Hair loss can be a distressing problem, but treatments such as Xandrox Minoxidil can be used to both prevent further loss and to prompt hair regrowth.
Xandrox is a trademarked name for a combination of minoxidil and DHT blockers. Customers can buy a range of minoxidil solutions varying in concentration, generally from five per cent to 15 per cent, combined with other active ingredients.
The product is aimed specifically at men who have not experienced the desired results with other products, with manufacturers claiming that treatment using high-concentration minoxidil can show results where other regrowth products have failed.
Suppliers of Xandrox claim that more than 40 years of peer-focussed research has shown that minoxidil can be very successful in stimulating hair growth. This is achieved as a result of the blood flow being increased to the scalp and the opening of potassium channels.
This research has also highlighted the increased effectiveness of minoxidil of higher concentrations −something that was once difficult to find before the launch of products such as Xandrox Minoxidil.
A large proportion of minoxidil products also do not feature DHT blockers; therefore, Xandrox solution with the powerful blockers can add to the regrowth success.
The active ingredients in Xandrox are minoxidil in varying concentrations, five per cent azelaic acid, 0.025 per cent retinol and 0.001 per cent caffeine.
The concentration question
Whilst Xandrox Minoxidil continually receives excellent reviews from users, it is not a product that can be used by everyone. Some people can find solutions too powerful, with higher minoxidil concentrations potentially increasing the risk of side effects such as scalp irritation.
Some people choose the lower five per cent concentration to minimise the potential for any associated problems; however, this lower concentration will generally not work in the case of hair loss that has reached a late stage.
Testing has also revealed that the incidence of side effects is rare, with the producers citing ‘very few people’ experiencing problems from side effects associated with higher concentration minoxidil use. If experienced at all, the most common issue is a dry scalp.
A five per cent solution of minoxidil is recommended in the case of early-stage hair loss and thinning.
Solutions can be bought in a range of sizes; however, a two-ounce bottle, complete with oral syringe, should provide treatment for between one and two months of continued use. Results generally start after a week of treatment and should increase over time with continued use.
More about Minoxidil
Minoxidil is now well-known as a proven way of solving the issue of male pattern baldness, which is the condition responsible for the majority of hair loss cases in men.
Male pattern baldness is a condition that is thought to affect up to one-third of all men, while women have also been shown to benefit from the effects of minoxidil in some cases.
Hair loss can be distressing for both men and women and about 85 per cent of males report that their hair is thinning significantly by the age of 50.
Minoxidil can offer a solution to both the practicalities of hair loss and the emotional distress hair loss can cause, but the way in which it works can be complex.
Many experts claim that its function lies in its ability to reinvigorate the hair follicles that have shrunk. This prompts hair to grow and thicken over time and has led to minoxidil being recognised not only as an over-the-counter treatment to prevent hair loss but also to also regrowth.
Many scientists believe that it is minoxidil’s power to cause blood vessels surrounding hair follicles to dilate that offers the follicles more nutrients and prompts hair growth.
Another explanation is that topical application increases DNA synthesis in hair follicle cells, which results from minoxidil’s ability to prompt the production of sulfonyl transferase by the body. This catalyst prompts minoxidil sulphite creation and activates potassium channels in cells, leading to hair regrowth.
Scientific studies have revealed that up to four in five of all men who use minoxidil see an end to their hair loss. Studies have also shown it is particularly effective when used by men who have experienced recent hair loss and thinning in the upper scalp and also for those males troubled by a receding hair line, which is recognised as one of the first indications of the onset of male pattern baldness.
The history of Minoxidil
Minoxidil is known as an antihypertensive vasodilator, although it was originally created in the 1950s in a bid to treat ulcers. It failed when it came to ulcer treatment but was found to have a use as a vasodilator. It was named minoxidil in 1963, and in 1979 it was approved as a treatment for high blood pressure.
Then, in 1988, it was officially approved as a treatment for baldness and was later granted approval to be sold as an over-the-counter treatment.
DHT blockers explained
DHT is widely accepted as a main culprit in hair loss, with some figures claiming it is responsible for as many as 95 per cent of cases. This is why blockers are seen as an effective form of treatment.
Blocking DHT can be achieved in a variety of ways, including stopping it from attaching itself to hair follicle receptors, reducing its production, lowering production of the enzyme responsible for changing testosterone to DHT, and lowering substances that can create this enzyme, including cholesterol.
Preventing DHT from damaging hair follicles can be the key to preventing hair loss in the long term, as damaged follicles are known to produce thinner and less hair until they cease to function completely.
Drugs such as Propecia are sold as DHT blockers. These can work by blocking the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme but can have side effects such as a reduced libido in men and erectile problems. Natural DHT blockers are available as an alternative and can work in a variety of ways to prevent DHT from contributing to hair loss.