Q: I heard that Rogaine only works on the crown and not on the front or top of the scalp. Is this true?
A: Rogaine (Minoxidil) has the potential to work where ever there is miniaturized hair, either the front, top or crown (however, it will not work in areas that are completely devoid of hair).
The reason for the misconception that it will not work in the front is because the clinical trial performed by Merck in the 1980’s, that led to FDA approval, only studied the vertex (crown) and thus the company was limited to this labeling. Several years later, Merck realized that this was a misjudgment in the design protocol and ran a new study (approximately one fifth the size of their Phase III vertex trial) to document effectiveness of the drug in the front of the scalp. This allowed them to avoid the vertex restriction in their label.
Another reason for the confusion is that since the hair in the crown seems to have a longer miniaturization phase than hair in the temples, there is a greater window of time in which the medication can act on these hairs. This goes for both minoxidil and finasteride (Propecia).
Topic: Drugs (Medications)Tags: Crown / Finasteride / Front of Scalp / Hair Loss in the Temples / Hair Loss Medication / Merck / Miniaturization / Propecia / Rogaine / U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 7:13 am
Rate This Post:
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Share/Save This Post:
Other Posts in this Topic:
- Will Intermittant Use of Rogaine Hair Loss Medication Stop Shedding?
Q: Medical information suggests that Rogaine works for about 50% of the men who try it. Does Rogaine... - After Hair Transplant, Use Propecia Hair Loss Medication Without Rogaine, or Use Both?
Q: I recently had a hair transplant about a month ago. Currently I'm on Propecia and I am a stickler... - Can Propecia or Rogaine Improve Receding Hairline Or Front Of Scalp?
Q: I started to notice a general thinning around my hairline about 3 or 4 years ago – nothing to be... - Should Young Person Start with Hair Transplant at Crown?
Q: I am 26 years old, have had two successful hair transplants, but am still losing hair in the crown...
