How quick is minoxidil absorbed?

[messmorph]

How quick is minoxidil 5% absorbed into the skin.

Has there been any studies done?

I am curious as I dont like minoxidil in my hair threwout the day. Makes it look greasy etc.

But I get up at 6AM and was wondering if its ok just to put on for a bit over an hour then wash of. Will the majority of minoxidil still be absorbed? obviously not all.

Could I switch to 12.5% or 15% minoxidil and will this work better?

 

[evolutionary]

I believe that it's going to be its most effective if you just bite the bullet and leave it in. You need to get Rogaine Foam, at least for your A.M. application. Foam dries really quick and there are no real stylistic consequences of using it either. Once it has dried you shouldn't even notice it, and you can style it accordingly; there is no greasy residue or anything.

 

[Bryan]

Actually, 4 hours has long been considered the standard amount of time to wait for reasonably full absorption.

This is based on an old study which measured the amount of systemic absorption of 2% topical minoxidil after various lengths of time of having it sit on test subjects' scalps, and it was close enough to being complete absorption after 4 hours. Interestingly, the absorption happened the quickest during the first hour or so, then slowed down considerably. If I remember correctly (I need to go back and re-read the study again to be sure), something like 75% absorption happend during THE FIRST HOUR, then slowed way down after that. But 4 hours is definitely good enough.

 

[Bryan]

I found the study, and below is the abstract. I was close, but was off a little on the numbers:

J Pharm Sci. 1990 Jun;79(6):483-6.

"Relationship between contact time of applied dose and percutaneous absorption of minoxidil from a topical solution." Ferry JJ, Shepard JH, Szpunar GJ.

Clinical Pharmacokinetics Unit, Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, MI.

Twenty-two healthy male volunteers completed a four-way, multiple-dose, randomized crossover study to determine the relationship between contact time of applied drug on the scalp and minoxidil absorption from a 2% topical solution. One milliliter of solution was applied twice daily over 150 cm2 of bald scalp to each subject for 6 days. Unabsorbed drug was washed off the scalp after 1, 2, 4, and 11.5 h of contact time in each of four treatments. Cumulative urinary excretion profiles within steady-state, 12-h dosing intervals were well described by straight lines for all treatments, indicating that systemic minoxidil elimination was rate controlled by constant, zero-order percutaneous drug absorption. The extent of minoxidil absorption, expressed as steady-state urinary excretion of unchanged minoxidil, minoxidil glucuronide, or the sum of these, increased in a disproportionate manner with increase in contact time of drug on the scalp. Relative to the amount absorbed after a contact time of 11.5 h, absorption was approximately 50% complete by 1 h and greater than 75% complete by 4 h. This suggests that minoxidil absorption from the vehicle into skin occurs rapidly relative to diffusion through skin. The rate of minoxidil absorption from vehicle into skin was characterized as nonlinear, whereas minoxidil excretion into urine was rate controlled by diffusion from one or more components of the skin which apparently serve as a reservoir, or depot, for minoxidil.

 

[messmorph]

Thanks guys. Perfect response.

I might try 12.5% minoxidil for 1.5hours with skin needling. cheers

 

[Mitchem]

Im in the same boat mate, some mornings I wash my hair an hr after putting it on, suppose it's better than putting nothing on. I always put my night time on but some morning's I just dont have time, once a day every now and then is ok.

 

[wesleyBelgium]

i would recommend using skin needling only on a small area...
problem zone like crown , or temples , but not the full head, 12,5% minoxidil is allready concentrated stuff , you dont want to many minoxidil getting into your blood...

 

[evolutionary]

wow Wesley your regimen is intense, hope it's working!

 

[waynakyo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_DKyDSX ... ature=fvwp

any thoughts ? is this guy legit ?