Minoxidil Side Effects?

Hello Dr., I have been using minoxidil lotion for two months now. I do not suffer from any systemic side effect as yet. BUT, every time I apply it I have noticed that I ,almost immediately, with in minutes experience a little bit of strain on the skin under my eyes. When I look in the mirror it appears that I have developed dark circles. With continuous use I notice fine lines and dryness on my face. Now to avoid this I have started applying the lotion in supine position while rubbing the tip of the dropper on my scalp. I stay in that position at least for next 20-30 minutes. This is to make sure not even a trace of medicine flows down on my face. But still I have the same sensation on my face. All these effect however disappear even if I discontinue the medicine even for two days. This has been a repeated experience. Any comments?!! Do other patients also complain about the same problem?

This is the first time I have heard anyone report this. I can not understand it unless the medication is actually landing on the skin of your face or around the eyes. There are reports of local skin reactions to minoxidil that ‘irritate’ the skin. Some of the medication can be absorbed through the skin and drop the blood pressure a little and this is a transient effect that does not last long. Maybe this medication is not worth the trouble it is causing you. Clearly if you stop it, it goes away. Is there are real benefit worth the problems you are experiencing?

Mixing Minoxidil with Olive Oil?

is it ok to mix minoxidil with carrier oil, for example olive oil for easy application in scalp?? I hate the spray form, it gets into my ears and grows fur.

I don’t know what oils will do to the absorption of minoxidil. Sounds like you are inventing a new approach, but don’t expect me to endorse it or justify its safety. If you’re really disliking the liquid, you could try the Rogaine Foam.


2007-12-11 10:39:21Mixing Minoxidil with Olive Oil?

Bleaching my hair?

I want to bleach my hair blonde for a party but i wonder if this will cause any permanent damage? I use fin/min/nizoral and derma once a week. Could this cause anything permanent?

If you want to bleach your hair, make sure that you get an expert to do it. I have seen too many people do it on their own and get a permanent burn to the hair follicles and develop localized balding from it.


2021-02-04 07:28:18Bleaching my hair?

More Olux Foam and Hair Loss

In response to your Jan. 15th post on Olux Foam, my dermatologist has also prescribed me the medication to treat seborrheic dermatitis. She has told me that I need to apply the foam once a day, at night, for an indefinite period of time to prevent the inflammation of my scalp. Do you think this will affect my hair loss in the long term? I have also been taking Propecia for the past 6 months to help treat hair loss in the same region on my scalp. Thank you for you advice and help.

In theory, topical steroids (the ones that are used for skin inflammation) do not cause hair loss. I don’t think topical steroids can contribute to a deterioration of your hair loss unless you absorb clinical amounts of steroids through the skin.


2007-01-17 11:04:48More Olux Foam and Hair Loss

Body Dysmorphic or Just Needing Hair, That Is the Question? (From Reddit)

I did two hair transplants on a very bald psychologist who was age 52. After he got his hair back, he felt like a hairy person, not a bald man with low self-esteem. He told me that he underwent 18 years or psychoanalysis for his self-esteem problem and was angry that he thought he could have had a hair transplant 18 years earlier and solved his problem. I have performed hair transplants on many celebrities. Many of them felt that they could not be themselves without hair and once they got their hair, the never focused on hair but their careers. They each told me, regardless of their age, that the hair made them feel like themselves and freed up their creative side. Thanks for the nice write-up.

Body image issues and why getting your hair back isn’t going to change your problems. from tressless

MPB Progression

Can rates of mpb change time to time in a person. From 2017 – 2018, my hair line went to Norwood 1 from Norwood 0. The texture of my hair changed and density decreased. From July 2018 to now, there was no change in hairline or density, remains the same. Essentially does mpb progress in a linear, exponential, or sine wave like fashion? Or is there no idea.

Moving from a Norwood 0 to a Norwood 1 is just moving from a juvenile to a mature hairline, and it is NOT balding. To be sure, I would have to see what you are referencing with some good photos.


2019-07-30 14:18:05MPB Progression

Born with Bald Spot

I was born in 1965 with a bald spot on upper left scalp. It has never changed. My mother checked about hair replacement when I was a child, but because I had no hair follicles, they could not help. I am now almost 53 and have dealt with it. Never looked into it further though. Have I gotten teased, absolutely as a child. I am blessed with thick hair. Long hair is a good thing for me. I part it to the right and usually pull some back to cover it, if not in pony tail or braids. At times, I do envy those who can just leave their hair without a fuss or worry about the wind separating it and my bald spot showing or having trendy haircuts and styles. I wish there was an easy way to have what’s left of my life without it, however I keep hearing my mothers words saying “God made you special for a reason”. My final thought, embrace it, learn how to fix your hair to make you feel more comfortable. If anyone is that critical, ignorant, or shallow over something you had no control over, then they are not worth your time of day people.

You may be special, yet you can still fix this if you want with either a hair transplant on a limited basis or Scalp Micropigmentation.

My 4000 grafts hair transplant at 22 in Turkey

just wanted to share my hair transplant experience. I planend to do it at the hair line clinic Ankara as it has a pretty good reputation in german hair loss forums. Since I was pretty young (22y), I decided to go to a consulation they offered and talked to them personally about the situation. I have been a NW4 on Finasteride and Minoxidil 5% twice a day. They figured out the size and density of my donor area and we planned the hairline together. I decided to go for it and “booked” my hair transplant. When I arrived in Turkey, they had a driver who picked me up and I slept in a nice building next to the clinic. The next day, we planned the final hairline, did some medical tests before and then shaved my head. Afterwards, and for the next 3 days, as 4000 grafts were transplanted, it was always the same procedure: One doctor pulled the grafts out of my head, then they were “prepared” 10-15 minutes, then another doctor set them in. During the day, we had to take some medications and put some creme on the donor area. After the 3 days, post op instructions were given to us which I followed completely (maybe too much haha). Anyways, the price of this clinic ranges from 2.50 to 3 Euros per graft (depends on whether they can propose you a date or not, if you shave your head or not and if they are allowed to take pictures or not) and I can definetely recommend the clinic as I am very happy with the results. As I am very young and my crown is thinning, might be the case that I have to go again.

I generally believe that a 22 year old shouldn’t get a hair transplant, see here: https://baldingblog.com/22-year-old-received-a-hair-transplant-of-2800-grafts-from-reddit/. From what you described, it sounds like you had a good experience but the issue really is balding pattern and using up your donor supply. With 4000 grafts, you used up at least half of your donor bank, possibly more. I always discuss the concept of a Master Plan as balding is a progressive process and the hair in the donor bank only allows withdrawals, never deposits. A 22 year old with a Class 4A pattern might still develop a Class 7 pattern in the future so the remaining hairs in the donor bank is critical for that eventuality.


2019-11-20 10:01:40My 4000 grafts hair transplant at 22 in Turkey