r/minoxidil Jul 02 '20

Announcement Minoxidil FAQs

473 Upvotes

Last updated: December 17th, 2023.

In this FAQ we tried to answer some of the most frequently asked questions on this subreddit. We still highly recommend doing your own independent research if you're considering using Minoxidil.

\Table of contents:*

  • What's Minoxidil?
  • Who could benefit from Minoxidil?
  • I don't have AGA but I'm losing a lot of hair. Should I use Minoxidil?
  • What strengths should I use?
  • What about 10% and 15%?
  • Liquid of foam?
  • Oral Minoxidil?
  • Does it really work? What kind of expectations should I have?
  • I started using minoxidil and now I'm losing more hair? What's the shedding phase?
  • Does everyone go through a shedding phase?
  • Will I shed If I use Minoxidil for facial hair?
  • How do I apply, And how often?
  • How much should I apply?
  • Do I need to keep using Minoxidil forever?
  • Will my beard / facial hair also be temporary if I grow it using Minoxidil?
  • Why is beard / facial hair growth permanent while scalp hair growth sheds after stopping?
  • So my hair will become Minoxidil-dependent?
  • Which brand should I get?
  • Can Minoxidil help me thicken / regrow my eyebrows?
  • Will Minoxidil kill my cat?
  • Side effects?

Common Minoxidil Myths

  • Sexual dysfunction
  • facial ageing

-What's Minoxidil?

Minoxidil is a generic hair growth medication, It's the only other FDA approved medication for male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) besides Finasteride. It's widely available as topical solution in strengths of 2%, 5%, And 10%, As well as foam.

-Who could benefit from Minoxidil?

Both men and women with androgenic alopecia (thinning scalp hair / male pattern baldness) could benefit from Minoxidil. Better results have been observed in people who are yet to lose a significant portion of their hair. Meaning, The earlier you start, The better results you'll get.

Additionally, Men looking to grow facial hair could also benefit from it. Although it's only approved for androgenic alopecia by the FDA, Because it has only been studied in that area, It has seen wide use for facial hair growth.

-I don't have AGA but I'm losing a lot of hair. Should I use Minoxidil?

In cases where hairloss isn't caused by AGA, You should address the underlying cause of hairloss, Which could be hormonal imbalance or nutritional deficiencies among other causes, Before considering Minoxidil. Minoxidil may be used to aid recovery of hair when the underlying cause is treated.

-What strength should I use?

A trial set to evaluate the effectiveness of 2% and 5% minoxidil solutions has found significantly better results with the 5% solution. It's generally recommended that women using it for androgenic alopecia try the 2% strength first and then if they didn't get satisfying results in a few months switch to the 5% strength. This is because minoxidil causes minor hair growth all over the body (read side effects below) because some of it gets absorbed to the blood stream. It's recommended for men who are taking it for male pattern baldness or facial hair growth use the 5% strength.

-What about 10% and 15%?

Trials have found that while 10% does produce better results than 5%, The relationship between concentration and efficacy isn't linear, Meaning that 10% will not make your hair grow twice as fast as 5% will, But only 20-30% faster, And you'll be getting more of the side effects. 15% was not found to produce effects any better than 10%. Keep in mind that 10% is available only by prescription in many places, And 15% isn't available in most places.

-Liquid or foam?

It's recommend to start with liquid. If it causes too much local skin irritation, Consider switching to a foam preparation which is a bit more expensive but should eliminate the local side effects. (see the answer to "My skin gets dry, Irritated, Itchy, Painful or flaky.")

-Oral Minoxidil?

Minoxidil oral tablets are also available by prescription in some areas. Minoxidil oral is reported to have great results albeit with more systemic side effects.

However, The availability of oral Minoxidil is continuously decreasing. Since Minoxidil oral is only used for hair growth off-label, Being originally for treatment of hypertension, And is rarely used anymore as it's now replaced with better meds for HTN.

Doses for oral Minoxidil are only based of anecdotal reports, As it has not been properly trialed for the treatment of hairloss. However, It's recommended to start with a lower dose in the range of 0.5-1 mgs, And work up from there. Median dose is 1.5 mgs, But some take up to 2.5 mgs. We don't recommend using more than 4 mgs. You want to avoid systemic side effects like hypotension and tachycardia, Which can be very uncomfortable for some people.

You'd need to cut the pills precisely to take those doses if you're using many of the available pills, As they could be dosed as high as 40 mgs so try to find a low dose med. However, you can dose it with very high precision by volumetric dosing. Simply, If you completely dissolve 100 mgs of minoxidil in 100 ml of Alcohol, Then every 2.5 ml of Alcohol will contain exactly 2.5 mgs.

