Minoxidil for beard growth? How to induce "terminalisation" of vellus hair? (photo)

Question

terminalisation isn't a technical term but hoped someone could help. I have used minoxidil for 11 months to stimulate facial hair growth. Now i am aware that what i have done is not generally recommended and is merely at this point a state of self induced hypertricosis. I know of several people personally who managed to retain the hairs upon cessation due to the hairs being terminal. A large majority of mine are still vellus. Is it a case of waiting it out? Or are there steps i could take?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Yes, you would need to keep using minoxidil to maintain your results. Prp and progesterone can be used to give improvement. I recommend getting a consultation with a hair growth expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Your term is a good one. The medical name for what you are describing is called "maturation." There are really two MAIN things that control maturation of beard hair - genetics and time. Your genetics will strongly dictate how your beard hair will develop. And it will take until age 30 or so before your reach this maximal maturation or "terminalization."
For the most part, if you are under age 30, it is indeed a case of "waiting it out."

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

You have a good result from the use of minoxidil on your beard but these vellus hairs will probably fall away when you stop the minoxidil.

Minoxidil for beard growth? How to induce "terminalisation" of vellus hair? (photo)

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