iamgoingtoascend
Iron
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2025
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INTRODUCTION
"Be careful with using topical minoxidil as it can cause fat loss!!" "Minoxidil can give you hollow under eyes and increased UEE :0 !!" "Watch out for a collagen loss when using minoxidil..."
I've seen many claiming from personal anecdote that topical minoxidil causes real, tangible, negative side effects. However, this is not true and there is no scientific evidence to suggest this. So, i thought i'd quickly adress concerns in this thread.
1. Minoxidil is NOT a prostaglandin analogue (PGA)
PGAs, such as Latisse, do cause fat atrophy.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
So if you are applying PGAs in your eye area (Latisse, for example), then you are to expect orbital fat loss as a side effect. However, minoxidil IS NOT a PGA.
Minoxidil works primarily by opening ATP-sensitive potassium channels in hair follicles, improving follicular blood flow, prolonging the anagen (growth) phase, and increasing hair fiber diameter. Unlike PGAs (e.g., bimatoprost / latisse), minoxidil does not act on prostaglandin receptors, does not inhibit adipocyte differentiation, and has no known mechanism for causing periorbital fat atrophy.
There is no scientific literature that evidently shows a positive correlation between preorbital fatloss caused by topical minoxidil.
2. Potential Side Effects
The use of topical minoxidil when applied on the eyebrows can cause;
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The use of topical minoxidil when applied on the eyelashes can cause;
3. What to look out for
IMO, there is only really one side effect you got to look out for when using topical minoxidil; temporary increase in visibility of under-eye vessels (which can make dark circles look slightly more noticeable)
1. Why this happens
Minoxidil widens small blood vessels in the skin. And the skin under the eyes is very thin, so these vessels can become more vissible. The result can be:
- Darker looking under-eye area
- A slight appearance of hollowness or shadowing
(however this is not fat loss, and usually subtle)
2. How noticeable it is
Most people don't notice it, or it's only visible under certain lighting. However if you already have a thin under-eye skin, dark circles or recessed infraorbitals then it can be more noticeable.
However it's not permanent and once the skin adjusts or if use is paused, the vessels become less prominent.
3. How to mitigate this effect (if it happens)
If you do end up with this side effect then you can just use the same softmaxx methods used to reduce dark circles, this can easily be found on this website and im too lazy to talk about this since its a whole different topic but just look it up on your own brotha it's not that hard. But yk the deal, eye creams, petroleum jelly, getting enough sleep, etc.
4. This study proves it even further
This study states;
"Topical minoxidil 2% solution effectiveness for eyebrow hypotrichosis was evaluated in a first randomized trial by Lee et al. and demonstrated a significant and safe response when compared to placebo [23]. This was confirmed by a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face comparative that demonstrated tolerance and effectiveness of minoxidil 1% lotion in eyebrow hypotrichosis when compared to placebo [24].
Among side effects reported with the use of bimatoprost solution for ophthalmic conditions and eyelash hypotrichosis; conjuctival hyperemia, eye irritation, iris pigmentation, periorbital pigmentation and fat atrophy were the most frequently reported [25]. Unlike with ophthalmic conditions, eyebrow use of bimatoprost was associated with infrequent complaints of skin irritation, pruritis and slight skin pigmentation that resolved on discontinuation of use. In the current study very minimal side effects were reported."
As you can see, they do report fat atrophy as a frequently reported side effect when using bimatoprost solution. If the same was true for minoxidil, they would state it in the study. It's not as if they would just skip it lol. I mean the whole point and literal title of the study is that they are comparing the "efficacy and safety of topical minoxidil 2% versus topical bimatoprost 0.01% versus topical bimatoprost 0.03% in treatment of eyebrow hypotrichosis".
They used the same methods, and it's not as if they would just leave it out if there was any real change in orbital fat loss regarding minoxidil.
Summary
Topical minoxidil is totally safe and reliable to use for eyebrow/eyelash growth, as long as you apply it in correct doses and using correct methods. There is no evidence at all for minoxidil causing orbital fat loss, collagen reduction, increase of UEE, etc. This would have shown up in studies if it was the case.
All these people on here claiming under eye hollowing and what not from personal anecdote, look, im not saying that they are all lying. But if they did experience change in the eye area then it was not caused by use of minoxidil, and most likely caused by external factors such as lack of sleep, aging, etc.
Any cosmetic side effects caused by topical minoxidil are minor, temporary, and fully manageable.
This thread might be a bit water but idk i've just seen so many people trip about this, so i thought i'd put it here.
"Be careful with using topical minoxidil as it can cause fat loss!!" "Minoxidil can give you hollow under eyes and increased UEE :0 !!" "Watch out for a collagen loss when using minoxidil..."
I've seen many claiming from personal anecdote that topical minoxidil causes real, tangible, negative side effects. However, this is not true and there is no scientific evidence to suggest this. So, i thought i'd quickly adress concerns in this thread.
