The latest trend in treating hair loss may sound familiar – essentially, it is a repurposed drug first popularised in the 1990s.
Back then, TV viewers were inundated with ads for Rogaine, a sticky topical solution that could help treat thinning hair when applied to the scalp.
Now dermatologists are increasingly prescribing the drug, known generically as minoxidil, in low-dose pills to help men and women maintain or regrow hair.
The practice follows several recent studies suggesting the ingredient works as well – or possibly better – when swallowed, rather than applied to hair follicles on the head.
In the United States, telehealth companies are driving new demand by offering a quick, easy way to get a prescription and have the pills shipped directly to customers’ doors.