A medicine usually prescribed for hypertension is being hailed as a potential cure for baldness. Minoxidil, the active ingredient in the drug was originally meant to be taken as an oral medicine. Users however, found that it had the unusual side effect of making hair grow, often in unwanted places. In 1980, the pharmaceutical company Upjohn began producing a topical solution intended to reverse hair loss.

 The solution is useful for treating hair loss in women and men; women are usually prescribed a 2% minoxidil solution while men may require a dose of 5%. Minoxidil is sprayed onto the affected area, usually twice a day. It is quite slow acting and results appear 4-12 months after treatment is started. The final result is visibly thicker and stronger hair.

Minoxidil is not for people who have lost most of their hair already. It is most effective if it is used as soon as hair loss begins. It is also a life long commitment as hair falls away within months if use is stopped. The result can be quite an expensive obligation.

 The side effects of this medicine can be quite serious and include irritation of the scalp, weight gain, and difficulty in breathing, chest pains and dizziness.