Minoxidil is available both as a solution and in foam form and has been a staple treatment for men suffering from male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia for years. Women who experience thinning hair post menopause have also found it very useful in regrowing hair that has thinned as a result of the hormonal changes their bodies have gone through. It is one of a couple drugs recommended by the FDA to treat hair loss and women suffering from traction alopecia often wonder if treating their traction alopecia with minoxidil is a feasible option.
Minoxidil, regardless of brand or method of delivery works by awakening hairs in the dormant stage and forcing them into the growth phase. These hairs may not otherwise enter the growth phase with a little external help. Hairs lost to traction alopecia enter the dormant or rest phase and stay dormant because the hair follicle it has grown out of has been traumatised whilst the hairs have been pulled over a period of time.
There is no reason why minoxidil would not work to treat traction alopecia. As long as whatever is causing the traction alopecia is stopped, treatment should be successful. There is no point in trying to regrow new hairs if damage is still being caused to existing hairs by using chemical relaxers and wearing hair extensions and hair pieces. People who've had and ignored their traction alopecia for years are often able to restore their hairlines to its original glory.
Before using minoxidil to treat traction alopecia, ensure any inflammation in the scalp has been dealt with. Conditions like dry itchy scalps, dandruff and dermatitis should be treated separately and successfully before using minoxidil. The reason is simple, these conditions are the result of bacterial infections on the scalp and usually cause inflammation. Inflammed hair follicles cause more hairs to fall out making the whole situation worse.
Shampoos like Nizoral are often used by people suffering from hair loss because of its anti-inflammatory effects which some claim are noticeable from its very first use. It both keeps the scalp clean, infection free and soothes inflammation so is recommended for treating traction alopecia.
After using an appropriate treatment to rid the scalp of any infections, minoxidil can be applied to the affected patches or areas only. It is not recommended for use as a scalp wide treatment and should be restricted to the area where hair loss has occurred. For general thinning of the hair, other shampoos for thinning hair or natural hair loss treatments can be used.
Minoxidil, regardless of brand or method of delivery works by awakening hairs in the dormant stage and forcing them into the growth phase. These hairs may not otherwise enter the growth phase with a little external help. Hairs lost to traction alopecia enter the dormant or rest phase and stay dormant because the hair follicle it has grown out of has been traumatised whilst the hairs have been pulled over a period of time.
There is no reason why minoxidil would not work to treat traction alopecia. As long as whatever is causing the traction alopecia is stopped, treatment should be successful. There is no point in trying to regrow new hairs if damage is still being caused to existing hairs by using chemical relaxers and wearing hair extensions and hair pieces. People who've had and ignored their traction alopecia for years are often able to restore their hairlines to its original glory.
Before using minoxidil to treat traction alopecia, ensure any inflammation in the scalp has been dealt with. Conditions like dry itchy scalps, dandruff and dermatitis should be treated separately and successfully before using minoxidil. The reason is simple, these conditions are the result of bacterial infections on the scalp and usually cause inflammation. Inflammed hair follicles cause more hairs to fall out making the whole situation worse.
Shampoos like Nizoral are often used by people suffering from hair loss because of its anti-inflammatory effects which some claim are noticeable from its very first use. It both keeps the scalp clean, infection free and soothes inflammation so is recommended for treating traction alopecia.
After using an appropriate treatment to rid the scalp of any infections, minoxidil can be applied to the affected patches or areas only. It is not recommended for use as a scalp wide treatment and should be restricted to the area where hair loss has occurred. For general thinning of the hair, other shampoos for thinning hair or natural hair loss treatments can be used.
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