The truth about Minoxidil - The holy grail or overhyped Looksmin?

[skinnyincel34]

I've gotten compliments about how long my eyelashes are growing up, yet i'm 18 and slowly balding with very thin hair. I love irony

 

[Deleted member 130748]

View attachment 3682319
The truth about Minoxidil - Part 1​

Spoiler: Previous Part

The truth about ... - The new thread series, AMA

The truth about ... - Part 0 This thread series will cover compounds/concepts that are discussed daily on here. It's a crossover between @chadisbeingmade and me. Potentially other users too, lmk. The purpose is to shed light on the reality behind these compounds/concepts. The first...

looksmax.org

Growing your eyelashes and eyebrows is one of the best and only true softmaxxes.

Because of that, many people choose compounds like Minoxidil to grow hairs in their eye area or even on the scalp.

View attachment 3682324View attachment 3682326
​

This thread will reveal why you should be cautious with Minoxidil - And how it could actually harm your looks.

---

History

Spoiler: History

Minoxidil was developed for antihypertensive and vasodilative purposes.

View attachment 3682339

Though this use case was later dropped as even the developing scientists figured out that it isn't efficient at what it does.

It's the last resort when it comes to hypertension - Only being used when two agents and/or a diuretic aren't enough.

Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA

And not even monotherapy is a valid option. It has to be combined with a loop diuretic either way because of the sodium and potassium retention it causes.

Appeal in PSL-Spaces

Spoiler: Appeal in PSL-Spaces

The other use case beside hypertension is hair growth.

Unfortunately it's not the best option for stopping scalp hair loss as that is a mainly AR-mediated pathway.

That means it won't prevent any miniaturization of the hair follicle, @chadisbeingmade is going to make a thread covering the topic of 5ARIs.

The other use case is like I mentioned previously, growing the hairs in your eye area.

View attachment 3682266

It's an exaggerated example removing the hair completely obviously, but I hope you can see how important they are.

There are two ways you can grow them via Minoxidil: Topical and Oral.

Topical

Spoiler: Topical

Topical Minoxidil is pretty harsh on your eyes, that's why you should only apply it on your eyebrows.

Another thing is that Minoxidil can cause fat loss in your upper eyelid as Minoxidil stimulates factors like PGE2 (The active ingredient in Latisse).

Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA

Oral

Spoiler: Oral

Oral Minoxidil is very effective in growing your eyelashes, but more of that in the biology section.

[Brutal UEE right there, just look at the lashes duh ]
View attachment 3682288

Biology

Spoiler: Biology

The unfortunate truth is, if you are using Minoxidil you are going to retain a ton more water and be bloated.

This is primarely mediated by the activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System.

View attachment 3682292

I'll try to keep it short:

1. Minoxidil vasodilates blood vessels
2. Activation of RAAS
3. Aldosterone increase
4. Sodium, potassium and water retention

In short, this means your Aldosterone skyrockets making you retain a ton more sodium/potassium and consequently more water.

This means it's a big trade off, hair growth or bloat. What do you choose, no water retention or mogger eyelashes?

View attachment 3682392

Conclusion

Spoiler: Conclusion

The only possible solution to solve the bloat is using an aldosterone-antagonist.

View attachment 3682299

In theory using an aldosterone-antagonist like Eplerenone or Spironolactone should work, but even then there is quite some anecdotal evidence that this doesn't work.



TL;DR: There are only two viable options now:

• Topical Minoxidil on eyebrows, which also affects your lashes.
• Oral Minoxidil only in combination with an aldosterone-antagonist.

---

I hope you learned something new today.

Feel free to AMA.

Spoiler: Tags

@halloweed @menas @Zagro @Drugsmaxxer

Another Jonas classic

 

[hiku]

im about to start taking 2.5mg oral minoxidil ED for eyelash and eyebrow growth. i will run it until i get desired results, i thought i would just get off minoxidil after but i read that results go away,

how long should i run minoxidil after i get desired results to keep the eyelash and eyebrow growth.
or will the minoxidil always go away and i have no choice but to run it for the rest of my life

also thoughts on oral castor oil, heard the results are permanent but idrk

 

[Dathomirian Zabrak]

5 months on oral minox and didnt give me results i wanted to.

 

[whitestacyslayer]

View attachment 3682319
The truth about Minoxidil - Part 1​

Spoiler: Previous Part

The truth about ... - The new thread series, AMA

The truth about ... - Part 0 This thread series will cover compounds/concepts that are discussed daily on here. It's a crossover between @chadisbeingmade and me. Potentially other users too, lmk. The purpose is to shed light on the reality behind these compounds/concepts. The first...

looksmax.org

Growing your eyelashes and eyebrows is one of the best and only true softmaxxes.

