Minoxidil is a drug that’s prescribed over the counter and in order to combat male and female pattern baldness. It is also gaining popularity by men using it to grow a surprising amount of beard whispers.
However, there are some uncommon, although possible, side effects for both men and women. Even more rare are those who should not use minoxidil. Those people are often suffering from a certain preexisting medical condition such as heart palpitations, or arrhythmia.
It is important to know what those possible hurdles are and what the appropriate action is in order to be safe and sound. And that’s exactly what we’ll be exploring and talking about today.
Possible side effects of minoxidil
Let us review what the side effects of minoxidil can be.
Although minoxidil is generally very well tolerated, there are the occasional rare possible minoxidil side effects that can occur for some people, such as:
Common and typically non-dangerous side effects
- Scalp itching[1]https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a689003.html
- Hair shedding because the telogen phase of hair growth is shortened
- Skin irritation: discomfort, burning sensation and/or erythema
- Scaly changes of the applied area: irritation or exacerbation of seborrheic dermatitis
- Isolated pruritus
- Generalized or localized hypertrichosis: This can occur with both the topical and oral minoxidil. It is however more common with the oral form and 5% than the 2% minoxidil because there is more systematic absorption. Research has suggested that hypertrichosis is related to minoxidil’s prolongation of the anagen phase.
- Allergic contact dermatitis: Pruritus, eczematous skin reaction and erythema. Propylene glycol and minoxidil are two major allergens in allergic contact dermatitis. There is also minoxidil foam that lacks propylene glycol, which can be a viable option if an allergic reaction happens[2]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482378/
- Minoxidil may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Avoid unneeded or prolonged exposure to sunlight. Make sure to wear protective sunscreen, glasses, and clothing depending on where you applied the topical minoxidil solution.
- Skin flushing
Rare side effects that are a sign of too much minoxidil being absorbed in the body (too much systematic absorption)
Remember to always immediately go to an emergency care center or to call 911 in case of severe side effect. In other words, seek immediate professional help if any of the following symptoms arise:
- Chest pain
- Fast heartbeat
- Irregular heartbeat
- Difficulty breathing (especially when lying down)
- swelling of the face, ankles, hands, or stomach[3]https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/minoxidil-topical-route/precautions/drg-20068750?p=1
- Rapid weight gain
- Tingling feeling or numbness of the face, hands and/or feet
- Headache
- lightheadedness
- Blurry vision
- Feeling dizzy
- Fainting
- Severe skin irritation
Conclusion
Now that we know what the side effects of using minoxidil can possibly be, it is up to everyone personally to weigh things up properly in order to figure out if using minoxidil is worth it or not.
However, I would briefly like to note again that minoxidil is by and large very well endured and that the side effects are generally very mild.
In regard to the questions “what are the minoxidil side effects for men and minoxidil for women side effects”, the possible side effects of minoxidil are the same for both men and women. This is due to the fact that they use the same amount of minoxidil and the same strength.