Minoxidil and Collagen Levels
Does minoxidil deplete collagen levels, hence making the face appear comparatively older over time?
There is an interesting scientific paper showing some impact of minoxidil on collagen synthesis: Inhibitory effects of bFGF, VEGF and minoxidil on collagen synthesis by cultured hair dermal papilla cells. These studies are not in humans, but may very well translate. That being said, I did a brief Google search and couldn’t find reports of minoxidil users looking well beyond their years after using the drug, and considering it has been marketed as a hair loss treatment for 20+ years, I’d say the old face look from the medication isn’t likely.
Thanks for the question. I continue to learn a great deal and realize how little I know in the grand scheme of things.
Minoxidil can age the face very quickly and there are lots of reports of this. Black rings around the eyes, skin wrinkling and pore damage. But its very affective for hair loss so people must think its worth the risk.
I find it strange that the Dr could not find any information regarding minoxidil related skin aging when there are a lot of people complaining about minoxidil on this website!
Mark Wildman – Where’s “a lot” of people with complaints? I’ve had 3 people in almost 4 years ask about minoxidil and wrinkles… questions based on what they’ve read or heard (not experienced).
Mark Wildman – Where’s “a lot†of people with complaints? I’ve had 3 people in almost 4 years ask about minoxidil and wrinkles…there are a large number of posts on this very subject Dr! A very large number indeed.
I can’t imagine that minox affects EVERYONE this way.
I’ve had 1 or 2 people on this site post under at least 30-40 different names, all with the same basic message (about problems with minoxidil), same spelling errors, and same IP address.
Just goes to show that those that are most vocal are the ones that have a complaint — but, it might even just be one person under a few dozen names trying to be deceiving.
That last post was extremely helpful Dr. Rassman. I was wondering if those complaints about dark circles and bad skin as a result of Rogaine were real but now that I know they’re coming from the same one or two IP addresses I feel much better.
i have been on and off monixidil for over 8 years. I take it orally, half a tablet each morning and I can tell you that my skin definately reacts t it in a bad way.. I have really good skin but wen im on this stuff my facial pores are visibly larger and my skin looks like its aged 5 years..it takes about 2 months for side effects to subside after stopping medication….then im fine…definately does sumthn to the skin, not sure how or why but its a big yes from me guys.
My skin has aged after having been on minoxidil for four years. I have suddenly developed red/grey bags under my eyes and my skin has suddenly turned crepee on my inner cheeks. I’m only 33.
Yeah… I definitely notice my skin is much more wrinkly where I use minoxidil. I have been using a lot of the 2% bottles I bought. I used a lot in the front and on my vertex area…
I definitely notice wrinkles after only 12 days!
I am not sure what to do. Why do people have effects on their EYES? when they put it on their hair…this is strange. Does it really travel that far? Any information on this?
I just ordered 15% minoxidil! I don’t know what to do.
I started using mixodidil about 2 months ago and felt as if my top lip was disappearing and noticed the same in a friend who had recommended mixod to me. I started taking L-Lysine tablets and my lip seemed fuller after about 5 days. Lysine is reported to encourage collagen production and it certainly seems to have for me.
I been using a lot of supplements and not just for hair. One thing that I have noticed that is very common is for people to blame the products for every bad thing that happens to them. They also claim they are working way better than they should. It’s all opinions. I read an article that the type of collagen that is disrupted by minoxidil is not the type responsible for wrinkles. I’m pretty sure the guy posting about how it gave him old-man face is just trying to cause a mass hysteria. By the looks of some forums, it seems to be working.
I been using a lot of supplements and not just for hair. One thing that I have noticed that is very common is for people to blame the products for every bad thing that happens to them. They also claim they are working way better than they should. It’s all opinions. I read an article that the type of collagen that is disrupted by minoxidil is not the type responsible for wrinkles. I’m pretty sure the guy posting about how it gave him old-man face is just trying to cause a mass hysteria. By the looks of some forums, it seems to be working.
Take your drug company shilling elsewhere
Anita, give it a rest. I read the same article about it being the wrong kind of collagen. I agree with rational on all of this. I have taken TONs of supplements (and I mean TONS) for various things and can’t say any have done anything noticeable (I would argue absolutely nothing). Yet there are tons of people claiming they are working way better than possible or blaming things on them. I also think someone tried to start a mass hysteria with the old-man face post. I’ve been using it for over a year and have VERY carefully watched for any signs. Nothing. I also took a picture of myself after one year of use and the picture looks almost identical, like you could use a light box to compare them and not find any changes. Why does Minoxidil only effect the lower face? Shouldn’t the thin skin on top of the head also become really thick, wrinkly, and haggard? After all, it’s getting daily doses of direct application.
To Dr. Rassman, I am an RN and I will tell you, with absolute certainty, my skin has changed dramatically for the worse, and I’ve only been using Rogaine 2% for about 3mo. You’re welcome to check my IP address, I’ve never posted about it before. It’s my guess that the people posting are only a small percentage of the people actually experiencing this side effect. Sure, it may not happen to everyone, but it’s obviously common enough for the FDA to do some more investigating, and people should be aware! On a similar note, I was taking Topomax for migraines and lost over 50% of my hair. Another side effect the Dr’s and pharmacists aren’t aware of. For eeks I kept asking both of them, only to be told it was just stress. I even went on the topomax site and couldn’t find anything. I had thick, gorgeous long hair, and I had to chop it all to a bob and start Rogaine (which now has messed up my skin!)I finally found a ton of people who experienced hair loss with Topomax, but only after searching “hair loss topomax” online. If the pharmacist or Dr. only could have warned me, I could have stopped the med as soon as I noticed the hair coming out. Not had to wait until I cried through every shower, watching handfuls of hair go down the drain!