Because of that, many people choose compounds like Minoxidil to grow hairs in their eye area or even on the scalp.

View attachment 3682324View attachment 3682326
​

This thread will reveal why you should be cautious with Minoxidil - And how it could actually harm your looks.

---

History

Spoiler: History

Minoxidil was developed for antihypertensive and vasodilative purposes.

View attachment 3682339

Though this use case was later dropped as even the developing scientists figured out that it isn't efficient at what it does.

It's the last resort when it comes to hypertension - Only being used when two agents and/or a diuretic aren't enough.

Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA

And not even monotherapy is a valid option. It has to be combined with a loop diuretic either way because of the sodium and potassium retention it causes.

Appeal in PSL-Spaces

Spoiler: Appeal in PSL-Spaces

The other use case beside hypertension is hair growth.

Unfortunately it's not the best option for stopping scalp hair loss as that is a mainly AR-mediated pathway.

That means it won't prevent any miniaturization of the hair follicle, @chadisbeingmade is going to make a thread covering the topic of 5ARIs.

The other use case is like I mentioned previously, growing the hairs in your eye area.

View attachment 3682266

It's an exaggerated example removing the hair completely obviously, but I hope you can see how important they are.

There are two ways you can grow them via Minoxidil: Topical and Oral.

Topical

Spoiler: Topical

Topical Minoxidil is pretty harsh on your eyes, that's why you should only apply it on your eyebrows.

Another thing is that Minoxidil can cause fat loss in your upper eyelid as Minoxidil stimulates factors like PGE2 (The active ingredient in Latisse).

Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA

Oral

Spoiler: Oral

Oral Minoxidil is very effective in growing your eyelashes, but more of that in the biology section.

[Brutal UEE right there, just look at the lashes duh ]
View attachment 3682288

Biology

Spoiler: Biology

The unfortunate truth is, if you are using Minoxidil you are going to retain a ton more water and be bloated.

This is primarely mediated by the activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System.

View attachment 3682292

I'll try to keep it short:

1. Minoxidil vasodilates blood vessels
2. Activation of RAAS
3. Aldosterone increase
4. Sodium, potassium and water retention

In short, this means your Aldosterone skyrockets making you retain a ton more sodium/potassium and consequently more water.

This means it's a big trade off, hair growth or bloat. What do you choose, no water retention or mogger eyelashes?

View attachment 3682392

Conclusion

Spoiler: Conclusion

The only possible solution to solve the bloat is using an aldosterone-antagonist.

View attachment 3682299

In theory using an aldosterone-antagonist like Eplerenone or Spironolactone should work, but even then there is quite some anecdotal evidence that this doesn't work.



TL;DR: There are only two viable options now:

• Topical Minoxidil on eyebrows, which also affects your lashes.
• Oral Minoxidil only in combination with an aldosterone-antagonist.

---

I hope you learned something new today.

Feel free to AMA.

Spoiler: Tags

@halloweed @menas @Zagro @Drugsmaxxer

nice tutorial definitely put a lot of time into it you deserve the rep

 

[SlayerJonas]

botb

 

[Deleted member 140730]

Congrats on BOTB, well deserved.

 

[CalulArgintiu59]

Thanks bro.

Exactly, primarely because topical Minoxidil increases factors like PGE2 (same one in Latisse) like I mentioned in the thread.

So Minoxidil doesn't only "improve bloodflow to the hair follicles causing more nutrients to get to the hair follicle", but it also causes changes in gene expression to cause a better environment for the hair follicle.

Minoxidil increases PGE2.

Oh didn't know that, I avoided lattise because I was afraid to lose upper eyelid fat, but I am using minoxidil for about 1year, fat loss didn't occur? Is it safe for me to take lattise if I didn't get fat loss from minoxidil or lattise has a higher incidence for this side effect to happen?

 

[SlayerJonas]

lattise has a higher incidence for this side effect to happen

You answered your own question bud.

 

[asianslayer]

Will it still give bloat on 0 carb carnivore

 

[CalulArgintiu59]

You answered your own question bud.

No, but I was asking if it has a higher rate of periorbital fat loss or they situate at the same risk?

 

[CalulArgintiu59]

And if minoxidil works in a similar way to lattise, why do the gains from minoxidil become terminal, but from lattise are said to never necome terminal?

 

[Azim]

using topical minox on my brows and the base of my lashes saved my eye area along with using dye for lashes. oral minox will bloat you though, stick to topical imo

 

[Mid psl]

when you say that Minoxidil can cause fat loss in your upper eyelid as Minoxidil stimulates factors like PGE2. Does that mean that when you use it on your eyebrow, it is going to cause fat loss in your upper eyelid?

