Minoxidil works to upregulate VEGF via the opening of potassium-adenosine triphosphate channels. It makes your skin looks coarse because it opens your pores and follicles up. It also stimulates production of prostaglandins which are notoriously inhibitory of collagen. Aside from that it upregulates all the growth factors associated with Adipose derived stem cells which include igf, kgf, tgf, scf etc. It’s also been shown to activate WNT b-catenein activity. If you want exactly the same result, you would need to find a potassium ion channel opening drug that works the same way, like Phenytoin although that doesn’t seem to be as potent and has far greater side effects.
Aside from that, you can try to find ways of using adenosine (laser devices, topical products, mesotherapy) to dilate the hair follicle, although I don’t think most of the commercial adenosine products are particularly effective.
Fatty acids like DGLA are proven potassium
Ion channel openers, but weak ones. I’d say they would need to be used in conjunction with other things like prp.
I would say that the best bet is finding a product devliered via scalp mesotherapy or deep wounding which contains VEGF, IGF, KGF, SCF and adenosine at the very least.
The reason why minoxidil works so well is because it literally forces hair follicles to open, then injects them with numerous growth factors. So, adenosine, growth factors, and also something to inhibit DKK1/androgens to add to efficacy.
