Regaine for Men Extra Strength 5% Foam

What is Regaine for Men Extra Strength 5% Foam?

Regaine for Men Extra Strength 5% Foam is a topical medicine for common hereditary hair loss, also called androgenetic alopecia, in men aged 18 to 49. Each gram contains 50mg of minoxidil (5% w/w). Do not swallow Regaine foam or take it by mouth. If you are looking for an oral treatment for hair loss, oral minoxidil tablets are a separate prescription-only medicine used off-label for hair loss and supplied only after a clinical assessment. Do not switch to or combine oral and topical minoxidil unless a healthcare professional has told you to. Regaine foam may help prevent further hair loss and support regrowth, but not everyone responds and the amount of change varies.¹²

It is a General Sales List medicine, so no prescription is required. Select the pack you need and read the suitability information below before ordering. Ask our pharmacy team if you are unsure whether it is suitable for you.²

Always read the label and the patient information leaflet supplied with the medicine.

Who can use Regaine foam?

This product is intended for men aged 18 to 49 whose hair loss is gradual, follows a typical male pattern and occurs on an otherwise healthy scalp. Sudden, patchy, unexplained or symptomatic hair loss needs assessment because it may have another cause.¹⁶

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before use if you have heart disease, an abnormal heart rhythm, angina, circulation problems or use a vasodilator medicine. If you already use another medicine or a compounded or special treatment on your scalp, check with the clinician who prescribed it or a pharmacist before adding Regaine.¹²

How to apply Regaine foam

Regaine foam is a scalp treatment, not a shampoo. Part your hair so you can place the foam directly onto the skin of the thinning area. Do not coat the hair strands: foam that sits on the hair cannot reach the scalp where it needs to be applied.¹

1. Make sure your hair and scalp are completely dry.
2. Rinse your hands with cold water and dry them thoroughly so the foam does not melt too quickly.
3. Part your hair as needed to expose the affected scalp.
4. Use the cap to measure a total dose of 1g, equivalent to half a capful.
5. Apply the measured foam directly to the exposed affected scalp, not along the hair strands. Massage it lightly into the scalp with your fingertips; do not rub it through your hair like shampoo.
6. Wash your hands after applying it and replace the cap.
7. Repeat twice daily, leaving at least 12 hours between applications. Do not exceed 2g in 24 hours.

Using more or applying it more often will not make hair regrow faster and can increase the risk of side effects. If you miss a dose, continue normally; do not use twice as much or apply it twice as often. Each 73ml can contains 60g of foam and provides about one month of treatment at the licensed dose.¹²

If anyone swallows the foam, take them to hospital immediately and take the can if possible. It is an extremely flammable pressurised aerosol: keep it away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, flames and smoking. Do not pierce or burn the can, even after use, and store it below 25°C.¹

Using Regaine safely around pets

Minoxidil is toxic to pets, especially cats, and even small exposures can cause serious or potentially fatal illness. Dogs can also be affected. Drying reduces the chance of transfer, but dried residue is not safe for a pet to lick.⁸¹²

• Apply Regaine away from pets and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water straight afterwards.
• Let your scalp and hair dry completely before close contact, and never let a pet lick the treated area.
• Keep pets away from pillows, bedding, clothing and surfaces that may contain residue.
• Clean spills immediately and store the product, applicators and used tissues securely out of reach.

If your pet may have licked, swallowed or touched minoxidil, contact your vet immediately, even if they appear well. Do not try to make them vomit unless a vet tells you to. UK pet owners can also call Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 (24 hours; charges apply).⁸¹²

How does Regaine foam work, and does it work?

Minoxidil's hair-growth mechanism is not fully understood. UK professional information describes effects on the hair-growth cycle, hair-shaft diameter and local follicle activity. These proposed actions do not predict whether an individual will respond.²

In a 16-week randomised study, the mean increase in non-vellus hair count was 21.0 hairs per cm² with 5% minoxidil foam and 4.3 hairs per cm² with vehicle foam. This was an average count within a defined study area, not a promise of visible or cosmetically significant regrowth. Individual results varied.²⁹

Using Regaine foam with a DHT-reducing medicine

Finasteride and dutasteride reduce DHT, a hormone involved in male pattern hair loss, while minoxidil works differently. For some men, using prescribed finasteride alongside 5% topical minoxidil may be more effective than either treatment alone. A 12-month randomised study found greater improvement with oral finasteride 1mg plus 5% topical minoxidil than with either treatment on its own. The study assessed 5% topical minoxidil but did not specifically test this Regaine foam and did not assess dutasteride.¹¹ Finasteride tablets are licensed for male pattern hair loss, while dutasteride capsules are used off-label for hair loss. Do not take finasteride and dutasteride together. Only combine this foam with either medicine if a healthcare professional has confirmed that both treatments are suitable for you.

When might you see results?

New hair growth may be seen from around eight weeks, although response and timing vary. If there is no improvement after 16 weeks, stop using the foam and speak to a pharmacist or doctor.¹²

• Weeks 2 to 6: temporary increased shedding can occur after starting.
• From around 8 weeks: some users may begin to see new growth.
• At 16 weeks: stop and seek advice if there has been no improvement.

Initial shedding is linked to a change in the hair-growth cycle and does not prove that the medicine will work for you. If a shedding episode lasts for more than two weeks, stop using Regaine and speak to a doctor.¹²

Continued twice-daily treatment is required to maintain regrowth. If treatment is stopped, the underlying hair-loss process can resume.¹⁵

Side effects, interactions and when to get help

Like all medicines, Regaine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Stop using Regaine and seek immediate medical help if you develop chest pain or swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat that may make swallowing or breathing difficult.¹

Stop using it and speak to a doctor if you develop

• An allergic reaction, low blood pressure, a fast heartbeat or palpitations.
• Faintness, dizziness, swollen hands or feet, shortness of breath or sudden unexplained weight gain.
• Persistent scalp redness, irritation or rash.

Other reported effects

• Very common: headache.
• Common: itching or dermatitis and unwanted hair away from the scalp.
• Uncommon: nausea.
• Rare: change in hair texture.
• Frequency unknown: depressed mood, eye irritation, vomiting, scalp dryness or flaking, acne-like rash, blistering, bleeding, ulceration, temporary shedding or a change in hair colour.

If you use another medicine or a compounded or special treatment on your scalp, check with the clinician who prescribed it or a pharmacist before adding Regaine. Some combinations can change how much minoxidil is absorbed, so do not layer products unless they have confirmed how to use them safely. Avoid children touching treated skin because unwanted body-hair growth has been reported in infants following accidental contact.¹²

Report suspected side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.⁷

Regaine foam or solution: what is the difference?

Both are 5% topical minoxidil medicines, but their dose, ingredients, age licence and evidence are not interchangeable. The absence of propylene glycol in the foam does not establish that it is safer or more effective. View Regaine for Men Extra Strength 5% Solution for its specific instructions.¹²³⁴