-Does it really work? What kind of expectations should I have?

The efficacy of minoxidil is not in doubt. It has been found in many trials that it has great efficacy for the majority of participants and there are numerous anecdotes online documenting it's efficacy. The rate of growth differs from person to person. On average, You should start noticing growth by the 4th or 5th month, Although it'll only start being noticeable by the 6th month. Facial hair growth should be noticeable sooner.

-I started using minoxidil and now I'm losing more hair? What's the shedding phase?

When used for androgenic alopecia, User should expect a shedding phase that lasts about a month but can continue into the third month. It's important not to panic and stop treatment as this is an expected, And even positive sign. What's happening is that the weaker hairs that are in the 'telogen phase'; A phase of hair growth cycle in which a hair is dormant, Start shedding to be replaced with new 'anagen phase' hairs, The phase in which hair grows at a constant rate.

If you discontinue treatment while shedding, The lost hair will be recovered to where it would've been had you never started, Albeit much slower than if you continue using. This is why stopping mid-shedding is not recommended.

-Does everyone go through a shedding phase?

No. You only shed if you have Androgenic Alopecia. Users who don't have the condition, Or who have lost hair for other reasons, Will not go through the shedding phase.

-Will I shed If I use Minoxidil for facial hair?

It should be noted that Minoxidil causes shedding only in the balding areas of the scalp and only for people who have androgenic alopecia. Hair on any other area of the body won't shed. Those with Androgenic Alopecia who use Minoxidil for facial hair growth might experience mild scalp shedding since Minoxidil gets absorbed into the bloodstream. Mostly, Users won't shed or the shedding may be unnoticeable.

-How do I apply, And how often?

Applying Minoxidil is straightforward. It's recommended that you wash the area first to clear your skin of dirt and oils for better absorption, But this isn't necessary. Either way, Make sure your skin is completely dry before you apply minoxidil, Then spray it -or use the dropper- onto the area where you want to see growth, Rub it in your skin then leave it to dry. Avoid washing that area before 3-4 hours.

Twice a day application is recommended, Roughly 12 hours apart. More applications will not produce more results, And will exacerbate side effects.

-How much should I apply?

Just enough to cover the entire affected area, But not so much that it's soaking wet. Regardless of how much that is & regardless of the dosage on the bottle.

-Do I need to keep using Minoxidil forever?

If you're using it for androgenic alopecia, Unfortunately you'll have to use it indefinitely. Since there's a hormonal cause for scalp hair loss that continues to damage your hair, You'll gradually lose the new hair upon cessation.

However if you're using it for facial hair, Or hair on any other part of your body for that matter, The results are permanent for almost everyone.

-Will my beard / facial hair also be temporary if I grow it using Minoxidil?

No. Minoxidil grown hair on every part of the body is permanent except for scalp hair IF you have AGA.

-Why is beard / facial hair growth permanent while scalp hair growth sheds after stopping?

When someone uses Minoxidil for AGA, AGA won't go away. They still have a hereditary hormonal condition damaging their hair follicles causing it to shed. Minoxidil just counteracts that, But when Minoxidil use is discontinued, That underlying factor (namely DHT) continues to damage your hair follicles, Which is why you'll gradually shed any new hair upon cessation.

Now if you use it to grow facial hair, Minoxidil is still just a hair growth promoter and and hair will grow on your beard / moustache area However, In that case, There's no condition naturally causing facial hair to shed, And so in that case, The results will be permanent.

-So my hair will become Minoxidil dependent?

What do you mean by dependent? New hair was never independent, And old hair was never dependent. New (minoxidil dependent hair) will shed upon cessation. Old hair won't shed. Worst case, You won't end up with less hair than you would've had had you never used Minoxidil.

-Which brand should I get?

There is no difference in terms of efficacy between brands. Since Minoxidil is a generic medication, We suggest that you consider some of the cheaper options instead of going directly for the bigger brands. We also recommend trying a different brand each time until you find one that causes you minimal discomfort.

-Can Minoxidil help me thicken / regrow my eyebrows?

Yes.

Although keep in mind that you may get unwanted growth around the edges of your eyebrows even if you take care to only apply it to the desired area, And be very careful not to get it in your eyes.

-Will Minoxidil kill my cat?

