August 31 2005, 3:21 pm PT | Posted in: Drugs
Hello Dr., I have been using minoxidil lotion for two months now. I do not suffer from any systemic side effect as yet. BUT, every time I apply it I have noticed that I ,almost immediately, with in minutes experience a little bit of strain on the skin under my eyes. When I look in the mirror it appears that I have developed dark circles. With continuous use I notice fine lines and dryness on my face. Now to avoid this I have started applying the lotion in supine position while rubbing the tip of the dropper on my scalp. I stay in that position at least for next 20-30 minutes. This is to make sure not even a trace of medicine flows down on my face. But still I have the same sensation on my face. All these effect however disappear even if I discontinue the medicine even for two days. This has been a repeated experience. Any comments?!! Do other patients also complain about the same problem?
This is the first time I have heard anyone report this. I can not understand it unless the medication is actually landing on the skin of your face or around the eyes. There are reports of local skin reactions to minoxidil that ‘irritate’ the skin. Some of the medication can be absorbed through the skin and drop the blood pressure a little and this is a transient effect that does not last long. Maybe this medication is not worth the trouble it is causing you. Clearly if you stop it, it goes away. Is there are real benefit worth the problems you are experiencing?
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I also used Minoxidil lotiun of two months. I also complain about the same problem
I have suffered exactly the same reaction, twice I stopped, twice it started again… I don’t know what to try next!
I had the same problems with this stuff. It gave me fine lines and dark rings around my eyes. It also gave mt skin a rough texture, i stopped usibg it over a year ago but I fear some of these affects are permanant.
I have had this exact same problem. It seems to cause dark circles under the eyes.
I had the same problem with my skin, it also enlarged my pores and made me look a mess! I would advise people to avoid this stuff!
I used this stuff for a year and only now the swelling on my face has gone down can I see the damage it has done. The pores on my upper eyelids cheeks temple regions and forehead are all enlarged. The surface of the skin in these areas is rough and bumpy and looks like a 40 a day smokers! My complexion was fine before I used Regaine and I only applyed it to the scalp. I used only one pump (which is half the recomended amount) but it did a lot of damage. I wish I could sue them!
I was on minoxidil for a while but stopped when i relised how enlarged my eyelids had become. My eyes were bloodshot and the skin around my eyes has been left wrinkly and lose. I also was carefull not to allow any of the product to fall on my face but this did not help. Why are these Side effects not listed in the instructions?
This Regaine is bad, when I was on it for 3 months it was fine but a month a ago I stopped because the skin around my eyes went dark and rinkled. My wife said it could be the Regaine and my skin on my cheeks has gone lumpy. Why has this happend?
A good friend of mine was a model for a well known cosmetic company. He was worried about his hair loss and used minox to control it. When his skin was affected he was advised to stop using it but the color and texture of his skin was permantly changed. It aged his face and six months ago he killed himself.
My eyes have permanant black rings around them after Rogaine 5%. I used it for about 9 months and towards the end noticed the rings. Looks like im tired all the time not good. This was five years ago and they still bug me.
After using Minoxidil I stopped because of black rings around the eyes and skin problems. Having looked at a lot of people with hair loss I have come to the conclusion that I may not be the only one. I actuly asked a bloke I meet if he used it (on account of his poor skin) and he said yes and agreed that its had caused him problems with his appearance. I think that minoxidil can age the skin very quickly and give the heavy smoker look. I also think most of these affects are ireversable.
Minoxidil has worked very well for my hair in a short space of time. All of the hair has returned to my crown and the front is thicker but, I hve the black rings tired look an d thought its just one of those things but im worried about it. More and more people seem to be saying that this is a permanent effect! Why?
I had black rings around my eyes while using Minoxidil, fortunately they disappeard within few months when I ceased using it, also Minoxidil do decrease libido and shrinks testicles.
After 6 months I discontinued use of REGAINE because of bloodshot eyes and terrible skin texture. AVOID!
My experience with minoxidil ended after 6 months. It gave me the dark rings around the eyes and a strange roughness to my skin thats really apparent under florescent lighting. I have also looked on line at peoples before and after pics regarding topical minoxidil and the effects on their skin is dreadful. I am surprised that they are allowed to market this product and am sure as time goes on people may even consider legal action.
Minoxidil affected the skin on my face and made my penis sore. I used it for hair loss and had to stop after two months.
Minoxidil makes facial skin change and become scaly and pockmarked. You can tell people are using it by their aged and haggard appearance and black rings around their eyes. I agree that is gives the look of a heavy smoker.
