Hair Loss Treatments for Women: Rogaine Versus Foltene

If you've ever gotten up from bed with a glaring clump of hair to greet you on your pillow, or looked at your brush and felt like half of the hair that used to be on your head was now caught in between the bristles, then you most likely know the trauma and anxiety that comes with hair loss. When one starts to lose that thick, gleaming crown of hair, one's confidence and self-esteem can suffer. It's not surprising, then, that most folks would go to lengths to get back a head full of hair.

I've been on dozens of trips to many different dermatologists to get their advice on what to do with my hair loss. I've tried out the different products they've referred to me and after a severe lack of success stories, a dimming pot of enthusiasm and several hundred dollars short, I've found the two best topical hair loss treatments for women. (The drug Propecia has recently been granted FDA-approval to treat hair loss as well, but it's only for men.)

Rogaine

Minoxidil is the active ingredient found in Rogaine, the only FDA-approved treatment for hair loss. Rogaine can be obtained without a prescription in the US and comes in three different dosages, Rogaine for Men (2% minoxidil), Rogaine for Men Extra Strength (5% minoxidil) and Rogaine for Women (2% minoxidil). Originally, minoxidil was taken orally as a treatment for high blood pressure, but soon doctors noticed that those under medication grew more hair after a while. A topical solution was then developed specifically for the treatment of hair loss. They believe that hair growth is a side effect of the increased blood flow that minoxidil induces where applied. The manufacturer claims that in studies involving mostly white females aged 18-45, 19% of the sample reported moderate hair regrowth, 40% reported minimal regrowth after application of 2% minoxidil for 8 months, compared with 7% who reported moderate hair regrowth after using a placebo during the same span.