While Minoxidil is toxic to cats, It's very unlikely for your cat to accidentally ingest enough of it to cause harm. However, It's still your responsibility to make sure it's safe and take proper precautions. Never leave accidentally spilled liquid without cleaning it. Try to wash it off your face 2-4 hours after applying. Don't let your cat come near your face after you apply it. Wash your hand after applying. Avoid sleeping with it on so that your cat doesn't come in contact with it as you sleep, And so that it doesn't get on your pillow.

Your cat should be fine with reasonable precautions.

-Side effects?

Like any other drug, Minoxidil comes with a variety of side effects.

---My skin gets dry, Irritated, Itchy, Painful or flaky.

This is a very common side effect of liquid solutions that is caused by the inactive ingredients like alcohol and propelyne glycol (PG). For most it's not too extreme but for those for whom it causes too much discomfort, We recommend switching to foam which should eliminate those side effects. If that's not an option, Then you should look for a liquid solution that doesn't contain PG. Otherwise, make sure to wash it off 2-3 hours after applying and to use moisturizers to limit those side effects.

---High heart rate, Palpitations?

Since Minoxidil decreased blood pressure, Reflex sinus tachycardia is a physiological response, On their own, Hypotension and sinus tachycardia shouldn't be problematic. However, If there is a dramatic increase in heart rate, Especially when associated with symptoms like dizziness, The user should discontinue Minoxidil and consult a doctor on whether they should keep using it or not. This isn't serious so don't get too anxious.

---Associated chest pain?

Even though chest pain associated with Minoxidil use is very rarely of cardiac origin, It's always best to be safe and consult your doctor on whether or not you should continue Minoxidil use.

Keep in mind that pre-existing cardiac conditions are contraindicative of Minoxidil use.

---Body hair growth?

Hypertrichosis is a very common side effect of Minoxidil. User should expect a mild increase in body hair growth when using Minoxidil. This is caused by Minoxidil going into your systemic circulation when absorbed through your skin. This is why 2% strength is recommended for women. Using this strength should limit this side effect but unfortunately some mild degree is inevitable.

---Other side effects?

Rarely, Some people will have an allergic reaction to Minoxidil. Do not confuse this with normal skin irritation caused by inactive ingredients in liquid solutions. If serious allergic symptoms are experienced, User should discontinue use and consult a specialist.

Less common side effects include: Weight gain, Dizziness, Headache and Lightheadedness.

.....

--Common Minoxidil Myths--

=Sexual dysfunction

This seems to be a frequent question which is why it's included. Minoxidil does not cause sexual dysfunction. It's possibly confused with side effects of the drug most commonly used alongside Minoxidil; Finasteride.

Finasteride, Being a DHT inhibitor has a hormone-based mechanism of action. And so, Side effects like impotence & gynecomastia are common. Minoxidil's mechanism of action, However, Is not related to your hormones. This is why Minoxidil will promote hair growth regardless of your sex or whether or not your hairloss is AGA.

If you're experiencing such problems, Try to think of other possible causes or consult a specialist.

=Facial ageing

While some of the ingredients in Minoxidil products may locally dehydrate and irritate your skin, Minoxidil does not cause ageing of any kind. The claim is based on a 2004 study suggesting that Minoxidil may inhibit collagen synthesis, This is in no way conclusive that Minoxidil causes ageing.

Beyond theories, This claim is extremely hard to confirm or measure as well, As it's not possible to exclude other factors that may have contributed to perceived ageing, Or to predict how any particular person would've looked like had they never used Minoxidil.

Countless people have used Minoxidil for decades without issue.

.....

Hopefully this was helpful. Best of luck!


r/minoxidil 1h ago

Question Is this the shedding phase of minox?

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‱ Upvotes

Been on topical minox for 4 months now,havent noticed much other than this (and maybe faster hairgrowth).

Sorry for the first pic and how it looks like,I have bit more hair on my hairline,but looks like I have less than that.

And yea,I want also to get on topical fin atleast,but due to me being 16 idk if its possible😭

Plz help plz


r/minoxidil 2h ago

Question 18M 1 year of minoxidil and dutasteride

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4 Upvotes

1 month ago the doctor added oral finasteride.
Do y’all think that my hairline will get better? I think that it’s pretty cooked even with the solution the doctor proposed.
Today I shaved my hair off to see the progress, unfortunately I don’t have old photos.


r/minoxidil 2h ago

Before & After 6 months of oral minoxidil and several months of hair growth

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2 Upvotes

don’t give up, keep the faith!!!


r/minoxidil 1h ago

Question Is this the shedding phase of topical minox?