 

[Vef]

Will the hair on eyebrows fall out after stopping applying?

 

[Vef]

Will the hair on eyebrows fall out after stopping applying?

Shit bro

 

[william.]

Another thing is that Minoxidil can cause fat loss in your upper eyelid as Minoxidil stimulates factors like PGE2 (The active ingredient in Latisse).

can i do this to get less hooding

 

[Deleted member 82875]

Thank you man, put a lot of effort into this as you can sense.

Can you tag a few more people please, thread's getting no engagement.

@R@m@ @Mess @wastedspermcel @vrilmaxxer @You @Quncho atleast leave a comment alr

View attachment 3682573

mirin thread.

 

[chico batemen]

@Jonas2k7 how much oral minox is recomended 2.5, 5, or 10 daily?

 

[SlayerJonas]

Will it still give bloat on 0 carb carnivore

You bloat through different pathways, carbohydrates just cause one of them.

Might make a big thread on bloating in the future.

No, but I was asking if it has a higher rate of periorbital fat loss or they situate at the same risk?

I already answered your question. Do I fucking need to spoon-feed you information?

Yes, Latisse has a higher risk because it works only through the PGE2 pathway.

And if minoxidil works in a similar way to lattise, why do the gains from minoxidil become terminal, but from lattise are said to never necome terminal?

I never said it works the same, PGE2 is just a part of how Minoxidil works.

using topical minox on my brows and the base of my lashes saved my eye area along with using dye for lashes. oral minox will bloat you though, stick to topical imo

^^

when you say that Minoxidil can cause fat loss in your upper eyelid as Minoxidil stimulates factors like PGE2. Does that mean that when you use it on your eyebrow, it is going to cause fat loss in your upper eyelid?

There is no comparative data on it, if you don't want to risk it don't do it. It surely is safer to apply on your eyebrows instead of your eyelashes though.

Will the hair on eyebrows fall out after stopping applying?

Every hair goes through a cycle. Minoxidil lengthens this cycle leading to longer hairs, once you cease the treatment your gains most likely return to baseline. Some users report permanent gains though, I wouldn't count on that.

can i do this to get less hooding

Why would you want to get less hooding in the first place. Show eyes.

@Jonas2k7 how much oral minox is recomended 2.5, 5, or 10 daily?

I'd recommend a dose of 2.5 or 5mg every day, 10mg is too much. Studies mostly use 2.5 and 5mg.

@chadisbeingmade @Snicket @loyolaxavvierretard @Zagro @menas

 

[Menas]

You bloat through different pathways, carbohydrates just cause one of them.

Might make a big thread on bloating in the future.

I already answered your question. Do I fucking need to spoon-feed you information?

Yes, Latisse has a higher risk because it works only through the PGE2 pathway.

I never said it works the same, PGE2 is just a part of how Minoxidil works.

^^

There is no comparative data on it, if you don't want to risk it don't do it. It surely is safer to apply on your eyebrows instead of your eyelashes though.

Every hair goes through a cycle. Minoxidil lengthens this cycle leading to longer hairs, once you cease the treatment your gains most likely return to baseline. Some users report permanent gains though, I wouldn't count on that.

Why would you want to get less hooding in the first place. Show eyes.

I'd recommend a dose of 2.5 or 5mg every day, 10mg is too much. Studies mostly use 2.5 and 5mg.

@chadisbeingmade @Snicket @loyolaxavvierretard @Zagro @menas

 

[Deleted member 131140]

Menas react to tgis message with "wtf". I am making a post and need the screenshot

 

[Deleted member 131140]

React here nigga, it aint that serious, just a funny post

 

[Sadist]

View attachment 3682319
The truth about Minoxidil - Part 1​

Spoiler: Previous Part

The truth about ... - The new thread series, AMA

The truth about ... - Part 0 This thread series will cover compounds/concepts that are discussed daily on here. It's a crossover between @chadisbeingmade and me. Potentially other users too, lmk. The purpose is to shed light on the reality behind these compounds/concepts. The first...

looksmax.org

Growing your eyelashes and eyebrows is one of the best and only true softmaxxes.

Because of that, many people choose compounds like Minoxidil to grow hairs in their eye area or even on the scalp.

View attachment 3682324View attachment 3682326
​

This thread will reveal why you should be cautious with Minoxidil - And how it could actually harm your looks.

---

History

Spoiler: History

Minoxidil was developed for antihypertensive and vasodilative purposes.

