Minoxidil can cause hypertrichosis, an increase in unwanted facial or body hair, particularly when taken orally. This side effect is usually reversible and may be managed through careful application, dose adjustments or alternative treatments.
Understanding the risks and available options can help you find an effective hair loss treatment approach.
Discover what minoxidil-related hypertrichosis is, who is most likely to experience it, and when symptoms may appear. If you’re looking for hypertrichosis treatments, you’ll also find out how to reduce the risk with specific minoxidil application methods and treatment alternatives. Plus, find out when to seek professional advice about hair loss treatment side effects.
Key takeaways
Minoxidil can cause hypertrichosis. Excessive unwanted hair growth is more commonly associated with low-dose oral minoxidil, but it can also occur with topical treatment.
Women using oral minoxidil are more likely to report unwanted facial or body hair, compared with male users and those using topical minoxidil.
Minoxidil-related hypertrichosis typically develops around 2 to 3 months after starting treatment and can affect different hair-bearing areas, depending on the type of minoxidil used.
Unwanted hair growth generally reverses within a few months of stopping minoxidil. However, stopping treatment may also mean losing any scalp hair benefits.
The Wimpole Clinic offers expert consultations to assess your hair loss and help identify a tailored treatment plan, including suitable alternatives to minoxidil and in-clinic treatments where appropriate.
Hypertrichosis is a medical condition characterised by excessive unwanted hair growth. While it can be congenital, hypertrichosis can also be induced by certain medications. Minoxidil, a hair loss treatment, has been linked with the development of hypertrichosis in some users [1-3].
Minoxidil is available in topical and oral forms. Most cases of hypertrichosis are associated with oral minoxidil, as the drug affects the whole body rather than just the area of application [4]. One study found that around 15.1% of oral minoxidil users are affected by hypertrichosis, although post-marketing data suggests the actual incidence rate may be much lower, around 0.5% [1-2].
Oral minoxidil is almost always prescribed at a low dose for treating hair loss (≤5 mg per day) [4]. But even low dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) can trigger hypertrichosis, so if you’re worried about excessive or unwanted body or facial hair growth, it’s important to stay vigilant for the symptoms.
While hypertrichosis is more common with LDOM, it’s also possible to get unwanted hair growth from topical minoxidil use. In these cases, it’s more common for hair growth to occur on the chin, upper lip, forehead, and eyebrows than elsewhere on the body [2].
For men, this extra hair growth may not be a concern. But it can be worrying for women, as unwanted hair growth can compound self-image problems caused by hair loss. That’s why minoxidil 2% is often recommended for women — this concentration is less likely to cause facial hair growth, but is usually still effective for hair [5-6].
Women using low dose oral minoxidil are more likely to report hypertrichosis than other users. LDOM increases the chances of experiencing increased body or facial hair growth, and women are more likely to report this as an unwanted side effect of their treatment.
Hypertrichosis can still affect men and those using topical minoxidil. But it’s not a dangerous condition, so if you’re unbothered by the extra hair growth, you don’t necessarily need to treat or remove it.
If you’re affected, hypertrichosis often starts around 2-3 months after starting minoxidil. One study found that hypertrichosis generally started from 12 weeks, with symptoms increasing up to 24 weeks [7].
Minoxidil use can trigger hair growth in any hair-bearing part of the body, though some areas are more likely to develop excessive hair growth depending on whether you use oral or topical minoxidil.
The table below shows which areas of the body are most likely to be affected by LDOM vs topical minoxidil [2]:
Neck
Arms
Hands
Legs
Chest
Upper lip
Forehead
Eyebrows
Sideburns
Yes, hypertrichosis stemming from minoxidil use is reversible [1]. Discontinuing minoxidil usually results in complete reversal of the symptoms within 1 to 3 months, though you may also lose any gains you’ve achieved on your scalp at the same time [8-9].
It’s not always necessary to stop using minoxidil to reverse unwanted hair growth. Changing how you apply minoxidil by using a more precise technique may limit exposure across the forehead and face.
Alternatively, using a lower concentration or dose (for example, switching from 5% to 2% minoxidil, or reducing your dose of oral minoxidil) may improve symptoms without abandoning the benefits for your scalp hair.
If you’re worried about developing excessive facial or body hair when using minoxidil, there are a few ways to reduce the risk:
If you change your minoxidil dose, concentration, or application technique, maintain these changes for a few months to allow time for your excess hair growth to reverse itself.
If you’re struggling with hypertrichosis as a side effect of minoxidil, you may prefer to switch to an alternative hair loss treatment. While minoxidil is one of the best first-line treatment options available, other therapies can also offer comparable results, including:
Finasteride is a highly effective alternative to minoxidil for men experiencing male pattern baldness, but it’s not usually suitable for women.
Minoxidil is a well-tolerated first-line hair loss treatment for many patients. But if you’re affected by hypertrichosis, it may not be the right treatment for you.
The Wimpole Clinic can help you discover a whole range of therapies to treat your hair loss. From over-the-counter remedies to in-clinic treatments and surgeries, we’ll pair you with the right treatment plan to help trigger and maintain long-term hair regrowth.
Book a consultation at our award-winning hair transplant clinic to learn more.
Read more about minoxidil and hypertrichosis in these frequently asked questions.
Yes, minoxidil use — particularly oral minoxidil — has been linked with hirsutism. This condition may be well-tolerated by male minoxidil users, but women tend to be less accepting of unwanted or unexpected body and facial hair growth.
A trip to your GP is often helpful if you’re experiencing worrying symptoms like excessive hair growth. But if hypertrichosis is related to minoxidil use, there probably isn’t much they can recommend aside from lowering your dose or stopping your minoxidil use.
Speak to the doctor who prescribed your minoxidil for further advice on managing the side effects.
There are lots of ways to remove unwanted body hair, including shaving, waxing, epilation, threading, and laser hair removal. All methods are mostly safe, though effectiveness varies, and hair removal lasts for different lengths of time.
Note that laser hair removal methods aren’t safe for use on the face.
In some cases it’s safe to halve your minoxidil dose to reduce the risk of unwanted hair growth. However, you should always check with your doctor before making any changes to your medication prescription to ensure safety and effectiveness.
If you’re using topical minoxidil, careful application can reduce the risk of excessive hair growth on the face. Here’s what to do:
Many different drugs can trigger unwanted excessive hair growth, including other vasodilators like diazoxide and prostaglandin E1. Other medications that can cause hypertrichosis include [13]:
If you start experiencing unwanted hair growth after starting any new medication, speak to your prescribing doctor about managing the side effects.
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Talk to a specialist
Dr. Barry Abdelrahimsai (GMC: 7604040) is an expert in FUE hair transplant surgery in London, with a full registration to practice under the GMC. He qualified as a medical doctor in 2017 and has worked in a variety of surgical fields, including injectable cosmetic and aesthetic medicine, before specialising in FUE hair transplant surgery in 2021.
Dr Abdelrahimsai’s emphasis lies in a holistic approach towards hair loss of different causes. His surgical and medical background, as well as ample experience in the field of General Practice, enable him to offer evidence-based pharmaceutical and surgical hair loss treatments.
Dr. Barry Abdelrahimsai is a crusader for clinical excellence and has a keen eye for detail. Over the years, aside from his special interest in treating male pattern baldness with FUE, he has developed a focus on the reconstructive management of the female brow line and eyebrows.
The significant surge in demand for eyebrow reconstruction through follicular transplants has captured his attention, leading him to specialise in eyebrow transplants. Employing a bespoke needle rather than a conventional blade, he achieves high density and precise outcomes.
He has a proven track record of achieving exceptionally high hair graft survivability and excels in densely packed incisions, commonly referred to as “dense packing,” while maintaining a natural appearance. Dr. Barry advocates for active patient involvement in their hairline reconstruction, encouraging them to participate in the customised design process. He is dedicated to empowering his patients through education and providing them with knowledge on hair loss prevention and reconstruction, aiming to enable them to make informed decisions about their treatment journey.
