Minoxidil for Black Women (FAQs)

… Continued …

  1. The risk of redness, burning, stinging at area where you apply the treatment. If these symptoms worsen, stop the treatment and see a doctor for more advice!
  2. In more rare cases, minoxidil may carry the risk of tiredness, difficulty breathing, chest pain, fainting, unwanted hair growth on face /body, or changes in heartbeats!
  3. Allergic reactions, but it usually mild (not serious). This may lead to allergic symptoms such as itching, rash, or dizziness.
  4. Other possible side effects may occur (not mentioned in here, this is not a complete list). If you have other unusual symptoms not listed above, see a doctor right away!

In general, most African-American women (black women) can take it safely. If the side effects do occur, these are usually not serious!

Is it safe to take minoxidil during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

It’s not clear yet whether this hair loss treatment has an effect on pregnancy.

Although it causes an adverse effect in animals (according to some animal studies), but it is not fully understood for pregnant women. In fact so far, there are still no adequate studies that observe the effect of this treatment on pregnant women.

The effect is also not clear for women with breastfeeding. But some studies suggest that it may pose minimal risk to baby when taken during breastfeeding.

If you in doubt and do concern about this issue, discuss more with a doctor for more guidance.

Other precautions to remember!
  1. If you have another health condition (especially such as skin conditions, hypertension, and heart diseases), it’s much better to talk first with your doctor before taking minoxidil or Rogaine!
  2. If you are taking other medications, it’s also recommended to talk first to your doctor in order to prevent the risk of medical interactions.
  3. The use of this treatment with tobacco or alcohol may cause interactions (though this issue is not clear yet).
  4. There is opinion that this treatment is less effective for those older than 65. In fact, this issue is also not scientifically confirmed yet. It may work best for younger individuals (younger than 65), but those who are younger than 18 should not take it!
Article sources:

  1. http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-12570/rogaine+topical/details#side-effects
  2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/minoxidil-topical-route/before-using/drg-20068750

One Response

  1. healthclop Reply

Reply