What is the difference between Minoxil 2% skin spray and Minoxil Forte 5% Skin Spray.

Minoxil 2% (red package) is used for women and Minoxil Forte 5% (blue package) is used for men, unless the doctor has indicated otherwise. However, dermatologists may recommend Minoxil Forte 5% for female patients with severe/male pattern hair loss, or vice versa.

The two products contain different amounts of the active ingredient (minoxidil). The reason for this difference is not so much the difference in male/female metabolism (systemic effects are negligible as the drug is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream) as the fact that it does not increase facial hair growth in women.