Is "facial aging" from minoxidil real or is it just hype?

[Aonyx262]

The only thing that made my face worse was wrinkling my forehead while styling my hair. I've had lines in my forehead and dark circles long before using minoxidil. I'm 27 now.

I'm gonna start a thread saying minoxidil caused toenail fungus and see where it goes.

[Ahab]

Something I've seen in posts across hair loss forums from 3-4 years ago

Just wondering what the consensus is now

I've been using topical minoxidil for more than thirty years, and sure enough, I keep looking older every year.

[Ahab]

For many women, minoxidil is enough to completely regrow hair...if you use the male amount! I have to wax and epilate more, but it's worth it.

Also, for many men, minoxidil really is a long-term solution. My husband has been on it for a decade and went from a NW1 to NW0-1 and has stayed there. In 10 more years, who knows? But so far, so good.

Minoxidil probably does not stop the progression of mpb. Likely all minoxidil does is keep follicles in the growth phase longer, so instead of having, for example, 80% of your follicles growing hair at any given time, close to 100% of your follicles grow hair at any given time. But those follicles that succumbed to mpb will still not grow terminal hair. And with the passing of time, more and more follicles will succumb to mpb. If your husband hasn't experienced any significant loss over the last ten years, it's because mpg progresses in fits and starts. In my own case, I have found that things seem stable for a few years, then BAM! My temples start receding or the perimeter of my pattern expands. Then it stabilizes for a few more years and then more is lost, etc. I've been watching this for 50+ years, and it never stops.

[k9gatton]

Why would anybody come on here to make stuff up and try scare people off if it wasn't true? These are common side effects... Puffy face, sunken in eyes, an angry look about the face, dry flaky skin. I experienced all of these and so have lots of other people on lots of different forums. Do you honestly think people have nothing better to do with their time than to come on here and make up stuff that's not true? It does cause your skin to age and look dramatically different in a very short space of time, some people say it's reversible so fingers crossed it is but it is true.... Clearly... Just look at all the people it's happened to on here

If you're correct in what you're saying, stop taking it. See if the circles disappear.

Maybe you're right.

Minoxidil doesn't really have permanent hair restoration.

FYI, I don't believe you're making things up.

Eye puffiness is a common side effect. And you might be allergic to Minoxidil. Also, it is a large percentage, generally speaking,
.1% of a gram equals one milligram.

Five percent would equal five milligrams.

[Lj333]

Why would anybody come on here to make stuff up and try scare people off if it wasn't true? These are common side effects... Puffy face, sunken in eyes, an angry look about the face, dry flaky skin. I experienced all of these and so have lots of other people on lots of different forums. Do you honestly think people have nothing better to do with their time than to come on here and make up stuff that's not true? It does cause your skin to age and look dramatically different in a very short space of time, some people say it's reversible so fingers crossed it is but it is true.... Clearly... Just look at all the people it's happened to on here

[LusciousLadyLocks]

Hi Guys!
I am a really newer poster and I am 47 years old with a thin crown and mid-anterior scalp is thinning. Front is pretty good considering everything. I am starting to talk with a well known HT specialist (respected on this forum) and I will be looking at all my options. I will say this about Rogaine. I have been on it for 5-6 years. I do have a puffy face and dark circles under my eyes. This seems to have started the last few years and I think I have had it before. Also, I have a low iron problem that can cause dark circles. I am glad I ran into this thread just because I never thought about rogaine possibly causing the circles and I still doubt its the causebut at least I can keep it on the list to consider. I tell you guys, I don't know what to do. I am so twisted about whether to let it go or what. I am horrified of Fin because I already take a SSRI which doesn't cause terrible sex sides but I do have a hard time finishing (Anorgasmia) some times- The girl loves it for obvious reasons. I want to do a HT but I have no idea whether that's a good idea or not at this time. Aso, looking at PRP/Acell so pray for me guys, I am lost. I am also dangerous because I can afford these things. I really want to try Fin first but dunno...

A lot of SSRIs cause hair loss in some people, BTW. And anorgasmia seems like a terrible sex side to me, but what do I know? I'm a woman.

If you're getting Rogaine-related water retention, dark circles and puffiness is common. I've dug through the research and I'm not worried about skin aging anymore. I've also examined the husband's skin where he's been rubbing it on bare skin directly for 10 years, at the hairline. Looks good.

[LusciousLadyLocks]

And as I also found out myself, the positive effects of Minoxidil won't last
unless there's an anti DHT agent being used. (For males with androgen alopecia, I really don't know
a lot about females who have it).

For many women, minoxidil is enough to completely regrow hair...if you use the male amount! I have to wax and epilate more, but it's worth it.

Also, for many men, minoxidil really is a long-term solution. My husband has been on it for a decade and went from a NW1 to NW0-1 and has stayed there. In 10 more years, who knows? But so far, so good.

