Minoxidil (brand name Rogaine) is known to be one of only two medications officially approved for hair loss treatment (the other being Finasteride). However, even in 2014, scientists do not know the exact mechanism via which Minoxidil has a positive effect on hair growth. The original use of Minoxidil was as an oral medication for high blood pressure. The side effect of hypertrichosis led to its becoming a popular treatment option for hair loss.
To date, the main hypotheses about how Minoxidil works relate to its vasodilatory, potassium channel opening and increased blood flow effects/properties. The below is worth a read to learn more about Minoxidil as well as other hair loss medications (approved and non-approved ones) work:
An excellent article from 2008 on hair loss medical treatments by Dr. Nicole Rogers and Dr. Marc Avram
In April 2014, Taiwanese researchers came up with yet another reason as to why Minoxidil works:
Minoxidil may suppress androgen receptor-related functions
Their conclusion is especially surprising:
The current findings provide evidence that minoxidil could be used to treat both cancer and age-related disease, and open a new avenue for applications of minoxidil in treating androgen-AR pathway-related diseases.
Finally, on a related note, it is worth checking out these before and after hair loss medication pictures:
Before and after hair loss medication photos from Dr. Rogers’ website
Before and after hair loss medication photos from Dr. Bernstein’s website
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