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‱ Upvotes

r/minoxidil 18h ago

Before & After Oooo lovely stuff this minoxidil

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19 Upvotes

First photo is 4 months after stopping minox. I started topical in December stopped in march. As u can see from the rest of the photos my hair was fine before( before photos are from last September and October so less than a year ago). Not sure what made me paranoid enough to fuck with minox to begin with but here we are. From what I’m reading online this doesn’t recover. I mean my hair is completely different in texture and feel aswell as density so I don’t see how waiting will do anything. If my hair looks like how it does in the first picture still by march next year I’m going to get prp treatment to hopefully recover some density.

Beware of starting minoxidil if u still have decent hair. Minoxidil I think is only for really bald or balding blokes.

Also before u comment Oh YoUr SuPpoSe tO kEeP UsInG InDeFiNeTlY. Use ur brain first and Take a wild guess as to why I stopped.


r/minoxidil 9h ago

Question ÂżEl minoxidil es un infierno?

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3 Upvotes

Soy mujer y tengo entradas bastante profundas. Un injerto capilar no es una opciĂłn para mĂ­ por el costo.

Hace poco empecé el tratamiento que me recetó mi dermatóloga: minoxidil al 5% en espuma por la mañana y por la noche, y aceite de saw palmetto por las noches.

Mi problema es que siento que toda la rutina gira alrededor del minoxidil y me estĂĄ estresando mucho.

Tengo el cabello rizado, asĂ­ que normalmente necesito usar productos para definirlo. Pero tengo entendido que el minoxidil debe aplicarse sobre el cuero cabelludo limpio y seco. Como en las mañanas casi no tengo tiempo, saliendo de bañarme me seco Ășnicamente la zona de la diadema con la secadora, aplico el minoxidil y despuĂ©s intento arreglar mi cabello.

El problema es que siempre termina quedando producto en toda la lĂ­nea frontal del cabello, asĂ­ que esa parte se ve grasosa o con residuos. AdemĂĄs, siento que al aplicarlo y peinar esa parte hacia atrĂĄs, los pocos baby hairs que tenĂ­a ya ni siquiera se notan, asĂ­ que termino viĂ©ndome todavĂ­a mĂĄs “pelona” que antes de empezar el tratamiento.

Luego todavĂ­a tengo que esperar a que se seque para poder hacer mi rutina de skincare, intentando que los productos no lleguen a la zona donde puse el minoxidil. Todo eso hace que una rutina que ya de por sĂ­ llevaba tiempo ahora sea mucho mĂĄs larga.

Por las noches es incluso peor. El aceite de saw palmetto deja el cabello bastante aceitoso, luego tengo que aplicar el minoxidil, esperar otra vez y después hacer mi rutina de skincare. Ademås, no sé si solo me pasa a mí, pero el olor del minoxidil me resulta muy fuerte y hasta me cuesta dormir.

La verdad estoy empezando a sentirme muy agobiada. Pienso: ÂżasĂ­ va a ser toda mi vida? Tener que verme peor durante el proceso y seguir con una rutina tan demandante para mantener los resultados.


r/minoxidil 12h ago

Progress / Update Minoxidil and gfc

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5 Upvotes

After using 3 months of minoxidil and completing 3 sessions of gfc, is there any progress?


r/minoxidil 4h ago

Caution: potentially harmful / false (Rule 4) 2 weeks of minoxidil

1 Upvotes

Lower libido

I started using Minoxydil from jul 5 until today (23 jul)

I use 0.7 ml daily morning after bath on dry scalp.

Topical 5%, no finastride.

I see no morning boner, getting it tight itself needs some effort,

That too was not rock hard, it became squishy even at full erection.

What I want from you guys is that.

1) if i stop using it now will there be a severe consequences in hair fall ?

2) is this ED (sort of) can be recovered? If yes how long it takes.

3) Can i continue on this, doctor said it is ok to continue but I am not ok with this.

Let me know your thoughts 😔


r/minoxidil 8h ago

Question Switch from topical to oral

2 Upvotes

I'm switching from topical min foam to oral min. I'm starting with 2,5mg/day.

What should I expect from this change? I've responded well with the topical solution, it just irritates my scalp too much.

Of course everyones response to the change is different but I'm curious what happened to you guys who have tried to change!


r/minoxidil 8h ago

Question Should I use minoxidil or a small beard transplant to raise my cheek line? (Photos)

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2 Upvotes

Hi guys, I'm looking for some advice.