1. Minoxidil is NOT a prostaglandin analogue (PGA)
PGAs, such as Latisse, do cause fat atrophy.
Decreased orbital fat and enophthalmos due to bimatoprost: Quantitative analysis using magnetic resonance imaging - PMC
We quantitatively determined the relation between the decrease in orbital fat and enophthalmos due to bimatoprost using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Nine orbits in nine patients were treated unilaterally with bimatoprost for glaucoma or ocular ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
So if you are applying PGAs in your eye area (Latisse, for example), then you are to expect orbital fat loss as a side effect. However, minoxidil IS NOT a PGA.
Minoxidil works primarily by opening ATP-sensitive potassium channels in hair follicles, improving follicular blood flow, prolonging the anagen (growth) phase, and increasing hair fiber diameter. Unlike PGAs (e.g., bimatoprost / latisse), minoxidil does not act on prostaglandin receptors, does not inhibit adipocyte differentiation, and has no known mechanism for causing periorbital fat atrophy.
There is no scientific literature that evidently shows a positive correlation between preorbital fatloss caused by topical minoxidil.
2. Potential Side Effects
The use of topical minoxidil when applied on the eyebrows can cause;
- Mild skin irritation: redness, itching, or burning
- Dryness or flaking of the skin under/around brows
- Temporary increase in visibility of under-eye vessels (can make dark circles look slightly more noticeable)
- Unwanted hair growth outside target area if product spreads
- Temporary shedding of existing eyebrow hairs (initial phase)
- Rare systemic effects if excessive amounts are absorbed (swelling, lightheadedness — extremely uncommon)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The use of topical minoxidil when applied on the eyelashes can cause;
- Mild eyelid or lash-line irritation
- Eye redness or watering if product accidentally touches the eye
- Darkening of the skin around lash line (rare, usually mild)
- Unwanted hair growth on nearby skin if product spreads
- Temporary shedding of existing lashes (initial phase)
3. What to look out for
IMO, there is only really one side effect you got to look out for when using topical minoxidil; temporary increase in visibility of under-eye vessels (which can make dark circles look slightly more noticeable)
1. Why this happens
Minoxidil widens small blood vessels in the skin. And the skin under the eyes is very thin, so these vessels can become more vissible. The result can be:
- Darker looking under-eye area
- A slight appearance of hollowness or shadowing
(however this is not fat loss, and usually subtle)
2. How noticeable it is
Most people don't notice it, or it's only visible under certain lighting. However if you already have a thin under-eye skin, dark circles or recessed infraorbitals then it can be more noticeable.
However it's not permanent and once the skin adjusts or if use is paused, the vessels become less prominent.
3. How to mitigate this effect (if it happens)
If you do end up with this side effect then you can just use the same softmaxx methods used to reduce dark circles, this can easily be found on this website and im too lazy to talk about this since its a whole different topic but just look it up on your own brotha it's not that hard. But yk the deal, eye creams, petroleum jelly, getting enough sleep, etc.
4. This study proves it even further
This study states;
"Topical minoxidil 2% solution effectiveness for eyebrow hypotrichosis was evaluated in a first randomized trial by Lee et al. and demonstrated a significant and safe response when compared to placebo [23]. This was confirmed by a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face comparative that demonstrated tolerance and effectiveness of minoxidil 1% lotion in eyebrow hypotrichosis when compared to placebo [24].
Among side effects reported with the use of bimatoprost solution for ophthalmic conditions and eyelash hypotrichosis; conjuctival hyperemia, eye irritation, iris pigmentation, periorbital pigmentation and fat atrophy were the most frequently reported [25]. Unlike with ophthalmic conditions, eyebrow use of bimatoprost was associated with infrequent complaints of skin irritation, pruritis and slight skin pigmentation that resolved on discontinuation of use. In the current study very minimal side effects were reported."
As you can see, they do report fat atrophy as a frequently reported side effect when using bimatoprost solution. If the same was true for minoxidil, they would state it in the study. It's not as if they would just skip it lol. I mean the whole point and literal title of the study is that they are comparing the "efficacy and safety of topical minoxidil 2% versus topical bimatoprost 0.01% versus topical bimatoprost 0.03% in treatment of eyebrow hypotrichosis".
They used the same methods, and it's not as if they would just leave it out if there was any real change in orbital fat loss regarding minoxidil.
Summary
Topical minoxidil is totally safe and reliable to use for eyebrow/eyelash growth, as long as you apply it in correct doses and using correct methods. There is no evidence at all for minoxidil causing orbital fat loss, collagen reduction, increase of UEE, etc. This would have shown up in studies if it was the case.
All these people on here claiming under eye hollowing and what not from personal anecdote, look, im not saying that they are all lying. But if they did experience change in the eye area then it was not caused by use of minoxidil, and most likely caused by external factors such as lack of sleep, aging, etc.
Any cosmetic side effects caused by topical minoxidil are minor, temporary, and fully manageable.
This thread might be a bit water but idk i've just seen so many people trip about this, so i thought i'd put it here.
