I'm sure this issue has been raised here several times, but I can't find such thread within the first few pages.
How to deal with facial swelling/bloating/puffy face from minoxidil?
I have been taking regular photos for a long time, in similar lighting conditions. I first started taking minoxidil in autumn 2016 and discontinued using it in March 2017 when I noticed my face was very bloated. No weight change during that period, either, and my body looked pretty much the same. At that time I was using it both on my hair and my face in the hope of strengthening my facial hair.
Within 1-3 months of discontinuation my face gradually slimmed down to its normal contours; however, the state of my hair became worse.
This led me to restarting minoxidil in November 2017, this time only applying it to my hair. I quickly realised my face started getting bloated again, which was confirmed by photos. I stopped it for a week and then began taking it every other day, but as my hair continued to become worse I panicked and started using it daily again. I believe there was a small difference in the weeks after I cut down on the frequency.
I only apply it to my hair now, once a day, about 0.65 ml (4 sprays). I do it early in the evening so that it doesn't drip on the pillows. My face seems less bloated than it was when I was also applying it to my face, and it appears I had dark circles under my eyes then which I don't have now, but it's still certainly swollen. The observed changes have not been correlated to weight or body fat fluctuations.
I'm pretty sure I can't just stop using minoxidil or my hair will be ruined due to shedding, even though I was on finasteride and now have just started dutasteride. So I'm pretty much doomed to using it unless I get a hair transplant to cover the losses. Have you experienced this side effect? Have you managed to reduce it? I'm thinking of drinking a lot of herbal diuretics every day to reduce water retention.
How to deal with facial swelling/bloating/puffy face from minoxidil?
I have been taking regular photos for a long time, in similar lighting conditions. I first started taking minoxidil in autumn 2016 and discontinued using it in March 2017 when I noticed my face was very bloated. No weight change during that period, either, and my body looked pretty much the same. At that time I was using it both on my hair and my face in the hope of strengthening my facial hair.
Within 1-3 months of discontinuation my face gradually slimmed down to its normal contours; however, the state of my hair became worse.
This led me to restarting minoxidil in November 2017, this time only applying it to my hair. I quickly realised my face started getting bloated again, which was confirmed by photos. I stopped it for a week and then began taking it every other day, but as my hair continued to become worse I panicked and started using it daily again. I believe there was a small difference in the weeks after I cut down on the frequency.
I only apply it to my hair now, once a day, about 0.65 ml (4 sprays). I do it early in the evening so that it doesn't drip on the pillows. My face seems less bloated than it was when I was also applying it to my face, and it appears I had dark circles under my eyes then which I don't have now, but it's still certainly swollen. The observed changes have not been correlated to weight or body fat fluctuations.
I'm pretty sure I can't just stop using minoxidil or my hair will be ruined due to shedding, even though I was on finasteride and now have just started dutasteride. So I'm pretty much doomed to using it unless I get a hair transplant to cover the losses. Have you experienced this side effect? Have you managed to reduce it? I'm thinking of drinking a lot of herbal diuretics every day to reduce water retention.
