Does Minoxidil Work on Receding Hairlines? Learn the Truth!

Whether or not minoxidil works on a receding hairline is a point of debate. We know it was approved by the FDA to treat hair loss, but if that’s the case why isn’t it advertised to work on receding hair lines? Let’s find out.

The confusion first begins on the packaging. Every box has a disclaimer that states it is only “approved” to treat hair loss on the crown and vertex of the head. This is true, but the keyword here is “approved.” During minoxidil clinical trials, tests were only conducted and measured on the vertex and crown locations (I’m not sure why the front was left out, maybe for easier consistency, but more likely for cost). Since the data the FDA used is limited to the crown and the vertex, the marketing material for minoxidil must only recognize benefits to those areas.

If it’s just a restriction for marketing, does that mean it really does work for receding hairlines? Most dermatologists and hair transplant surgeons say yes. The reason is minoxidil lowers DHT levels in the scalp, DHT is the primary cause of genetic hair loss, and lower DHT levels is the most effective way to stop it and regrow hair. In addition, many users who have used minoxidil for their frontal hair loss have voiced their success, substantiating this logic.

After discovering this, I wondered why the pharmaceutical companies just don’t have another clinical trial. That way they would know for sure, and be able to use it in their advertising. After researching this, I believe the answer is simply 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. Let’s say Rogaine has a whopping 33% profit margin (they probably don’t), and their profit was about $10 million that year. At the lowest estimate for a clinical trial, it would take 10 years to get that money back. Economically, it just doesn’t work.

So what kind of results can you expect? The answer is the sooner your start the better. Minoxidil is very effective at stopping hair loss, but it usually only regrows recently lost hair. If your hair has been gone for years, it likely isn’t going to come back, unless you get a hair transplant. Start treating your hair loss early — it’s much easier to keep your hair than to regrow it!