Is it true that capillaries will spread Minoxidil once it is absorbed by the skin?

Question

Found this on a hair loss blog, not sure if accurate... Minoxidil does not need to be spread over the whole scalp in order to treat hair loss effectively; just try your best to apply it as evenly as possible. Once it is absorbed into the skin, the capillaries will spread it around

Audrey G. Bauer, MD · Answer

There is a degree of systemic absorption of minoxidil when used topically. However, to achieve maximum effect it should be applied over most of the typical area of hair loss. Just as you would not put it on your arm and expect decreased scalp hair loss, you should not put it on your hairline and expect it to reduce loss in the crown. Hope that helps

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Minoxidil works where it is applied. Sure there is a small radius where it will dissolve but no it’s not the capillaries that spread 99 % of it around. That’s just inaccurate. If you put minoxidil on the left temple, it’s the hairs in the left temple that benefit - nowhere else to any significant degree.

Samer Muala, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

There will be a very small amount of minoxidil that gets absorbed into the blood stream.  I don't agree that putting it in one spot on your scalp automatically spreads it to the rest of the scalp.

Is it true that capillaries will spread Minoxidil once it is absorbed by the skin?

Answers (3)

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Is it true that capillaries will spread Minoxidil once it is absorbed by the skin?

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