[nhlpro11]

has anyone gotten rid of the wrinkles caused by minoxidil> please help

[ghallow]

Hi Guys!
I am a really newer poster and I am 47 years old with a thin crown and mid-anterior scalp is thinning. Front is pretty good considering everything. I am starting to talk with a well known HT specialist (respected on this forum) and I will be looking at all my options. I will say this about Rogaine. I have been on it for 5-6 years. I do have a puffy face and dark circles under my eyes. This seems to have started the last few years and I think I have had it before. Also, I have a low iron problem that can cause dark circles. I am glad I ran into this thread just because I never thought about rogaine possibly causing the circles and I still doubt its the causebut at least I can keep it on the list to consider. I tell you guys, I don't know what to do. I am so twisted about whether to let it go or what. I am horrified of Fin because I already take a SSRI which doesn't cause terrible sex sides but I do have a hard time finishing (Anorgasmia) some times- The girl loves it for obvious reasons. I want to do a HT but I have no idea whether that's a good idea or not at this time. Aso, looking at PRP/Acell so pray for me guys, I am lost. I am also dangerous because I can afford these things. I really want to try Fin first but dunno...

[marklin]

Where do you get Minoxidil solution combined with topical Progesterone (.5%), and topical Finasteride (.1%)? Can you share the information? It looks like a good product.

[k9gatton]

For the record, I take a thirty percent Minoxidil solution (yes, thirty percent). It's combined with topical Progesterone (.5%), and topical Finasteride (.1%). And I also believe there's not much benefit to taking Minxodil without an anti androgen DHT agent (either Finasteride or Dut). Because Minoxidil on its own will not keep your hair in, in the case of androgen alopecia.

And, I supplement my scalp with five percent foam. I've never had issues with my skin, or my face aging. Never.

And as I said, many people have allergic reactions to other ingredients that are mixed with the solution. Many people are allergic to glycerol. So, that said, I do believe people when they
say they have side effects.

The foam usually doesn't irritate lots of people. I would highly recommend switching to that.

Can someone be allergic to Minoxidil? Yes they can. But its a very small percent in the solution.

[WanderingOracle]

While I think the Fin sides are mostly nocebo effects, I do believe the Minox side of skin aging. Thing is, I've seen a LOT of Minox progress logs. I can say I've seen a very noticeable portion of these men(and women) look MUCH older within 2 years of starting Minox. Do people occasionally age a lot in 2 years? Yes, they do. But not in the numbers I've observed. Though I think it's a minority side-effect, I think it's a very common one. Maybe 1/3 experience something pretty significant.

And I'll also say I've witnessed more than a few examples of the reverse. Someone uses Minox for a while, and then stops, and starts looking better/younger afterwards(aside from the shedding). This is purely anecdotal. I was never going to use Minox, as it's just too much of a commitment. I know I'm too lazy to spend fifteen minutes a day scrubbing the stuff in my hair, and making it greasy. It's just not for me. I have no dog in this hunt, and I'd much prefer it to have no sides at all. But it seems to be quite common.

If you're considering it, go look for some logs of people who have a few years worth of pictures. See if you find what I have.

[k9gatton]

Nothing can be extrapolated from the studies to say the same effect will occur in a person including the 3rd using human skin fibroblasts. I was just showing cross species documentation of minoxidil collagen suppression activity. If the 3rd study could translate in vivo that's when I'd err on the side of caution and use a low % minoxidil treatment.

Then use a low one. Not everybody uses a high concentration like I do.


It's just Minoxidil doesn't suppress DHT. Only antri androgens/Progesterone
can do that.

[bornthisway]

In vivo study though, didn't show inhibition:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art...MC3985251/#B27

Nothing can be extrapolated from the studies to say the same effect will occur in a person including the 3rd using human skin fibroblasts. I was just showing cross species documentation of minoxidil collagen suppression activity. If the 3rd study could translate in vivo that's when I'd err on the side of caution and use a low % minoxidil treatment.

[k9gatton]

I've had enough talking to such a bright bulb. Back to hibernation. Good luck BTT!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7672621

Minoxidil is an inhibitor of lysyl hydroxylase, an enzyme involved in collagen production, and decreases collagen production in vitro.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11760039

Minoxidil inhibited LEC migration and proliferation in vitro, as well as collagen secretion. Collagen secretion may be essential for LEC migration and proliferation.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2826267

Two important findings related to the effect of minoxidil on human skin fibroblasts in culture are reviewed. Treatment of cells with minoxidil is associated with a specific loss of lysyl hydroxylase activity; this loss occurs gradually and is reversed by removing minoxidil from the culture medium. Experiments with inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis reveal that minoxidil may inhibit the synthesis of lysyl hydroxylase by acting at the transcriptional level. Treatment of cells with minoxidil is also associated with inhibition of proliferation, without any sign of cytotoxicity. This effect of minoxidil is accompanied by inhibition of DNA synthesis. Since collagen is the major product of fibroblast activity and lysyl hydroxylase catalyzes a crucial reaction in collagen biosynthesis, the combined effects of minoxidil offer the potential for its use as an antifibrotic agent. Thus, minoxidil may prove to be beneficial in treating skin conditions associated with collagen accumulation.

Second study done with rabbits. Once again. And probably a much HIGHER dose than five percent on humans??

Another fear tactic. Here's the title of his second link.

Effect of minoxidil on rabbit lens epithelial cell behavior in vitro and in situ.