Minoxidil is a great product to combat hair loss. And most people who do decide to use it, do so without any issues popping up.
But for the few unfortunates of us, using the medication can lead to annoying, albeit mostly harmless side effects such as flaking, and itching of the skin.
But in most cases, itching can be reduced, or resolved entirely.
Let me explain why the itching occurs, and how to get rid of it.
Topical minoxidil itchy
Topical minoxidil can cause an itchy face, beard, scalp, and eyes due to mainly one of the following reasons:
- Propylene glycol
- Aggravation of seborrheic dermatitis
- Allergy
Propylene glycol
Propylene glycol is the popular ingredient that’s present in most minoxidil solutions.
It aids to resolve the active ingredient minoxidil, and to make it easier for the tissues of our body to absorb the product.
Minoxidil foam does not contain propylene glycol, and is thus an effective solution if you suffer from itchiness due to minoxidil usage.
Aggravation of seborrheic dermatitis
Minoxidil can also cause the aggravation of already present seborrheic dermatitis.
It is a skin condition that mainly affects the scalp and other oily surfaces of the body such as the face, chest, eyebrows, eyelids, and the sides of the nose.
Allergy
It’s also possible that the itchiness is caused by a true allergy to the minoxidil that’s present in the product.
Of course, other allergies unrelated to the use of minoxidil can also cause itchiness anywhere on the body. But if it started shortly after you hopped on minoxidil, then chances are large that it’s connected with the hair loss product.
Minoxidil itchy beard
It’s possible that minoxidil causes an itchy beard due to the propylene glycol that’s present in the product, or due to the aggravation of seborrheic dermatitis, or that an allergy to minoxidil came into play.
A good way to figure out if your beard is itching due to the propylene glycol is to use a similar product without this solvent.
That’s why topical minoxidil foam is such a great alternative, since they don’t include propylene glycol into their product.
Minoxidil itchy face
Using a topical minoxidil solution can potentially cause itchiness wherever you apply it on your face. Be it your cheeks, or eyebrows.
An itchy face is usually caused by irritant contact dermatitis due to an allergic reaction to the propylene glycol of the product, but can also originate from an allergy to the active ingredient, minoxidil itself.
Minoxidil itchy scalp
One of the most common minoxidil side effects is an itchy scalp.
The scalp is by far the most popular and common place to apply topical minoxidil solution to. The reason being is that most people use the product in order to combat hair loss, and/or to regrow lost hair.
That’s also precisely why most people who suffer from itching after using minoxidil complain mostly about an itchy scalp.
Again, the propylene glycol that helps to dissolve the product and to increase the absorption rate of the skin can cause skin irritation due to an allergy. If this is the case, then using a topical foam instead of solution can bring comfort.
If the allergy is due to the minoxidil itself, granted, this is quite rare, then minoxidil usage will have to be stopped entirely, depending on how severe and detrimental the side effects are.
To combat an itchy and flaky scalp because of minoxidil usage, make sure to apply a moisturizer and to clean your hair regularly and thoroughly. This will cleanse your hair from any leftover residue that can irritate the skin on your scalp.
Minoxidil itchy eyes
Eye irritation is a possible side effect of applying topical minoxidil to combat hair loss, or to grow facial hair.
You should NEVER apply minoxidil to the eyes, nor should the minoxidil ever make contact with your eyes. Directly, or otherwise.
If it does, then minoxidil will cause irritation and the burning of our eyes and nasal passages.
If the minoxidil does accidentally come into contact with your eyes, don’t panic, and remain calm. Flush your eyes as soon as possible with cold streaming water to clear your eyes of any leftover product.
Minoxidil itchy ears
If your ears are itching after applying a topical minoxidil solution, then it’s most likely due to an allergy flaring up.
Important to note is that most folks are not allergic to the active ingredient itself, which is minoxidil. Rather, the itchiness that some individuals experience after applying minoxidil is most likely cause by the propylene glycol that’s used to dissolve the product.
Does minoxidil itching go away?
The minoxidil itching going away depends on a lot of things, such as why you got that side effect in the first place. But in most instances, it’s possible to reduce, or even to get rid of itching entirely.
At worst, quitting minoxidil altogether will eliminate all present side effects that are caused by the medication after the effects wear off.
If it’s due to an allergy to the propylene glycol that’s present in most topical solutions, then switching over to foam will most likely get rid of the itching entirely.
When the itching is caused by the alcohol, air drying your hair and not wearing caps immediately after applying minoxidil can help dissolve the alcohol and prevent residue buildup. This can help prevent, and even cure, itching.
When the minoxidil usage aggravates an underlying cause such as seborrheic dermatitis, then using medicated shampoos such as Nirozal or Neutrogena can help reduce, or get rid of itching completely.
Minoxidil itchy scalp solution
Using topical foam instead of solution
If the itchy scalp is due to skin irritation caused by the solvent propylene glycol, switching over to a product without said ingredient can offer solace.
That’s why using a topical minoxidil foam instead of a solution can be a viable alternative to solve the issue entirely.
Letting the solution dry
The active ingredient minoxidil will be absorbed into the skin since it’s designed for that, whether you air dry it or not.
Yet, the alcohol that’s present in the product will not be able to vaporize as effectively. Over time, this buildup of alcohol on your skin can cause skin irritation.
Air drying your hair can aid to evaporate the present alcohol. Make sure not to wear head coverings such as a cap in order to give the alcohol a chance to dissolve effectively.
Medicated shampoos
If the symptom is caused by dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, then a medicated shampoo such as Selsum Blue, Neutrogena or Nizoral can help to reduce the itchiness.
Alcohol-free in addition to water based minoxidil, and minoxidil foam can also offer solace since they typically don’t contain the propylene glycol that’s present in solutions.
Reduce the frequency and/or strength of the product
Reducing the frequency of appliance can aid to reduce itching. The more often you apply minoxidil, the larger the chance of getting side effects such as itchiness or skin flaking.
Lower strength minoxidil products, such as using 2% instead of 5 and 10% products, can also prove beneficial to reduce common side effects. So consider using a lower strength product if you have a sensitive skin.
It’s possible that the itchiness persists if it’s caused by an allergy to the propylene glycol or minoxidil itself. However, applying less frequently and/or using a lower strength minoxidil will probably lead to less severe itching.
Quit minoxidil entirely
The last resort measure that will in all probability solve the issue completely is quitting minoxidil entirely.
Minoxidil is a safe and effective medication to combat hair loss. Yet, everyone reacts different to the product, despite generally being very well tolerated by most people.
If your side effects are severe or interfere with your daily functioning, then quitting minoxidil entirely and going for an alternative such as microneedling or taking finasteride may be more up your alley.
Conclusion
Figuring out the root of the itching is essential before figuring out the most appropriate plan of action.
But in most cases, itchiness can be lessened, and sometimes even eliminated wholly.
Switching to minoxidil foam instead of solution can be a good way to diagnose if your itching was because of the propylene glycol or not. In a lot of cases, this already gets rid of the itching completely.
If it doesn’t help, then using a medicated shampoo can help reduce itching. If it helps, then seborrheic dermatitis could’ve been the reason.
As a last resort, quitting minoxidil totally can destroy all side effects after the minoxidil wears off in our bodies.
Nevertheless, this also means that progressive hair loss will start to happen again if we don’t search and find a viable alternative to combat hair loss.