Wow, I wasn't aware that Minoxidil (Rogaine) works THIS well. Though it was all marketing gimmicks!
It seems it's a vasodilator
> When Upjohn received permission from the FDA to test the new drug as medicine for hypertension they approached Charles A. Chidsey MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He conducted two studies, the second study showing unexpected hair growth. Puzzled by this side-effect, Chidsey consulted Guinter Kahn and discussed the possibility of using minoxidil for treating hair loss.
> In August 1988, the FDA finally approved the drug for treating baldness in men under the trade name "Rogaine" (FDA rejected Upjohn's first choice, Regain, as misleading). The agency concluded that although "the product will not work for everyone", 39% of the men studied had "moderate to dense hair growth on the crown of the head".
More products that cater to the male vanity is a very good way to fix some of the gender judgment issues (i.e. women are judged based on their aesthetics - now we can enforce the same judgmental standards on men!).
I don't see what's wrong with wanting hair or looking attractive either. And countless generations of people before me felt the same way and I hope the killjoys don't ruin it in the future, but I'm not worried they've been pushing these narratives forever and not getting anywhere. Nice clothes and keeping bodies in good shape are great for self-expression and for health. They make the world a far more aesthetically pleasing place which we all benefit from.
Just like how plants and lighting effect our moods for the better. It also gives people self-confidence by presenting the best version of themselves.
You see body manipulation and makeup in plenty of "untouched" tribal and an appreciation for the external human aesthetic throughout historical cultures too. It's just a basic human trait. Like most things it's not something manufactured in secret by men in dark-suits who run the world. Although I'm sure this idea would have been very popular in academia in the 1970s when they tried to pigeonhole everything they didn't like about the world as victims of the male ego.
Fortunately we've largely moved on from that and the 'female revolution' they predicted was for naught. Because their targets were hardly the only driver, the vindictive nature of the ideology turned people off, and the alternatives were no fun.
Neither do I. My point was made in earnest. Women are judged negatively for dressing up and actually making an effort in looking attractive. Men aren't judged negatively.
If we start selling makeup for men and encourage a society to use it, it will equalize the notion of "vanity" - using economics and generating desired behaviour in form of externalities is a favourite armchair hobby of mine.
These are psychological problems not cultural. It's not a problem for the vast majority of people, otherwise they would have done something about it.
People aren't just empty vessels moving around aimlessly until some greater power pushes them in some direction.
Edit: In case it’s not clear, it’s applied on the skin. (It can be also taken orally for other indications, but that affects balding and non-balding men alike.)
> Minoxidil is generally well tolerated, but common side effects include ... unwanted hair growth elsewhere on the body.
...
Minoxidil may cause hirsutism, although it is exceedingly rare and reversible by discontinuation of the drug.
Wonder if topical use is better or oral.
I'd imagine that's to avoid this problem, where hair grows everywhere, rather than the specific place you want it to grow.
And people take very low dose of this drug to treat hairloss.
But it has very high possiblity of experiencing side effects