Is it safe to use minoxidil for hair growth? 7 side effects to be wary of

Hair loss, on account of age or sure medical situations, is one drawback that impacts each women and men. Be it dwelling cures or medicated remedies, there appear to be many options that individuals could swear by. Whereas some home made oil-mixes may do the trick for you, your physician may inform you to go for minoxidil, a drugs for folks with hypertension, which helps with hair loss. It might strengthen your hair follicles, and result in higher density. Nevertheless, you must also find out about minoxidil unwanted effects earlier than making it a part of your hair care routine.

What’s minoxidil?

It’s a vasodilator, a drugs that opens up blood vessels, developed to handle hypertension (hypertension). A 2007 examine, printed in The Journal of Scientific Hypertension, confirmed that it’s able to decreasing blood stress in most individuals with hypertension. “It really works by stress-free blood vessels, and enhancing blood circulation. Nevertheless, its unintended aspect impact — hair progress, led to its widespread use as a remedy for hair loss,” says inside medication skilled Dr Arvind Aggarwal.

It’s primarily utilized in two methods:

• As an oral medicine, it’s prescribed for extreme hypertension, normally when different remedies have failed.
• In its topical kind, it’s utilized on to the scalp to deal with androgenetic alopecia, also called female and male sample baldness.

How does minoxidil promote hair progress?

It promotes hair progress by way of the next methods:

• Vasodilation (elevated blood circulation): The medicine widens blood vessels, enhancing blood circulation to the hair follicles. “This elevated oxygen and nutrient provide helps to revive the dormant hair follicles. Higher blood circulation ensures that follicles obtain the important vitamins required for hair progress,” says beauty and aesthetic surgeon Dr Shweta Mishra.
• Extended anagen part (progress part): Hair grows in cycles, and minoxidil extends the anagen (progress) part, guaranteeing thicker and longer hair strands. “This prevents hair from getting into the shedding part too rapidly, which finally results in fuller and voluminous hair over time,” says Dr Mishra.
• Lowered hair shedding: Initially, it’s possible you’ll expertise “shedding,” however that is non permanent. “Over time, this medicine strengthens the follicles, leading to much less hair fall and higher density,” says Dr Mishra.

Often, a minimum of 4 months of steady remedy with minoxidil topical answer is required for hair progress, as per analysis printed in Scientific and Experimental Dermatology in 2022. “For hair loss remedy, males sometimes use a 5 p.c topical answer or foam utilized twice day by day, whereas girls are sometimes prescribed a 2 p.c answer twice day by day or a 5 p.c foam as soon as day by day,” says Dr Aggarwal.

What are the minoxidil unwanted effects?

Is minoxidil secure to make use of? Listed below are a number of the minoxidil unwanted effects you want to concentrate on:

1. Scalp irritation

One of many frequent minoxidil unwanted effects is delicate irritation, redness, or itching following software on the scalp. It will possibly result in discomfort, and a burning sensation on the scalp, based on analysis printed in StatPearls in 2023. “This can be on account of alcohol or propylene glycol in a number of the options,” says Dr Mishra.

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2. Preliminary hair shedding

“You could expertise elevated hair shedding within the preliminary weeks of utilizing the medicine topically,” says Dr Aggarwal. It may be alarming at first, however it’s normally a brief part earlier than new progress begins. This occurs as a result of weaker hair is pushed out, making approach for brand new hair progress.

3. Dryness and flaking of the scalp

The record of minoxidil unwanted effects additionally consists of scalp dryness, and flaking. It might seem like you might have dandruff. “If you discover these issues, as an alternative of going for a chemical-loaded shampoo, use a mild, hydrating shampoo to assist alleviate this challenge,” suggests Dr Mishra.

4. Undesirable facial hair progress

Undesirable facial hair progress is among the minoxidil unwanted effects. You could discover undesirable hair progress on unintended areas such because the brow or cheeks. “This will occur if the liquid trickles past the scalp whereas making use of it,” says Dr Aggarwal.

5. Dizziness

It’s not simply topically, however utilizing this medicine in oral kind may result in opposed results. “You might have delicate dizziness, which happens when the medicine is absorbed systemically, although that is extra frequent with the oral kind,” says Dr Aggarwal.

6. Swelling in palms or ft

One of many uncommon minoxidil unwanted effects is swelling in palms or ft. “Having the medicine in its oral kind can result in water retention, inflicting delicate swelling in palms or ft,” says Dr Aggarwal. This doesn’t occur whereas making use of the medicine.

7. Allergic reactions

Extreme itching or rashes are among the many uncommon minoxidil unwanted effects. “Some folks could develop hives, extreme itching or rashes on account of sensitivity to the parts within the medicine,” says Dr Mishra. Should you discover persistent rashes or swelling, cease making use of it or consuming it, and attain out to a physician.

Minoxidil is among the fashionable medicines for coping with hair loss. It might show you how to, however know the minoxidil unwanted effects, together with hair shedding, earlier than utilizing it.