My Doctor Prescribed 1% Minoxidil

Dear Dr. Rassman,

i recently came across your blog and i am already finding it extremely useful. I am 29 male experiencing hair loss for the past 4-5 years mainly in the crown and the vertex region with a receding hairline which has started receding since last year. I had seen a dermatologist who diagnosed my condition as Male pattern baldness and categorized me on stage3 Hamilton-Norwood scale. He has prescribed 1% minoxidil solution along with a multi-vitamin suppliment. I want to ask if you believe that would atleast help me retain my current condition? (on your blog i see most people taking 2-5% minoxidil) Also should i worry about minoxidil side-effects? or is it something that had been blown out of proportion with very few people actually experiencing them. Basically is it safe for most people?

Thanks for your time Doctor.

I do not mean to be harsh, but you should be asking your doctor why he prescribed you the medication. In general I recommend 5% minoxidil, but there may be a reason why your doctor has prescribed you only 1%. I don’t think the multivitamin will do much for your hair loss, unless you happen to be lacking something in your diet.

The side effects of topical minoxidil include skin irritation and sometimes dizziness (from a drop in your blood pressure), but this is very rare. It is safe, but just be aware of the potential side effects so you know what to look for.