It would seem strange that the dr seems surprised about the reaction to minoxidil as this is not the first question he has had on the subject. Many people are complaining about skin interactions with minoxidil and I have read reports on minoxidil stopping collagen production causing skin wrinkling and pore enlargement.
Scott,
For the record, this post was from 2005. If I got a lot of other questions about this, they were most likely after that. I hope this clears up any confusion you had.
My brother is sixteen and has used Regaine for 8 months. He does not get asked for ID anymore when buying alcohol and looks about 20. Maybe this is normal but he has heavy black rings around his eyes. He used to look very young but now people ask who is older out of us two. I am 24
Minoxidil is bad for skin makes you look older than you are and does not work long term. AVOID!
my friend Rimmer used minoxidil and had problems with his dr
I have used Minoxidil and had no side effects. I would recommend more sleep, moderate alcohol intake and a balanced diet. this combined with regular exercise would prevent the look skin aging
All the above posts seem very similiar in the way the have been written, in terms of grammer, sentence structure and acute blame project squarely on the product.
This in turn leads me to conclude that this is the direct ehibition of the symptoms related to Peladophobia, the Fear of baldness.
Yes I agree
My partner David used an array of products prior to his divorce from his wife. The stress and whole situation did take its toll on him, as he did seem look tired but I think that was completly independent to the hair loss treatments. But once it the divorce was over the he returned to normal and zipped his hair off. to be honest it looks a lot better now. Growing old gracefully is much better than trying to hold onto a few wisps of hair
Lee Harvey Oswald turned Kennedy into a slumped corpse with a head full of lead. Was he jealous of the presidents full wig? Man has become obsessed with hair but under the skull lurks a mind game. Was Kennedy using minoxidil for hair loss? Was Jack Ruby Bald? Minoxidil is clearly not the the only way to restore a cracked barnet. He didn’t do much…..
my skin is better but I hit a low after I took a hair loss prevention tonic. I looked like I had smoked 40 fags a day and my colleagues would ask me how flavour country was
I am now fully blown and found a loving partner, he is so kind I don not worry about the hair any more
After exactly 1 year using minoxidil I developed Spock ears. Apart from that the treatment is progressing well.
look at photos of prince William I bet he’s using minoxidil and it’s playing havoc with his complexion.
Hi, I have exactly the same problems with minoxidil. Is there another product that can be used?
When I first used minoxidil the instructions mentioned local skin irritation as a possible side effect. I did not consent to these permanent black rings around my eyes. I did not consent to skin wrinkling and pore enlargement. I did not consent to aged and haggard face. I am very angry with this drug and the way its marketed, its not effective and has damaging and lasting side effects that are not acceptable with a cosmetic off the shelf product.
Lots of us Watford boys are on minoxidil and there is no skin problem yet. But well all have the black rings around the eyes and a slightly tired look on our faces. But, if you want to look like Rick Gale then you need your hair!!!
Minoxidil turned from a athletic looking fun loveing active 28 year old man into a facialy bloated Jaba the hut like sloath. Don’t go out much in fear of ridicule from people my age who have not used this drug. Did restore some hair so overall 5/10. Hair regroth at the cost of your existance. Mum and I have since fallen out man.
Doc, any way to figure out if all, or most, of these comments are from the same person? They seem so similar in their wording but its hard to believe some bozo would waste all his time ragging on minoxidil.
Jake,
Yes, a lot of them are from the same person under different names (note the comments from people that post a first and last name with a non-working website linked to their name).
Some of the posts on here are frightening! I have used this for 2.4 months and this scaly bumpyness has covered my ears and spread down my forehead to nearly my cheeks. It is uncomfortable and looks bad and i hope it goes away! someone said this could be permanent in one of these posts.
Real question:
After 2 months of treatment the lymph nodes on my neck front and back have swollen up, mostly on one side. They havent gone down and its been 2 weeks. Also parts of my head are sore to touch - this came on suddenly so i cant be sure its a reaction.
Any advice or feedback - at what point do i need to go to a doctor?
Thanks
Alex
minoxidil and/or spironolactone have aged my skin, it has sagged and I think its due to collagen breakdown. I’m 33 yet my skin looks much older, I used to have great skin. I overdid the minox, 4ml of 5% daily on a wet scalp, all the same I don’t think I deserve this horrendous ageing of my skin.
I’ve been using the 2% Minoxidil and it has caused eczema on the back of the neck after a few drops dripped down. What can be done about this? The doctor has given me cortisone cream for a brief treatment but I am loathe to stop the Minoxidil as it does stop some hair loss. Yes I am now very careful that it doesn’t drip on the neck but am worried if it is really affecting the skin in a detrimental way.
