If you're thinking about using minoxidil for your hair regrowth, then you've come to the right place. Together, we will try to explore the possible side effects of using oral or topical minoxidil to help with your hair-related concerns.
A Quick Backstory of Minoxidil
Minoxidil was first made and developed in the 1960s as a medication for treating high blood pressure. But during the testing, doctors noticed something interesting:
People started growing extra hair in random places on their bodies. This side effect, called hypertrichosis, later turned out to be a benefit for hair loss and helped in hair regrowth.
By the year 1986, a topical form of minoxidil, known as Rogaine, was approved for men. Later in 1991, it was also approved for women. Today, minoxidil is available in many different forms. You can get it as a topical liquid or foam, which you can usually buy over the counter. There is also an oral pill available in the market, but you'll need a prescription to buy it.
Side Effects of Topical Minoxidil (Liquids and Foams)
When you use topical minoxidil, you apply it directly to the areas on your scalp where you're losing hair. This application can cause some Side Effects that are mentioned below -
Scalp Irritation:
The liquid version of minoxidil contains an ingredient that is called propylene glycol. For some people, applying this ingredient frequently can irritate the scalp, causing what is known as contact dermatitis. My recommendation for everyone is to use the foam version because it doesn't have propylene glycol and is less likely to cause irritation. If you do get a reaction from the liquid minoxidil, it's best to stop using it for about a week before trying the foam.
Unwanted Hair Growth:
This can happen if you aren't very careful. If you apply the minoxidil to your scalp and then touch your cheek or any other part of your body without washing your hands first, then you could stimulate hair growth there.
Headaches:
Since minoxidil was originally developed as a blood pressure medicine that widens blood vessels (a vasodilator), it can sometimes worsen migraines or headaches for some people.
Less Common Side Effects:
In rare cases, people might experience heart palpitations or weight gain, which can probably affect anyone.
Is Hair Shedding a Side Effect?
A very common question that I get is about hair shedding after starting to use minoxidil. It can be very scary to see more hair falling out when you're already trying to stop hair loss.
The reality is, this is not a side effect! It's actually a sign that the minoxidil is working well. The medication is pushing out the old, weak hairs to make way for new, healthy hair to enter the growth phase. This shedding usually happens for about 4 to 8 weeks. Seeing this kind of shedding means that you're on the right track, so try to be patient.
Side Effects of Oral Minoxidil (The Pill)
Taking a minoxidil pill once a day is often easier for people to stick with than applying a topical treatment regularly. Despite the fact that the medicine goes through your whole system, the dose used for hair loss is very low and typically doesn't affect your blood pressure.
Some of the side effects that can be seen while using oral minoxidil -
Unwanted Hair:
The biggest complaint that I hear, especially from women, is of growing hair in unwanted places, like their chin or above their lip. This hair is usually very fine(almost invisible), like "peach fuzz," and can be easily removed by shaving it off. Millions of women use oral minoxidil without this being a major problem for them.
Low Risk of Other Effects:
There is a very low risk of developing migraines, heart palpitations, or water retention.
A Good Alternative: If you experienced scalp irritation from topical minoxidil, those side effects should go away completely if you switch to the oral pill.
Who Should Be Cautious?
It is very important to avoid the use of minoxidil in any form if you are a woman who is pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding your child.
Even if you use the topical version of minoxidil and have kids, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying minoxidil. If you touch your child, you could potentially stimulate new hair growth on their skin at the place you touched. It is not harmful or to be very worried about, but it's something to be highly aware of.
Minoxidil has stood the test of time and has always been used safely by millions of men and women for the last 30 years.
The key here is patience for the users of minoxidil - it can take several months to see results from minoxidil, so don't get frustrated, stick with it, and use it very carefully.
I hope the side effects of minoxidil don't hit you.
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