The consequences of stopping Minoxidil?

Question

I did use Minoxidil for 6 months (get very good result, but side effects for long term 40 years of use must be bad) then stopped and it looks that I lose even more hairs than before I started to use it. So is this normal to lose more after stopping?

Ajaya Kashyap, MD · Answer

Thanks for your query. Minoxidil helps you maintain your hair in anagen phase thus it helps in hair regrowth and improves hair density. It can be used indefinitely, it does have side effects like headache, dryness, irritation, if you experience any of these then you should consult your dermatologist. You can use it indefinitely with small breaks in between. You can taper it down to the lowest concentration and maintain in that. Hope it helpsAll The Best

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Yes, you would need to continue using Minoxidil to keep your results. I suggest seeing a hair loss expert to evaluate and go over your condition and provide you information about your best treatment options. There are great non-invasive options like PRP/progesterone which can be used in combination with Minoxidil for great results See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Yes, some people will be worse off if they stop minoxidil compared to if they never used it at all. Most however, won't. Some patients develop a telogen effluvium (shedding) after starting minoxidil and this lasts 6-9 months. If minoxidil is stopped, the shedding will eventually stop and the hairs will come back. However, in the setting of genetic hair loss, the hairs might come back in thinner and thinner which leads to a feeling that the hair is worse. If the genetic hair loss is mild and slow in it's progression rate, one might get back most of the density after stopping minoxidil. Your question is a good one. Treatments for genetic hair loss are long term. Stopping will trigger hair loss and not everyone gets that density back.

Baubac Hayatdavoudi, MD · Answer

Minoxidil forces your follicles into a growth phase, and when the signal is gone from your body, normal physiology takes over and those hairs  will shed. It is possible that those follicles enter a phase referred to as early release anagen phase due to minoxidil cessation and some will come back 2-6 months after discontinuation.  However, for overall preventative measures, normal hair physiology will take over.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

When you build minoxidil dependent hairs and then stop the minoxidil, then the hairs that are dependent upon the minoxidil will be lost.  Long term use of minoxidil is not a problem if it works as well as it did on you.  You might try it again

The consequences of stopping Minoxidil?

Answers (5)