-daily 2% MTS, in promoting hair growth and increasing hair width.

Do note that this study was supported by a medical grant from Johnson & Johnson Consumer Co Inc. Dr Blume-Peytavi is a consultant for Johnson & Johnson Consumer Co Inc and Dr Garcia Bartels was a consultant for Pfizer GmbH Germany until 2008.

Take home message: According to this study, 5% Minoxidil once daily works. HOWEVER, my skeptical scientist brain still finds it a bit dubious. The exact mechanism of how Minoxidil works is unknown, and there has yet to be any (long enough) study on its long term effects.

Nonetheless, finding a treatment for balding is a very lucrative topic of research and there's much going on in the labs world wide. Will keep you updated on the latest advances! Have faith, ladies and gentlemen, one day we'll all have hair like JLo and Lucy Liu.