View attachment 3682339

Though this use case was later dropped as even the developing scientists figured out that it isn't efficient at what it does.

It's the last resort when it comes to hypertension - Only being used when two agents and/or a diuretic aren't enough.

Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA

And not even monotherapy is a valid option. It has to be combined with a loop diuretic either way because of the sodium and potassium retention it causes.

Appeal in PSL-Spaces

Spoiler: Appeal in PSL-Spaces

The other use case beside hypertension is hair growth.

Unfortunately it's not the best option for stopping scalp hair loss as that is a mainly AR-mediated pathway.

That means it won't prevent any miniaturization of the hair follicle, @chadisbeingmade is going to make a thread covering the topic of 5ARIs.

The other use case is like I mentioned previously, growing the hairs in your eye area.

View attachment 3682266

It's an exaggerated example removing the hair completely obviously, but I hope you can see how important they are.

There are two ways you can grow them via Minoxidil: Topical and Oral.

Topical

Spoiler: Topical

Topical Minoxidil is pretty harsh on your eyes, that's why you should only apply it on your eyebrows.

Another thing is that Minoxidil can cause fat loss in your upper eyelid as Minoxidil stimulates factors like PGE2 (The active ingredient in Latisse).

Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA

Oral

Spoiler: Oral

Oral Minoxidil is very effective in growing your eyelashes, but more of that in the biology section.

[Brutal UEE right there, just look at the lashes duh ]
View attachment 3682288

Biology

Spoiler: Biology

The unfortunate truth is, if you are using Minoxidil you are going to retain a ton more water and be bloated.

This is primarely mediated by the activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System.

View attachment 3682292

I'll try to keep it short:

1. Minoxidil vasodilates blood vessels
2. Activation of RAAS
3. Aldosterone increase
4. Sodium, potassium and water retention

In short, this means your Aldosterone skyrockets making you retain a ton more sodium/potassium and consequently more water.

This means it's a big trade off, hair growth or bloat. What do you choose, no water retention or mogger eyelashes?

View attachment 3682392

Conclusion

Spoiler: Conclusion

The only possible solution to solve the bloat is using an aldosterone-antagonist.

View attachment 3682299

In theory using an aldosterone-antagonist like Eplerenone or Spironolactone should work, but even then there is quite some anecdotal evidence that this doesn't work.



TL;DR: There are only two viable options now:

• Topical Minoxidil on eyebrows, which also affects your lashes.
• Oral Minoxidil only in combination with an aldosterone-antagonist.

---

I hope you learned something new today.

Feel free to AMA.

Spoiler: Tags

@halloweed @menas @Zagro @Drugsmaxxer

bhai finally got botb, congrats

 

[Menas]

bhai finally got botb, congrats

and they removed mine, brutal...

 

[Sadist]

and they removed mine, brutal...

huuuh
why

 

[Menas]

huuuh
why

idk @Gargantuan said some stuff but i couldn't really understand what he meant ngl

 

[bruhtoobrutal]

and they removed mine, brutal...

its okay bubs we all still love you even if you only have one botb

 

[Mid psl]

There is no comparative data on it, if you don't want to risk it don't do it. It surely is safer to apply on your eyebrows instead of your eyelashes though.

shit then, my UEE is already in rough shape, so I'm hesitant to use anything that might make it worse. On the other hand, my eyebrows need more length and density. Personally,
I’ve never seen any after photos of people using minoxidil on their eyebrows who had worse UEE. So, what are your thoughts about it?

 

[william.]

hy would you want to get less hooding in the first place. Show eyes.

 

[JonHammsCousin]

how much were you taking?

 

[Deleted member 91663]

how much were you taking?

Are you Jon Hamm's cousin?

 

[JonHammsCousin]

Are you Jon Hamm's cousin?

no hahahah its the first thing that came to mind since i love mad men

 

[JonHammsCousin]

Yeah this is why I stopped using oral minoxidil. At the time I stopped I was the leanest I’ve ever been yet my face still looked fatter and puffier compared to pictures from before I started taking it.

how much were you taking?

 

[kazama]

shit, great effort. But I'll read it carefully, I ended up crying in the middle of this Jfl either I live extremely bloat or I acquire it uee, fuck this made me feel worse knowing that Im not 6'3 there are no solutions not even for my eyebrows

 

[lardtard]

If I take minoxidil until I’m happy with the length and density of my eyelashes, then stop taking, will the hairs stay?

 

[BoredPrince]

i do not regret my decision at all, tho it kinda affected my leanmaxxing cuz i was debloated in my face i no longer wanted to lose fat but that aside i will never use minox again

Oh holy shit, you're right, I just noticed now when I looked at old photos

I looked definitely more bloated despite having 8 kg less, but tbh the gains on my eyebrows were a big halo


Did you use topical or oral?