Pics 1 & 2 are my current beard, pics 3 & 4 is the beard style I'm aiming for (Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy), and pics 5 & 6 show the cheek line I'd like, marked in black.

Do you think minoxidil could realistically raise my beard line to something like pics 3 & 4 over time, or would I need a small beard transplant to achieve it? I'm only looking for a subtle increase that still looks completely natural, as I've seen some beard transplants that look quite bad.

I'd really appreciate any advice from people who've used minoxidil or had a beard transplant. Also, if anyone can recommend a good clinic, especially if you're based in the UK or travelled abroad for the procedure, I'd love to hear your recommendations.

Thanks!


r/minoxidil 5h ago

Question M19,can i switch to minoxidil+finesteride from minoxidil tretinoin and azelaic acid topical solution??

1 Upvotes

used topical for 2 months,but i feel it is better switch to min+fin as soon as possible??how common are the side effects??will u recommend me to switch??


r/minoxidil 12h ago

Question 20M - 11mos Min, 5mos Fin no Result

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3 Upvotes

Hello, I just wanted to share my experience.

I've been using minoxidil for almost a year now, and I haven't seen any results. I honestly regret ever starting it. At this point, I'm planning to stop using minoxidil and just continue taking finasteride.

I guess I'll just wait and hope that my hair grows back naturally while I'm on finasteride.

Right now, I don't know what to do anymore. My mental health has been seriously affected by all of this.

What do you think I should do?

Note: I used to have thick hair and my hairline wasn't even that high before I started. I trusted all the "dread shed journey" posts, thinking it was just part of the process. I'm probably a non-responder to minoxidil.

What should I do?


r/minoxidil 7h ago

Progress / Update Almost 3 months.Give me some reviews. Can I achieve full coverage of hair on my crown area?

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1 Upvotes

Almost 3 months on Topical min-fin twice a day and dermaroller twice a week . Am I on the right path to gain full coverage on my crown?


r/minoxidil 15h ago

Question Minoxidil Question

3 Upvotes

My hair used to be thick, long and wavy. Over the last two years for various reasons my hair is now thinner than it used to be, I somehow lost my texture, thickness and length. If I start using minoxidil to get it back to my natural baseline, do I have to continue using it forever?


r/minoxidil 14h ago

Question How many hairs do you lose a day? Female long term minoxidil users

2 Upvotes

Female long term minoxidil users (8m+) - how many hairs do you shed a day on average? On non-wash and wash days?

I’ve been on the treatment for 10 months, got over the ‘dread shed’ and have had a lot of new growth (still have newer hairs coming through), but I feel like baseline shedding has increased again. I don’t know if it’s another shed, or a stablisiation and this is now ‘normal’. It’s very disconcerting (but then I guess I have more hairs to lose now)! Seeing my Trichologist again in September.


r/minoxidil 12h ago

Question Switching from 2% to 5% Minoxidil after 2 years

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1 Upvotes

r/minoxidil 18h ago

Before & After 32M Min and Fin Finally Starts Kicking

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3 Upvotes

using min 5% fin 1mg daily with tretenoin 0.025 4-5 times a week 4month Results start using in April 2026


r/minoxidil 12h ago

Question Trying minoxidil for facial hair, best ways to maximize results?

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1 Upvotes

r/minoxidil 19h ago

Question How bad is it? What type of thinning? Oral or topical min?

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2 Upvotes

Been taking topical min 1-2 times a day for around 4-5weeks, it’s looking a lot worse than at the start of my buzzcut (when I started min). I’m not sure if im shedding or if the longer hair is making the thinning look much worse, i havent really noticed any hair on pillow etc. Some advice would be great, thanks.


r/minoxidil 20h ago

Discussion Prescription Lonoten chute de cheveux

2 Upvotes

Bonjour Ă  tous,

Je suis atteinte d'alopécie androgénétique, diagnostiquée depuis une vingtaine d'années. Mon ùge=42. Sexe =F. Antécédents : rien à signaler.

Je suis sous contraceptif Jasminelle depuis une bonne quinzaine d'années, je n'ai pas de dérÚglement hormonal, de problÚme de thyroïde ou de carence particuliÚre (ferritine Ok).

Mon dermato vient de me prescrire du Minoxidil sous forme orale (Lonoten), à ma demande, car j'utilise la forme topique (5%) depuis de nombreuses années sans grand succÚs. Il m'a prescrit 1.25mg deux fois par semaine pour le premier mois et ensuite, si pas d'effets secondaires 2.5mg deux fois par semaine.