I had skin irritation on neck,cheeks etc…from 2%. I figured it was from pillow case contamination with the chemical. I now use a clean scarf - turban style - on my head each night and change pillow case at least twice a week. This has helped greatly.
I have tried minoxidil on several different occasions. The first time was a 2% solution probably 3 years ago of which I had to discontinue due to local reaction to propylene glycol. The second time was 5% Rogaine foam, which was absorbed systemically, lowering my blood pressure and causing fatigue as well as dark circles around my eyes; it took me a month or more to realize it was the minoxidil that was doing this. A twice daily application of a 5% minoxidil solution contains 100 mg of minoxidil, which is nearing what an oral dose for high blood pressure would be. Sure it’s not all absorbed systemically but it’s not all sitting innocuously on the surface layers of the skin either.
Most recently I tried Xandrox 5% which is a %5 minoxidil solution along with azelaic acid as well. Within two applications over a couple of days I again developed circles under my eyes, this time accompanies by some local edema and pain. I’m tried a lot of different approaches to combat hair loss and for now I’m going to be sticking to copper peptides and ketoconazole cream. Hair transplants are in the work for me as well. I understand hair loss is very psychologically damaging but I can’t understand those that would systematically manipulate their hormones with AR-1 and AR-2 inhibitors without fully appreciating the implications of what they are doing.
hello sir,
i would like to know a suggestion from your is, is this medicine can be used for mustache or beard growing? if so can i use this at a very lower level apply? please advise me..
I tried to use minoxidil a year ago, had a terrible issue with my face burning red and coarse to the touch with deep bags under my bloodshot eyes. The next time was just now and two days into it I have the exact same reaction and it is a new batch! Don’t listen to the moronic entries earlier, it is a real side effect and action should be brought against the manufacture for not listing what I perceive as probably the most noticeable side effect! Obviously it is an issue judging by the entries and my personal experience, stop using it if you experience these effects, it only gets worse. Forget the hair if the treatment is going to make you look haggard and worn out!
I have less hair, in have an idea doing some treatment for my hair.. suggest me an idea
I noticed after a month of using the 5% minoxidal with proscar my testicles suddenly became really sore. On some days hurt to move. I don’t know if it’s related, but nothing like that has ever happened. I’ve noticed some have experienced similar issues with their testicles when using the minoxidal.
Does anybody know the long term effects of using Rogain, minoxidil? After using it for 12 years, I started to experience a strange stiffness in my muscles after physical activity. First I felt pain in my hip, then my knees and wrists, and finally in my ribs and neck. I have checked everything with my doctors and all results are all right. Could it have anything to do with long term use of Rogain?? Have anybody experienced anything similar?
Hi all,
first of all sorry for my bad english, I’m a 25 years old guy from Italy. I want to share my experience with minoxidil 5% and confirm the side effects listed in earlier posts.
I’ve been using Minoxidil 5% (not a commercial brand) for about 1 year. The last two months I begane to notice the bags under my eyes. Not only me, but also my friends begane to ask me about them… Other side effects were fatigue, anxiety and rapid heart beat. I stopped this drug a few days ago. I feel more relaxed and I sleep better (without waking up in the middle of the night with crazy heart beating). Dark circles under the eyes are still there but I feel confident they will go off with time. I want you all to be careful and to warn against minoxidil side effects other people.
i have been using rogaine for about a month when i had to stop. one a rash appeared in back of my neck on my face and my ears. i have bumps in my hair similar to insect bites and my lymph nodes in my neck had swell a little. ima a 33yr old female and i will not be trying any product containing minoxodil just not worth it and i dont even know how long will it take for this allergi reaction to clear up but to each is own
I agree on all the above listed side effects from the use of minioxidil, used it for 5 months had good results with the hair growth and thickness but the pore on face forehead grew larger and the wrinkles on the forehead and then the dark circles under eyes and also with the feeling of tired eyes all day. I will now discontinue the use and hopefully everything return back to normal but use now more herbal methods for the hairloss problems.
I’ve been using minoxidil on and off for 3 years. I experienced the skin problem, eyes red and puffy. Rapid heart beat and muscles have been paining/stiff a lot lately especially after training, they kinda feel crystallized.
I didn’t realize that Minoxidil could be the cause, until now after reading these posts.
Ive experienced similar issues in the past few days my eyes have been blood shot and feel heavy, ive only been using the stuff for less than a month and will stop asap.
They should have mentioned this side affect before i would not have touched the stuff.
Doc, any way to figure out if all, or most, of these comments are from the same person? They seem so similar in their wording but its hard to believe some bozo would waste all his time ragging on minoxidil.
Sounds like the ramblings of a drug shill or one of the site moderators. Ignore