Will my hair fall out when I stop using Minoxidil?

Question

I don't have hair loss problems. My beard just simply doesn't grow on some areas (patchy beard). I am considering using Minoxidil to see what kind of results i can get with it. From what i've seen on the internet, great things are possible. However i dont know if my hair will fall out once i stop using it. I've read that people who have hair loss problems need to use forever to keep the results. Is it the same for people who just want to grow hair where it previously didn't exist?

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

The  response of beard hair to minoxidil is different than that of the scalp. Minoxidil can take small, thin, wispy vellus beard hairs and convert them into thick terminal hairs. This process usually takes between 6 and 12 months. Once the terminal  beard hairs are growing, discontinuation of the minoxidil should not affect these terminal beard hairs.PRP hair md.com

Emrah Cinik, MD · Answer

Minoxidil is a FDA approved hair loss medicine. It requires long term use in order to give good results. When quit the hair thats been gained because of minoxidil can shed.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

It really depends on a number of factors - especially your current age. Beard growth does not reach a maximum until age 30 so any use before age 30 is more likely to simplify help the process by which vellus hairs become terminal hairs. However even then there is a small chance some hairs will fall out if minoxidil is stopped. That risk is low. If one is using minoxidil for other situations it is possible that hairs are solely dependent on minoxidil. Please see your physician if concerned.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

If the hairs are minoxidil dependent (those hairs that grew since you were on the drug) these hairs will fall out when you stop the drug

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Will my hair fall out when I stop using Minoxidil?

Answers (4)

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