 

[Chad]

Oh holy shit, you're right, I just noticed now when I looked at old photos

I looked definitely more bloated despite having 8 kg less, but tbh the gains on my eyebrows were a big halo


Did you use topical or oral?

It’s the same with me. He used topical iirc I used oral. I quit and it went away in like a month or 2.

 

[diditeverbegin]

I already answered your question. Do I fucking need to spoon-feed you information?

You're on looksmax.org bro, ofc people need/expect to be spoonfed information here

 

[RealNinja]

how much were you taking?

I think I was doing 3 drops of liquid minoxidil orally, so like 7.5mg.

 

[Deleted member 146641]

So both methods of minoxidil increases water retention? Not sure if it’s worth the bloat, my eyebrows are a little frail tho

 

[BoredPrince]

It’s the same with me. He used topical iirc I used oral. I quit and it went away in like a month or 2.

Yeah I was thinking about oral but topical was effective enough and besides I heard that oral increases body hair too

Did you keep your gains after stopping?

 

[DiazRaaos]

Obviously yeah. MSM, 1-2ml castor oil orally every day, any oil topically and some other methods.

What do you mean by orally? isn’t that a laxative? Also to summarize what you’re saying topical min=fat loss oral min=bloat right?

 

[Deleted member 115294]

Oh holy shit, you're right, I just noticed now when I looked at old photos

I looked definitely more bloated despite having 8 kg less, but tbh the gains on my eyebrows were a big halo


Did you use topical or oral?

Yeah I was thinking about oral but topical was effective enough and besides I heard that oral increases body hair too

Did you keep your gains after stopping?

i used tropical as he said, my brows became less dense now but i still kept some of my gains for some reason tho i think he lost all minox gains, i was so annoyed because i was approaching low bf but my face was still not as chiseled as it should be, i once had some skin irritation while using minox so i had to stop for like a week or two something like that and it just clicked that i mogged unusually hard at that time

 

[aestheticsrespecter]

Topical

Another thing is that Minoxidil can cause fat loss in your upper eyelid as Minoxidil stimulates factors like PGE2 (The active ingredient in Latisse).

"Minoxidil is not a PGF2α analog.

Minoxidil is a distinct chemical compound with a different mechanism of action compared to PGF2α analogs like bimatoprost, latanoprost, and travoprost."

Basic fucking google search

 

[Chad]

Yeah I was thinking about oral but topical was effective enough and besides I heard that oral increases body hair too

Did you keep your gains after stopping?

Pretty sure my body hair returned to normal after discontinuing, or only a slight increase.

Yes I retained my gains, but I also used for almost 2 years (I didn’t notice the bloat until I looked back like you said).

 

[SlayerJonas]

Stop squinting, then you'll realize you don't need less hooding.

If I take minoxidil until I’m happy with the length and density of my eyelashes, then stop taking, will the hairs stay?

The hairs most likely return to baseline as the growth cycle shortens. Like I already said, some people though experience permanent gains.

So both methods of minoxidil increases water retention? Not sure if it’s worth the bloat, my eyebrows are a little frail tho

Oral Minoxidil increases water retention more significantly.

Also to summarize what you’re saying topical min=fat loss oral min=bloat right?

^^

"Minoxidil is not a PGF2α analog.

Minoxidil is a distinct chemical compound with a different mechanism of action compared to PGF2α analogs like bimatoprost, latanoprost, and travoprost."

Basic fucking google search

GTFO with this bullshit. I never claimed it's a PGF2a analogue, it increases PGE2. I even cited a study for this claim, go learn reading.

Activation of cytoprotective prostaglandin synthase-1 by minoxidil as a possible explanation for its hair growth-stimulating effect - PubMed

Data from the literature indicate that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as indomethacin, naproxen, piroxicam, or ibuprofen, induce hair loss in vivo. These NSAIDs are well-known inhibitors of both the cytoprotective isoform of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-1 (PGHS-1) and...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pretty sure my body hair returned to normal after discontinuing, or only a slight increase.

Yes I retained my gains, but I also used for almost 2 years (I didn’t notice the bloat until I looked back like you said).

^^

 

[rory4579]

Dnr im blasting oral minoxidil to grow hair cause im a baldcel

 

[slaters]

How much did u and @chadisbeingmade take that caused yg to bloat on minox?
I might take 2.5 mg and see how I react

 

[Deleted member 83942]

Ive been using oral minox for a couple of months now and I have noticed 0 side effects and have had very mogger results so far