Bad Reaction To Minoxidil - Anyone Else Experienced Swollen Ears And Face?

[RLondon]

Hi All

I am hoping that someone oyt there has experienced the same side effects as me and can give me an idea how long they lasted for?

I was using Regaine 5% FOAM

My whole scalp got pimples.
Then my whole scalp swelled.
Then my ears swelled.
Then my eyes swelled so much, it looked like I was punched in the face.

I have taken a variety of Antihistamines and the Doctor has put me on steroid tablets.

4 days in and the swelling continues. The skin around my eyes is pretty sore now.

Has anyone EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE? If so, how long did it take for teh swelling to subside?

WHAT DID I DO WRONG?
In short, I overapplied. I also applied to a slightly damp scalp.
I think it's a lesson in following the guidance. Hopefully othersearn from my mistake.

I just really want this swelling to stop now. Even my trichologist hadn't seen a reaction this bad, and he's been doing this for 20yrs.

Hoping there's some positive stories out there

Thanks

 

[jazz1]

Hey NO, normally foam is better for sensitive scalps.....

What’s your full hairloss regime?

 

[RLondon]

I think I basically used too much minoxidil Foam. I was doing twice a day and was applying directly to my head.

I think I applied 3-4 capfuls of foam a day. Instead of 1 capful.

The result has been pretty awful.


The only other thing I'm taking is a daily tablet of Finasteride.

 

[Androgenic Alpaca]

Hi All

I am hoping that someone oyt there has experienced the same side effects as me and can give me an idea how long they lasted for?

I was using Regaine 5% FOAM

My whole scalp got pimples.
Then my whole scalp swelled.
Then my ears swelled.
Then my eyes swelled so much, it looked like I was punched in the face.

I have taken a variety of Antihistamines and the Doctor has put me on steroid tablets.

4 days in and the swelling continues. The skin around my eyes is pretty sore now.

Has anyone EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE? If so, how long did it take for teh swelling to subside?

WHAT DID I DO WRONG?
In short, I overapplied. I also applied to a slightly damp scalp.
I think it's a lesson in following the guidance. Hopefully othersearn from my mistake.

I just really want this swelling to stop now. Even my trichologist hadn't seen a reaction this bad, and he's been doing this for 20yrs.

Hoping there's some positive stories out there

Thanks

Sounds like an allergic reaction, either to the minoxidil itself or to some other ingredient in the solution. Did the antihistamines and steroids help?

If I had that reaction, I'd discontinue use immediately. Try and figure out what's causing the allergic reaction. If its some other additive to the product and not the minoxidil itself, you could try getting a compounded version without that addititve

 

[RLondon]

Thanks.

So, I initially had pimples on my scalp, for probably about a week.

7 days ago, that escalated to swollen ears and swollen scalp.

At this point, I stopped applying Regaine Minoxidil 5% to my scalp. I was previously doing this twice daily. I was also over-applying.

6 days ago, my eyes became puffy and swelling ears and scalp worsened.

5 days ago, my eyes became extremely swollen. The ears and scalp even worse.



For the past 5 days I have been taking steriods, prescribed by a doctor. Also, over the counter antihistamines.

The eye swelling reduced after 3 days. After day 5 it's almost gone.

The scalp swelling was gone after 4 days.

The ears remains swollen.


I think my issue was over application. I'm going to leave it for a month or so. Then try a very small application, once every 3 days, to see how I react.

YouTube videos showing how to apply Minoxidil foam were terrible, frequently showing over application. Let whats happened to me be a warning and hopefully help others.

Do not over apply. The consequences are pretty awful.

 

[Androgenic Alpaca]

Thanks.

So, I initially had pimples on my scalp, for probably about a week.

7 days ago, that escalated to swollen ears and swollen scalp.

At this point, I stopped applying Regaine Minoxidil 5% to my scalp. I was previously doing this twice daily. I was also over-applying.

6 days ago, my eyes became puffy and swelling ears and scalp worsened.

5 days ago, my eyes became extremely swollen. The ears and scalp even worse.



For the past 5 days I have been taking steriods, prescribed by a doctor. Also, over the counter antihistamines.

The eye swelling reduced after 3 days. After day 5 it's almost gone.

The scalp swelling was gone after 4 days.

The ears remains swollen.


I think my issue was over application. I'm going to leave it for a month or so. Then try a very small application, once every 3 days, to see how I react.

YouTube videos showing how to apply Minoxidil foam were terrible, frequently showing over application. Let whats happened to me be a warning and hopefully help others.

Do not over apply. The consequences are pretty awful.

This doesn't sound like a problem of over application, this sounds like an allergic reaction. I wouldn't use it anymore if I were you

 

[RLondon]

I've used Minoxidil before and was fine. That was 10yrs ago.

This almost certainly was a severe case of over application.

 

[RLondon]

Just a small update. I'm now pretty much back to normal.

Lesson learned. Do not over apply!

 

[baba_yaga]

My dad, who is a f*****g literal NW1 at 60, started applying minoxidil liquid the same time I also started (~two years ago). If I remember correctly, his face got VERY swollen and deformed a couple months in. He stopped and everything went back to normal.