Medication questions Minoxidil
What is the difference between minoxidil foam and liquid?
Short answer
Both contain the same medicine, but the UK labels differ on ingredients, handling and directions. The 5% solution contains ethanol and propylene glycol; the 5% foam contains ethanol, butylated hydroxytoluene and cetyl and stearyl alcohols. The foam is measured in grams and judged at 16 weeks, the solution in millilitres and judged at one year. The men's foam is licensed only to age 49. Neither is shown to be "better".
Key facts
- Same active ingredient (minoxidil 5%), different vehicles: the solution has propylene glycol, the foam does not.
- Licensed ages for men differ: the 5% solution is for men aged 18 to 65, the 5% foam for men aged 18 to 49.
- Dose: 1 ml of solution or 1 g (half a capful) of foam, twice a day for men.
- Foam trials do not run beyond 16 weeks (men) or 24 weeks (women's once-a-day foam).
- Both are flammable. Neither is licensed for use on any area other than the scalp.
What the two products are
The Regaine range includes both forms. For men there is a 5% solution (minoxidil 50 mg per ml) and a 5% foam (50 mg per g). For women there is a 2% solution used twice a day and a 5% foam used once a day. All are licensed in the UK for pattern hair loss and sold without a prescription. Our guide to over-the-counter and prescription minoxidil explains the categories.
Ingredients and what causes irritation
Solution (men's 5%): minoxidil, ethanol, propylene glycol and water. Each ml contains about 280 mg of ethanol and 500 mg of propylene glycol. The leaflet says scalp redness, dryness and flaking "may be due to propylene glycol".
Foam (men's 5%): minoxidil, ethanol, butylated hydroxytoluene, lactic and citric acids, glycerol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, polysorbate 60 and propellant gases. Each gram contains about 536 mg of ethanol. The leaflet says scalp irritation "may be due to" butylated hydroxytoluene, cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, and the SmPC says these can cause local skin reactions.
The practical point is that the vehicle, not just the minoxidil, can irritate a scalp, and which ingredient affects you differs. Ethanol in both can burn damaged skin and irritate the eyes. If your scalp reacts to one form, tell a pharmacist or prescriber; our guide to minoxidil and scalp irritation explains what to do. Anyone with a known reaction to propylene glycol should check the leaflet, since the solutions list propylene glycol sensitivity as a contraindication.
Directions and handling
Measuring. The solution comes with a pump spray (six sprays make 1 ml) and an extended spray-tip for small areas. The foam is dispensed onto the fingers, and the leaflet says to rinse warm fingers in cold water first because the foam may melt.
Frequency. Men's solution and foam: twice a day, 12 hours apart. The women's 5% foam is the only once-a-day product; women's 2% solution is twice a day. See using minoxidil once a day.
Flammability. The solution is a flammable liquid; the foam is an "extremely flammable aerosol" in a pressurised can that must not be pierced or burned, or heated above 50 degrees Celsius. Keep both from flames and do not smoke while applying.
Our guide to how to apply minoxidil has the step-by-step directions.
Timescales and licence terms
The labels set different timescales because each product was tested in its own trials.
Men's solution: twice daily for two months or more before growth can be expected; stop if there is no improvement after one year.
Men's foam: 8 weeks or more; stop if there is no improvement after 16 weeks. The SmPC says efficacy beyond 16 weeks has not been studied.
Women's foam (once a day): 12 to 24 weeks; stop if there is no improvement after 24 weeks.
Women's 2% solution: four months or more; stop if there is no improvement after one year.
The men's foam is licensed for men aged 18 to 49, whereas the men's solution is licensed for men aged 18 to 65. See how long minoxidil takes to work for more on timescales.
Is one better?
The labels do not say so, and we do not. Both are the same medicine at the same percentage, with the same listed side effects (headache is very common; itching, dermatitis and unwanted non-scalp hair are common). The choice often comes down to age licence, how your scalp reacts, how you like to apply it and whether you are sensitive to an ingredient.
WMG Meds prescribes compounded minoxidil as a solution, which is an unlicensed special prescribed off-label, so it has its own ingredients and no leaflet of its own. If you would like a doctor's view on which form suits your situation, start with the free online assessment.
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Is minoxidil foam better than liquid?
The UK labels do not say that either is better. They differ in ingredients, directions, flammability handling and age licence, and the right form depends on your scalp and preferences.
Does minoxidil foam cause less irritation than the solution?
The leaflets name different causes of irritation: propylene glycol for the solution; butylated hydroxytoluene, cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol for the foam. Whether you react to one more than the other depends on you. Persistent irritation is a reason to stop and speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
Can men over 49 use the foam?
The men's foam is licensed for men aged 18 to 49, and the SmPC does not recommend it for men over 49 because safety and effectiveness are not established. The men's solution is licensed up to 65.
Is minoxidil foam flammable?
Yes. The leaflet calls it an extremely flammable aerosol: keep it away from heat, sparks and naked flames, do not pierce or burn the can and do not smoke while using it. The solution is also flammable.
Do the foam and solution have the same strength?
The men's products are both 5% minoxidil. The women's range is a 2% solution and a 5% foam. Our guide to 2% versus 5% explains who each strength is licensed for.
Sources
- Regaine for Men Extra Strength Scalp Solution 5%: summary of product characteristics (eMC, revised 17 December 2024)
- Regaine for Men Extra Strength Scalp Solution 5%: patient leaflet (eMC, revised September 2025)
- Regaine for Men Extra Strength Scalp Foam 5%: summary of product characteristics (eMC, revised 15 June 2026)
- Regaine for Men Extra Strength Scalp Foam 5%: patient leaflet (eMC, revised March 2026)
- Regaine for Women Regular Strength 2% solution: summary of product characteristics (eMC, revised 17 December 2024)
- Regaine for Women Once a Day Scalp Foam 5%: summary of product characteristics (eMC, revised 12 May 2026)
- Regaine for Women Once a Day Scalp Foam 5%: patient leaflet (eMC, revised March 2026)
Facts checked against these sources on 22 October 2026. This page is general information, not personal medical advice. Read our editorial policy.