I would love to talk to the woman who took one good look at a tube of yeast infection cream and got the light bulb idea to test it out as a hair growth agent.
Seriously...using Monistat for hair growth as a cream is becoming more and more popular, with both women AND men.
I should note that there is no room for me to pass judgment - I've tried everything from placenta to whale sperm to help grow my hair.
After having talked with quite a few people who've tried it, I've concluded that, while this is a very unconventional usage of this product, a LOT of people have had success with it.
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What is Monistat?
Miconazole Nitrate, better known as Monistat, is an antifungal agent that is used to treat yeast infections, oral thrush in babies, athlete’s foot, ringworms, jock itch, and angular chelitis. This medication is used to treat vaginal yeast infections, as well as reduce vaginal burning, itching, and discharge that may occur with this condition. It works by stopping the growth of yeast (fungus) that causes the infection.
CHECK THIS: Monistat Grows Edges?! An Unconventional Hair Loss Remedy
How is this scientifically possible?
There are several doctors out there who have done the research and the results are in! One in particular, Dr. Mohsin Mir, a medical dermatologist at Baylor College of Medicine, theorized that Miconazole Nitrate might actually reduce the number of “hair loss” receptors in the scalp, which would consequently increase hair growth.
Dr. Mir says that the treatment is relatively safe unless you have a history of sensitive skin. Think of it as stopping the agents that stop your hair from growing. He said that this specific treatment is relatively safe for both genders unless you have very sensitive skin.
A 2014 study on male rats found that ketoconazole, a drug in the same family, was found to effectively promote hair growth.
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The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews published a 2015 analysis of studies that researched the use of topical antifungal medication to treat the scalp condition seborrheic dermatitis (SD).
After analyzing 51 studies, the review concluded that ketoconazole and another similar ingredient, ciclopirox, is more effective than a placebo for the treatment of SD.
The study also noted that these ingredients have fewer side effects than steroid treatments. But researchers didn’t find conclusive evidence that similar antifungal medications would have the same result.
Other experts agree that Monistat may be effective in clearing up fungal infections at the scalp, improving overall scalp health and facilitating hair growth, but only if the hair loss is related to scalp health.
The other reason Monistat was touted as a hair loss treatment has to do with the fact that miconazole nitrate has a similar molecular structure to ketoconazole, a medication that has been shown to treat hormonal hair loss. A 2020 study published in Dermatologic Therapy found the ingredient to be a promising treatment option for male and female pattern hair loss. This may be another reason why people notice a difference when using it for hair growth.
How do you apply it?
When using Monistat for hair growth, you can use it straight from the tube. On the other hand, you can
also use it with an applicator or other possible ways.
There are different ways on how you can apply the product to your scalp. It always depends on your choice.
One of the possible ways of application is diluting it with water and then applying it to the scalp. On the other hand, you may also dilute it with hair oil and then application follows. Or if you want to, you can apply it to your scalp undiluted. If you believe you have a sensitive skin, it is best to make a test.
Try to apply a small amount of Monistat to a tiny part of your own scalp. Do this for about 3 consecutive nights in order to see whether the product will cause allergies or not.
Side Effects of Using It
There are so many causes for hair thinning and hair loss, so if yours isn't fungal-related, there's a chance that you could make your scalp condition even worse, slowing down your hair growth even more. You could also end up with contact dermatitis (aka an allergic reaction) on your scalp. And none of us want that, right? Right.
And if you're someone who isn't even dealing with hair thinning but wants something that'll make your hair grow faster, pls don't even think about using Monistat. It's like taking medicine when you're healthy--It could mess things up even more, so you'd rather be safe than sorry by checking with your physician or trichologist (a doctor who specializes in the scalp) first.
For more information on where to purchase Monistat, click here.
