is a common health problem encountered by men and women as they age. is caused by several reasons - hereditary, autoimmune disorders, malnutrition, and hormonal imbalances. is a common form of characterized by abnormal levels of androgens in the blood.
These hormones disrupt the normal growth of and result in excessive of . Rogaine or is a topical used to treat and stimulate the growth of . So, what happens when you stop using Rogaine? Let's find out!
What is Rogaine?
Rogaine is the brand name of a famous drug, . It was initially formulated to treat hypertension but with reported cases of accompanied , was derived to treat . This over-the-counter can be obtained without a prescription.
The 2% and 5% and solution are widely available in pharmacies to cater to an individual's requirements. Rogaine is effective for people who suffer from or and are under the age of 40.
Apart from , Rogaine is also beneficial for beard and eyebrows. The US Food and Drug Administration approves Rogaine for treating both male and .
How Does Rogaine Work?
The follicles contain an enzyme called sulfotransferase. Rogaine or is converted to sulfate by this enzyme, which is the biologically active form of this drug. sulfate causes vasodilation and open potassium channels.
The opening of potassium channels is linked to the increased proliferation of cells. Improved as a result of vasodilation delivers adequate nutrients and oxygen to the follicles, thus promoting healthy .
How Rogaine Affects the ?
The human consists of four phases.
Anagen Phase
This phase reflects the growth of strands from the follicles. Almost 90% of the is in the anagen phase at a given time, which usually lasts for three to seven years.
Catagen Phase
This phase indicates the transition of from a growing to a resting state. The stops growing, follicles shrink, and the production of melanin ceases. This phase lasts for about two to three weeks.
Telogen Phase
When the neither grows nor sheds, they are in a phase known as the telogen or . This phase lasts for two to three months.
Exogen Phase
This is the phase during which the sheds, facilitated further by combing and washing the . The duration of this phase is two to five months, and almost 50 to 100 strands are shed each day as per the normal .
Rogaine increases by increasing the duration of the anagen phase, thus promoting to the maximum potential. Furthermore, Rogaine shortens the telogen phase, which results in decreased .
What is ?
is the term used for describing increased at the start of Rogaine . As Rogaine shortens the telogen or resting state of the , the quickly moves on to the exogen phase where they fall out from the follicles.
This may trigger stress and anxiety among many individuals; however, this is a common phenomenon and lasts for about three to four months. Doctors may recommend a lower concentration of or solution to reduce in some cases.
How Long Does Rogaine Take to Work?
Rogaine or minoxidil starts working as soon as it is applied to the . However, visible results are delayed owing to the . Visible is observed after approximately four months of use as the subsides. peaks at about one year of Rogaine for .
Who Should Not Use Rogaine?
- People younger than 18 years of age should refrain from using Rogaine.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women shall not use Rogaine for owing to the lack of studies regarding the safety and efficacy of the drug in these conditions.
- Rogaine is contraindicated in individuals suffering from cardiac disorders including hypertension.
- People with skin conditions on the such as irritation and sunburn should avoid using Rogaine. Interruption of the skin barrier in these conditions causes the Rogaine to penetrate deeper into the and gives rise to severe side effects.
- Individuals should discontinue alcohol and tobacco before using Rogaine owing to the risk of adverse drug interactions. Alcohol makes the skin dry and may cause irritation upon using Rogaine.
- One should always consult a doctor before using Rogaine, albeit being an over-the-counter drug.
- People who are allergic to topical Rogaine should consult their doctor for oral dosage or an alternate .
What are the Side Effects of Rogaine?
Following are the common side effects of using Rogaine:
- texture and color may change upon Rogaine's application.
- Itchiness, burning, or rash if an individual is sensitive to Rogaine.
- Development of acne where Rogaine was applied.
- Increased or in the initial phases of the .
- Swelling and increased on the face.
- Inflammation of the follicles may also develop in some individuals.
Excessive use of Rogaine or damaged protective barrier of the skin causes the Rogaine to infiltrate the blood and cause adverse side effects:
- Abnormalities of vision.
- Widespread edema, particularly involving the face, feet, and hands. This may lead to rapid weight gain.
- Tingling of the face, feet, and hands.
- Excessive use of Rogaine leads to irregular heartbeat and chest pain.
- The patient may complain of neurological symptoms such as dizziness and headache.
- As Rogaine dilates the , higher amounts of this drug in the blood lead to flushing.
One should immediately seek medical attention upon observing these symptoms while using Rogaine.
Side Effects of Discontinuing Rogaine
is safe and can be used for the long term to maintain . The question arises - what happens when an individual stops using Rogaine?
Followed by discontinuing Rogaine intake, the returns to the original state that was before initiating Rogaine . Following are the effects of quitting Rogaine:
Reduced
Rogaine is a vasodilator drug that increases towards follicles to provide nourishment for . Increased blood volume has a higher content of essential nutrients. Discontinuing Rogaine will suppress the vasodilating effects of the drug on supplying the follicles.
This deprives the follicles of adequate oxygen and nutrients. The follicles shrink owing to reduced cellular proliferation and lead to reduced . Hence, stopping the will return the to its pre-Rogaine state.
Rogaine exerts its growth-promoting effects by prolonging the anagen or the growth phase and shortening the telogen or the of the human . This may lead to at the beginning of ; however, the in the anagen phase overcomes this within three to four months.
Termination of Rogaine will reverse its effects on the . The anagen phase shortens and significantly reduces the growth of existing as well as . Spending less time in the anagen phase, the proceeds to the telogen phase quickly and eventually falls out. In the absence of Rogaine, the telogen phase prolongs and further aggravates .
Similar to the fact that Rogaine takes four to six months to show visible , quitting Rogaine also takes several months to manifest as .
How to Combat Caused by Discontinuing Rogaine?
Individuals who use Rogaine often have a common misconception that Rogaine is the only for . Following are the possible alternatives to increase and promote after quitting Rogaine:
- massage increases towards the follicles and increases . This is better accompanied by a serum that helps hair growth.
- Inversion method facilitates towards the under the influence of gravity.
- Vitamin and mineral supplements are essential for maintaining health and increasing .
- , available by the brand name Propecia, is an FDA-approved alternative to Rogaine for . decreases the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by inhibiting the enzyme that catalyzes its conversion, 5-alpha reductase. DHT disrupts the and shrinks the follicles. This leads to reduced and increased . However, affects libido and causes sexual and erectile dysfunction. The side effects of topical are significantly lower than the ones caused by oral .
- Natural DHT blockers include pumpkin seed oil and reishi mushroom or Ganoderma lucidum.
Conclusion
is a common problem encountered by individuals with increasing age. Rogaine is an over-the-counter drug, which increases and counters . This is caused by improving and modifying the .
While long-term use of Rogaine is safe and effective for almost all Rogaine users, discontinuing Rogaine leads to adverse side effects. Severe and reduced are seen in individuals who stop Rogaine . Various options can be considered to reduce . is a 5-alpha reductase that makes it to the top of this list.
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- Badri T, Nessel TA, Kumar D D. . [Updated 2021 Dec 19]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482378/
- Bernard B.A. (2017) The . In: Humbert P., Fanian F., Maibach H., Agache P. (eds) Agache's Measuring the Skin. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32383-1_103
- Motofei IG, Rowland DL, Tampa M, Sarbu MI, Mitran MI, Mitran CI, Stoian AP, Diaconu CC, Paunica S, Georgescu SR. and androgenic alopecia; from therapeutic options to medical implications. J Dermatolog Treat. 2020 Jun;31(4):415-421. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2019.1595507. Epub 2019 Apr 2. PMID: 30897009.