Minoxidil ruined my skin (loose skin)

[NamelessGhoul]

Found an interesting post about minoxidil and its effects on the skin:

"There are more than 30 studies on Minoxidil's effects on collagen production and fibroblast proliferation. (The latter of which is the nastiest)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8383644

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8112995

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8311472

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2826267

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2850865

If you want more in depth looks at those studies rather than just the Abstracts, then just message me and I can give you the PDF's.

It inhibits Lysyl Hydryoxylase, an important enzyme in collagen production. And, if stops fibroblasts from proliferating, AKA dividing. This means you have a smaller fibroblast cell count. Most people putting minoxidil on twice a day every day are overdosing on the drug, especially if they are doing it for extended periods like 6-12 months. The sides tend to last for a few months to a few years after Minoxidil is removed from your system, because minoxidil is a free-radical and edits cells at a transcriptional level (basically giving you misfolded proteins, which takes a long time for your body to clean out)

Lack of collagen means a paler skin tone, perhaps a greyish skin tone, dark circles around the eyes because your bones are showing through, forehead wrinkles, frizzier/darker hair, bushier looking eyebrows, and thinner eyelashes. "

Well, i've been using minoxidil for like 12 years. in my thirties now. My skin is amazing, my eyelashes are thick and long, NEVER had eyebags. Forehead is smooth. for what it's worth, I only use it once per day, but sometimes at a high dosage. Just my anecdote.

 

[BuzzedLightyear]

BDD

 

[Jeju]

Min does f*** your skin up but this guy aged, too. All those other proceeders aren’t good for the skin long term either. Same goes for micro needling.

 

[NamelessGhoul]

Yeah man, I've genuinely had nothing adverse from minoxidil. I guess I just tolerate it well. I am PROBABLY more hairier (body-wise) than I would be otherwise. but I really don't care about that.

And you're right. I, unfortunately, can't touch AAs. I'm hyper-sensitive to them it seems. I got sides from TOPICAL finasteride. So I mean, I find it ironic everyone touting about how topical finasteride is a good alternative. it really isn't. I got the REALLY obvious ball ache sides after using DR lee's topical finasteride.

Regarding maintaining my hair. Unfortunately, I've had to keep my head shaved for the last 3 years or so. but I still have decent head stubble. but if it grows out it looks like sh*t. If anything, all the minoxidil is doing at this point is giving me a non-slick look. I'm probably still slowly going bald. I was using minoxidil max's minoxidil with azelaic acid for a long time, but I've been lookin' for an alternative lately. Seems impossible to find something similar though.

so, My honest answer. it probably doesn't maintain on its own but will buy you time. I was also dermarolling (dermastamp) for a while but i havn't really been consistent with it. I've started implementing Nizoral 2% on top of minoxidil now though. even though i did use that religiously in the past with not a huge lot of success. may as well throw it back into the mix though just incase it helps in the slowing down.

honestly. minoxidil's best results are the first 6 months to a year of using it. i thought i cured my baldness when i first started it lol. But then it just slowly declines with time.

 

[NamelessGhoul]

it started diffusing at like 19. I knew I had hair loss when I was in the shower and hair was everywhere ( i had long hair). that was a dark day lol. The fact that I still have a decent-looking stubble (still NW2 shade) after more than10 years would suggest pretty moderate. leaning on the aggressive side considering my diffuse pattern is literally ALL the top.