Is minoxidil worth the risk?

The words “risk” and “reward” written with a blue marker by someone's hand on a white background.

Minoxidil is a medication primarily used for the treatment of hair loss, particularly male pattern baldness. It is available over-the-counter in various strengths, and under different brand names. While minoxidil is perfectly safe and effective for most individuals, whether it’s worth the risk or not depends on several factors such as your specific situation and … Read more

How to stop minoxidil without losing hair?

Picture of a man putting minoxidil foam on his hand.

It’s impossible to stop minoxidil without losing hair if you’re suffering from male, or female pattern hair loss.

The only way you can quit minoxidil without hair loss is when you were suffering from stress related hair loss before, and the issue is resolved.

What you can do is taper off minoxidil by applying just once a day instead of twice daily, or by utilizing the product once every other day, for instance. This way, you can probably keep most of the hair gains you’ve made previously. That’s because maintaining is almost always easier than building.

It’s important to approach the process gradually if you have been using minoxidil and would like to discontinue the medication without experiencing excessive hair loss.

How to use minoxidil pills for hair growth

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Minoxidil is a medication primarily known for its topical application to promote hair growth, and even beard growth for men pursuing those options.

However, it’s also available in oral form. Minoxidil pills, also known as oral minoxidil, have gained attention as a potential treatment for certain medical conditions such as low blood pressure, but also to combat hair loss.

Evidence proposes that the appropriate low dose of minoxidil pills for hair regrowth in women ranges from 0.25 to 2.5 mg/day. Men require a slightly higher dosage ranging from 2.5 to 5 mg/day since they’re heavier.

Can minoxidil cause gynecomastia?

Image of a man suffering from asymmetric gynecomastia.

Minoxidil can potentially cause gynecomastia, also commonly called gyno, since it’s listed as a potential side effect in the National Library of Health. Although it should be noted that it’s exceedingly rare since only 0.16 % of those 17.930 people, which are just 28 individuals, reported suffering from gynecomastia. Breast tenderness is another rare, but … Read more

Does minoxidil affect blood pressure?

Image of a doctor taking a patient's blood pressure.

Minoxidil works by opening up the blood vessels (vasodilation) which increases blood flow and thus, the amount of nutrients that get provided to the hair follicles.

Since it does cause dilation, it’s only logical to ask ourselves whether minoxidil affects blood pressure or not.

To answer briefly already, yes it can. Although it doesn’t always happen. Let me explain why minoxidil can potentially lower systolic pressure.

Is minoxidil inflammatory?

Picture of a man putting minoxidil foam on his hand.

Minoxidil is a popular product in the fight against hair loss. Whether it’s to slow down, or to regrow lost hair.

Some people are worried that minoxidil is inflammatory, and will cause redness, or irritation to their scalp as a result.

But rest assured, inflammation caused by minoxidil is a rare side effect. As a matter of fact, minoxidil has anti-inflammatory effects. Let me explain why.

Does minoxidil cause body pain?

Illustration of a person suffering from pain all over his body.

Minoxidil is a great way to stave off further hair loss, and even to regrow lost hair.

It’s well tolerated by most people, and there are usually no, to very mild side effects.

Yet, sometimes there are reactions to the medication. And although frequently harmless and a minor inconvenience, there are some dangerous, albeit rare aftereffects. Chest pain being one of them.

So does minoxidil cause body pain or not? Let’s find out.

Is minoxidil a DHT blocker?

Picture of a man putting minoxidil foam on his hand.

We know that minoxidil aids to slow down hair loss, and in some cases even to regrow lost hair.

But does minoxidil block DHT? Or does it work because there’s another mechanism of action at play?

To answer briefly already, minoxidil does not work by blocking DHT, but because of another reason. Let me explain how it works instead.

Does minoxidil affect muscle growth?

Image of a woman squatting in a gym.

A lot of people use minoxidil in their fight against hair loss. Chances are that those folks also enjoy working out, and building muscle mass.

That’s why it comes as no surprise that some of them are worried that it will, or can, negatively impact their training regime.

For today’s question, does minoxidil affect muscle growth or not? Let’s find out.