J'Ă©tais vraiment fatiguĂ©e de devoir appliquer le spray matin et soir pour un rendu pas terrible (sensation cheveux gras). Une personne de ma famille, vivant aux USA et affectĂ©e du mĂȘme problĂšme que moi, a eu d'excellents rĂ©sultats avec le Minoxidil oral, ce qui me redonne un peu d'espoir aprĂšs des annĂ©es de souffrance et de complexes. J'avais aussi tentĂ© la spironolactone pendant quelques annĂ©es mais aucun effet notable si ce n'est un arrĂȘt total de la pilositĂ© corporelle. (PlutĂŽt sympa de n'avoir Ă  se raser les jambes que tous les 3 mois, mais bon avec un crĂąne tout clairsemĂ© difficile d'assumer sa fĂ©minitĂ© malgrĂ© tout).

Pour revenir au Minoxidil oral : tous les témoignages que je lis en ligne mentionnent une prise quotidienne des comprimés. Je suis donc terrorisée à l'idée d'empirer la situation avec seulement une prise bi hebdomadaire. Le dosage ne m'inquiÚte pas spécialement, je trouve ça normal de commencer prudemment, c'est juste la fréquence qui me semble faible et me fait redouter la transition et m'angoisse vraiment.

Mon prochain rdv est dans un an, une Ă©ternitĂ©. J'ai pris rdv avec un autre dermato en teleconsultation mais il me proposait Diane 35 et Androcur ce qui me semble un peu datĂ© (mĂȘme si bien sĂ»r je ne suis pas mĂ©decin).

Je cherche des tĂ©moignages d'autres femmes atteintes d'alopĂ©cie, Ă©ventuellement qui prennent du Minoxidil oral, pour Ă©changer (et aussi me rassurer...) ou aussi des contacts de dermato (rĂ©gion lyonnaise) pour un second avis. Ou mĂȘme partout en France en visio ! Et bien sĂ»r si un mĂ©decin passe par lĂ , je serai ravie d'avoir un avis en commentaire.

Je sais bien que c'est un problĂšme anodin comparĂ© Ă  d'autres pathologies, mais je vous assure que l'estime de soi peut ĂȘtre trĂšs amochĂ©e et psychologiquement, je galĂšre.

Un grand merci de m'avoir lue.


r/minoxidil 21h ago

Question I just started topical minoxidil and my friend has cats, any good measures to take before hanging out?

2 Upvotes

I (FTM 17) just started a few days ago topical minoxidil to start growing out my brows and facial hair and its been going okay. The issue is that my friend has about 5 cats and is rightly paranoid about me starting it. They don't want me coming over/ hanging out if I've used the minoxidil within twenty four hours.

Is there any way to have some premeditated actions i can take so i can still do minoxidil daily and still hang out? I plan to only take it at night so it will fully absorb and I will have less residue on my face, but is there anything else I can do?

If theres nothing I can do, is it fine/ wont interrupt in an intense way my progress or health?


r/minoxidil 19h ago

Question Dermatologist said that minoxidil would not cause shedding

1 Upvotes

Hi! As the title suggests, I recently visited the dermatologist for hair loss. My hair loss is caused by pcos but I’ve been losing it at a pretty rapid rate so wanted a topical fix. My dermatologist prescribed me with minoxidil and I expressed doubts due to the ‘dread shed’, but he insisted it normally doesn’t cause shedding and instead side effects could be itchiness?!? So confused bc aren’t there a scientific studies posted abt the dread shed, is my derma tripping or


r/minoxidil 1d ago

Question Should I apply minoxidil here or wait? (I'm on finasteride)

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4 Upvotes

Context. I'm 21, a female detransitioner (pls don't judge I know I fucked up).

I was on testosterone for 2 years which caused male pattern baldness.

My hairloss and the receding hairline started one year ago and I decided to take finsteride (1mg) since then. My hair loss stopped but it still continues to thin slowly (even my hair dresser mentiones it every month).

I'm now stopping testosterone and plan to use Minoxidil on my slightly receding hairline.

But now I'm unsure if I should use it on the rest of my scalp too or wait and hope the estrogen will make my hair thicker again.

Does my scalp look okay?? Or is that a balding spot already, I can't tell.

I already experienced the shedding phase on finasteride and I really don't want this to happen again. 😭


r/minoxidil 1d ago

Before & After Minoxidil 4 months

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12 Upvotes

Wow, I did not think it would work this well, I hope it will fix the last spots but if not I am really happy with the improvement.