Which Is Better: Rogaine Foam Or Liquid?

[HARIRI]

Which Is Better: Rogaine Foam Or Liquid?

May 4th, 2012

By Hair loss mentor Dr. Bernstein

 

 

Rogaine comes in a number of different forms. It comes in a 5% solution for men, a 2% solution for women and a 5% foam. The original formulation was the 5% solution for men, which has propylene glycol in it. The propylene glycol is what actually allows the medicine to penetrate into the scalp. That’s the best vehicle, the most effective way of getting the medication into the follicles. And that’s why it was originally designed that way. Many medications have propylene glycol as a base.

 

The problem with propylene glycol is that it is irritating to the scalp in some patients, and some patients actually can have an allergic reactions to it. Also, it is a little bit greasy. So because of that, for women, they put the minoxidil in an alcohol-based solution, so it’s going to be a little less effective, but less greasy.

 

Then, a number of years later they came out with men’s foam which has no propylene glycol in it. The problem with the foam is that, even though it is aesthetically a little bit nicer, it doesn’t really allow the medicine to penetrate quite as well into the scalp. Also, the foam is very hard to get on the scalp, especially if you have a lot of hair. It seems like the foam gets caught up in the hair, where with the liquid, you can separate the hair and get the liquid directly on the scalp.

 

What’s interesting is that although Rogaine has been prescribed in the packaging insert to be used twice a day, often people can get the same results if they put it on more liberally just once a day at night. So if you can put it on at night and use the propylene glycol based solution, the 5% men’s solution, then you can circumvent the cosmetic problems with it being greasy because you can wash it off in the morning. Most people take showers in the morning.

 

So what we advise most people to do is use the more effective 5% just once a day, at night, wash it out in the morning and then you’re done.

The other thing is we find that when people use the medication twice a day, it’s kind of a nuisance. They kind of just dab it on and you really want to get a good even coat of the entire areas that have the potential to be bald, not just the areas that are thinning a lot. Because the medications work, as you know, as a prevention just as much as regrowing hair back.

Edited May 28, 2012 by HARIRI

[HARIRI]

What made me happy is when he said:-

 

"What’s interesting is that although Rogaine has been prescribed in the packaging insert to be used twice a day, often people can get the same results if they put it on more liberally just once a day at night. So if you can put it on at night and use the propylene glycol based solution, the 5% men’s solution, then you can circumvent the cosmetic problems with it being greasy because you can wash it off in the morning. Most people take showers in the morning.

 

So what we advise most people to do is use the more effective 5% just once a day, at night, wash it out in the morning and then you’re done."

 

This to me is a very good news, Now i can enjoy my hair do without applying this pain in the ass minoxidil that ruins my hair look and make it look like pubic hair after applying it then styling it. Thank you Dr. Bernstien for your continuous efforts in the hair loss education.

[alix]

is good to know using it only once a day is as effective as twice,but I'm confused now,wasn't the foam supposed to be better and more effective than the liquid :confused:

[Dr. Glenn Charles]

I agree and have been recommending once a day at night to my patients for years. But most patients would prefer to use a product that does not have Propylene glycol if they had a choice.

[HARIRI]

Thanks Dr. Charles for reinforcing Dr. Bernstien opinion, Now Im more confident in applying minoxidil once a night as it has been recommended by two coalition doctors. However I got one more question, what do you think of Minoxidil 5% formula added with it Azelaic Acid 5% and saw palmetto (Lipogaine for example). Do you think it would be a good replacement to Rogaine 5%? Or do i have to use both alternatively like one day Lipogaine and one day Rogaine? Please advice doc.

[olmert]

1. But the packaging says that you can't lie down 2 to 4 hours after you put it on. How can you put it in at night? You will lie down sleeping, and it will all leave you for your pillow.

 

2. If I understand correctly, there has been no testing that once a day works, and the doctors rely upon anecdotal evidence only.