Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Minoxidil Application Questions

Hello Dr. Rassman,

So I have several questions. Firstly, I read somewhere that if the scalp is wet upon application of Minoxidil, that the Minoxidil would be absorbed better achieving better/faster results. I’m a little skeptical of this. Is this true?

Secondly, if I apply the Minoxidil before I blow dry my hair, how long should I wait to blow dry it to achieve maximum effectiveness? I’m kind of in a rush in the morning and so waiting more than a half an hour would kind of be impossible. If this were the case, I might abandon application of Minoxidil in the morning. How less effective would only one application of Minoxidil per day be?

This is perhaps a stupid question that I should have asked my physician a long, long time ago, but, how is 1 mL of Minoxidil supposed to cover my entire scalp!?!? A lot of it tends to run down my forehead as it is, thereby wasting it, but even if it were all put to good use, 1 mL only seems to cover several square inches before I no longer feel any left on my fingertips during the massaging. Is it there even though I don’t feel it or something? What am I doing wrong?

I don’t know if this is relevant or not, but after 4 months of using 5% Minoxidil and noticing no results, I decided to switch to 15% Minoxidil w/ 5% Azelaic acid.

Azelaic acid is an irritant and in using it is supposed to increase the blood supply to the scalp and therefore increase the absorption of minoxidil. Your point about coverage is well taken. It takes a lot of minoxidil to cover the entire scalp, so I generally advise patients to apply it only to the areas that are thinning. Minoxidil is best applied after a hot shower, as the circulation of the scalp is higher at that time. Waiting 5-10 minutes should suffice, but using the Rogaine Foam rather than the liquid could solve your styling timing issues and it may be more effective.

Many of your additional minoxidil questions have already been answered at Rogaine.com.


2009-10-01 09:17:26Minoxidil Application Questions

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Minoxidil benefit, will it get better?

I have used minoxidil for twelve weeks and now just started on finasteride. Will my hairline return to its normal shape on the finasteride?
The medication restored your forelock, not your frontal hairline in its normal shape. A hair transplant is the best option if you are not satisfied with your nice achievement so far. Finasteride rarely restores the normal hairline in men who have completely lost it and are over 26 years of age.
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Minoxidil Applications, Pantovigar

Dear Dr Rassman
Two questions please: first, it is recomended to apply Minoxidil twice a day, in the morning and evening. Does it matter if I apply it later, around midday?

Second: what do you think about Pantovigar?

Many thanks.

Many doctors feel that if minoxidil is not used twice a day it has substantially less value. Generally, twice a day means as close to 12 hours apart as is socially reasonable.

Everything I researched on Pantovigar seems to be in German — I do not speak or read German. No further comment can therefore be made by me at this point in time.

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Minoxidil Causes Braining Fog and Dizziness

I would like to report my findings after discontinuing 5% Minoxidil. I assumed Finastride gave me brain fog after months of combining it with Minoxidil. After discontinuing Minoxidil, my “brain fog” went away within weeks. I have not taken Minoxidil in 6 months, and I feel more mentally sharp. I also noticed a lot of hair shedding these past few months. It seems to happen year after year in the fall and spring. I originally blamed it on a shed from Minoxidil, but since I stopped taking it 6 months ago, it is probably natural hair loss. I still experience dizziness from time to time, but this is highly dependent on my sleep schedule. I hope this could possibly help someone if you choose to post it. I blamed medication for my problems sometimes, but this isn’t always true. I plan to continue taking Finastride for a year or so. Then, I will re-introduce 5% Minoxidil every evening / once daily (due to dizziness). After 1-2 years of stable hair growth, I will opt for a hair transplant in the frontal area to have a better hairline.

Dizziness is a known complication of Minoxidil absorption, as it probably comes about because of a slight drop in blood pressure. You might check your blood pressure with and without Minoxidil. I can’t address your brain fog other than through your blood pressure issues that may be present with the drug. Ask your doctor the question about the brain fog.


2018-05-31 13:22:16Minoxidil Causes Braining Fog and Dizziness

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Does Minoxidil Cause Tinnitus?

I started having tinnitus a month after using Minoxodil, never thought it could be related to this medication. Recently I went to see an audiologist and forgot to mention the Minoxidil. He did a hearing exam and said that my hearing is dropping at the higher frequency range, starting 9000 Hz. I told him that I was a musician, and he told me to blame the drummer for that. He gave me some ear vitamin supplements. I have to contact him back and mention the Minoxidil. I will stop using the damn thing and be bald instead. Honestly not worth it at all. Let’s see what happens.

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) can be a warning sign for many serious medical conditions, not related to medications. However, it is also a known rare side effect of Minoxidil. Stopping the drug is a good idea.


2018-08-03 09:21:39Does Minoxidil Cause Tinnitus?

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Minoxidil Dependence

Dear Dr. Rassman,
How long does it take for minoxidil dependence to occur ( once use has been started)

I do not know the definite answer to this, as there are no studies published about it (to my knowledge). First, the hair must be responsive to minoxidil for it to become dependent upon it and that means that the hair is thin and not normal. This generally takes many months, to a point where the drug is making a difference.

If you put a non-balding person on minoxidil, I believe that the hair would not develop a dependence upon it.

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Minoxidil dependency

How long before hair follicles become dependent on minoxidil?

Only the hair that minoxidil grows, is dependent upon minoxidil. The normal terminal hair will not become minoxidil dependent.

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Minoxidil Causes Wolf-Man Like Facial Hair?

Can Regaine cause hair growth all over even if i don’t put it on that part of the skin? I think I read something about this happening, but i can’t find the source. thanx

Wolf ManA patient reported last week that when he used minoxidil regularly (also known as Rogaine/Regaine) some years ago, he eventually saw hair grow over the entire face and forehead, giving him a Wolf-Man type look. I wish I had photos, but it was just a story he told me. After stopping the medication, he said the abnormal facial hair disappeared. This might sound ridiculous to some people, but I believed him. There have been similar reports posted before.

I asked some other prominent hair doctors (part of an email group of physicians I am in) about this, and some reported seeing this rare phenomenon in patients as well. We do see facial hair growth in some people that can be substantial, and it’s a particularly rare problem for some women on this medication as well. And when I do have photos, I’ll do my best to get permission to publish them…

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minoxidil & dermarolling 6 months (photos)

This man used minoxidil and dermarolling for 6 months on the frontal hairline with some regrowth evident which will only get better over time


2020-11-08 08:08:16minoxidil & dermarolling 6 months (photos)

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Minoxidil dependent hair

The hair grown with minoxidil requires you to stay on the minoxidil as the hair is dependent upon this drug. if you stop the drug, the minoxidil dependent hair will fall out.