TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration: Better Minoxidil Alternative for Hair Loss
Minoxidil is often the first treatment people try when they experience hair loss. This is primarily because it is readily available over-the-counter without a prescription. While minoxidil does offer some benefits for many individuals with genetic pattern hair loss, its effects have limitations. Consistent application is essential, and many people encounter issues with skin tolerance, leading them to discontinue the treatment. I’ll discuss why many individuals eventually give up using minoxidil, and present more effective and sustainable treatment options.
Limitations of Minoxidil
Many individuals seeking alternatives to minoxidil report initially seeing benefits, but then experiencing reduced effects over time. Originally, minoxidil was a medication used for high blood pressure, but noted for a side effect of hair growth that ultimately became its primary use.
While the exact mechanism of minoxidil is unknown, it seems to delay the onset of the normal hair shedding cycle called the telogen phase, and extend the active hair growth cycle called the anagen phase. By prolonging hair growth and delaying shedding, more hair is present, providing the scalp with better coverage.
However, minoxidil does not thicken individual thinning hairs, nor does it significantly slow down the progressive thinning of hair before permanent loss occurs. If regular application of minoxidil is stopped, which many people do after achieving improved hair coverage, its effects can halt abruptly, resulting in sudden hair shedding that can be distressing.
I find that minoxidil has limited long-term value, as its benefits are suboptimal and rely heavily on daily scalp application. While the instructions recommend using it twice a day, applying it once a day is generally sufficient due to the drug’s half-life.
Side Effects, and Alternatives
Many individuals report scalp irritation and redness from minoxidil, often relieved by using the foam version instead of the liquid. This is because minoxidil foam does not contain propylene glycol, the chemical used to break down the scalp skin barrier to allow penetration of the active ingredient. However, even foam users may experience scalp irritation, flaking, and itching.
For men, a significant limitation of minoxidil is its ineffectiveness against DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a critical factor in male pattern hair loss. Drugs such as finasteride or dutasteride block DHT-formation to significantly slow hair loss progression—something minoxidil cannot achieve. Unfortunately, women with female pattern hair loss do not have the option to use finasteride; minoxidil remains the only topical pharmaceutical treatment available for them. Some women may be prescribed spironolactone, a testosterone blocker with variable levels of effectiveness.
Advancements in Hair Loss Treatment
Since 2011, my approach to the medical management of hair loss has evolved after utilizing Acellular matrix to enhance our surgical results. I initially employed the advanced wound healing material known as extracellular matrix by ACell to optimize surgical incisions for facelifts and other cosmetic procedures. I applied this experience to improve healing in the donor area for hair transplant surgery and to enhance the survival of hair grafts. About a year after surgery, I observed that native thinning hair in areas without grafts was increasing in number and becoming thicker.
In 2011, I began combining extracellular matrix by ACell with platelet-rich plasma to develop a standalone, non-surgical procedure for both male and female pattern hair loss. After years of experimenting with various formulations, treatment strategies, and techniques, I created a system capable of aiding both men and women in managing hair loss without surgery.
This treatment system, trademarked as TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration, represents the most significant advancement in hair loss management since the introduction of finasteride in the late 1990s.
TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration: Better Solution than Minoxidil
The success rate of this treatment for both men and women exceeds 99%, defined by improvements in hair quantity and quality. Unlike generic PRP, or ordinary ACell+PRP treatments that require multiple sessions approximately every 1-3 months in the first year, followed by maintenance injections in subsequent years—most TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration patients only require 1-2 treatment sessions, with results lasting 3-5 years or longer.
For my patients receiving TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration, I typically assist them in discontinuing the use of minoxidil.
Most individuals feel relieved from the burden of twice-daily applications, which can be irritating and may cause hair to appear matted down. In fact, TrichoStem® patients do not require special shampoos or other topical therapies for maintenance.
Conclusion
In my opinion, minoxidil is no longer a necessary component of hair loss management. We have developed effective and convenient hair loss management strategies that can be utilized more predictably, offering significant benefits, and long-term sustainability, without the need for daily topical scalp treatment.
Non-Surgical Hair Restoration in Manhattan, New York City and Garden City, Long Island, New York
Amiya Prasad M.D. FACS is a Board-certified cosmetic surgeon and Fellowship-trained Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon. He has been in practice in New York City, and Long Island for over 25 years, helping people with hair loss throughout his career, starting with surgical hair transplantation. Dr. Amiya Prasad is also the founder of TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration Centers, a non-surgical treatment for male and female pattern hair loss, which was established in 2011. TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration has resulted in significant hair growth for 99% of our patients for over 3-5 years with only 1-2 treatment sessions.
If you’re interested in personalized recommendations for your hair restoration journey, feel free to fill out the contact form below, or call our offices at Manhattan, New York City at (212) 265-8877; or in Garden City, Long Island, NY at (516) 742-4636; or in Vienna, Virginia at (703) 356-1336 to schedule a consultation.
