Minoxidil Topical Side Effects: Common, Severe, Long Term (2025)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 25, 2025.

Applies to minoxidil topical: topical foam, topical solution.

Precautions

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

Tell your doctor if you notice continued itching, redness, or burning of your scalp after you apply minoxidil. If the itching, redness, or burning is severe, wash the medicine off and check with your doctor before using it again.

Hair loss may continue for 2 weeks after you start using minoxidil. Tell your doctor if your hair loss continues after 2 weeks. Also, tell your doctor if your hair growth does not increase after using minoxidil for 4 months.

Serious side effects of minoxidil topical

Along with its needed effects, minoxidil topical may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur while taking minoxidil topical:

Signs and symptoms of too much medicine being absorbed into the body—Rare

• blurred vision or other changes in vision
• chest pain
• dizziness
• fainting
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• flushing
• headache
• lightheadedness
• numbness or tingling of hands, feet, or face
• swelling of face, hands, feet, or lower legs
• weight gain (rapid)

For healthcare professionals

Applies to minoxidil topical: topical foam, topical solution, topical spray.

Cardiovascular adverse events

• Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Palpitations
• Frequency not reported: Heart rate increased, hypotension^[Ref]

Local

• Frequency not reported: Application site reactions^[Ref]

Application site reactions may involve nearby structures (e.g. ears, face) and typically include pruritus, irritation, pain, rash, edema, dry skin, erythema, and erythematous rash, but may include severe events such as exfoliation, dermatitis, blistering, bleeding, or ulceration.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypertrichosis (unwanted non-scalp hair including female facial hair growth), pruritus (including rash pruritic generalized and eye pruritus), rash (including pustular, popular, generalized, vestibular, and seborrheic)
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Changes in hair texture
• Frequency not reported: Dry skin, skin exfoliation (including exfoliative rash and dermatitis exfoliative), acne (acneiform rash), temporary hair loss, changes in hair color, angioedema (including lip edema, lip swelling, edema mouth, oropharyngeal swelling, pharyngeal edema, swollen tongue and tongue edema)^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypersensitivity reactions (including face edema, generalized erythema, generalized pruritus, swelling face, pharyngeal edema, and throat tightness)^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dizziness^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nausea
• Frequency not reported: Vomiting^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Eye irritation^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Weight increased^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Depressed mood^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspnea^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Peripheral edema^[Ref]

Further information

Minoxidil topical side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer