Minoxidil For Eyebrows – Does It Work?

Key Takeaways:

Understanding Eyebrow Hair Loss: Eyebrow hair loss is commonly caused by over-plucking, but other autoimmune causes also need to be ruled out.

Introducing Minoxidil: Minoxidil can be used to stimulate eyebrow fullness and works by extending the hair growth phase

Application Guidelines: Apply Minoxidil to the affected eyebrow using a cotton bud, twice a day. Using a strength of 2% may be sensible to avoid side effects.

Expected Results and Timeline: It can take 6-12 months to see the results of thickening.

Potential Side Effects: Minoxidil can cause skin irritation, redness, or unintended hair growth in other areas of the face

Understanding Eyebrow Hair Loss

Complete or partial loss of eyebrow or eyelash hair is known medically as “madarosis” and it has a few potential causes.

Autoimmune causes of eyebrow hair loss

1. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles. It leads to patchy hair loss and can give a “moth-eaten” or patchy appearance to the eyebrow
2. Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia is another type of autoimmune condition that can also cause eyebrow hair loss. It commonly causes hair loss affecting both eyebrows simultaneously. Another result of immune system dysfunction and hormonal changes, causes gradual hairline recession and eyebrow thinning or loss.

Physical Injury

Patients can lose hair in their eyebrows from physical trauma. This can be as simple as having a scar from an injury, or from frequent scratching in conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Some patients suffer from a hair-pulling condition called trichotillomania, where repeated pulling of the hair in the eyebrow causes hair loss in the area over time.

Over-plucking

Most commonly, patients suffer from eyebrow hair loss due to continued over-plucking of the hairs in their brows over time.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil and How It Works

Minoxidil was originally used as a blood pressure medication in the 1970s. A surprising side effect of this medication was that it also helped improve hair growth in patients taking it. As a result, it was reformulated into a topical medication that can help promote hair growth in men and women who suffer from androgenic alopecia. It is now available over the counter in various forms, including liquid solutions, lotions, and foams, with concentrations ranging from 2% to 5%.

When studied, Minoxidil has been shown to have the following effects on hair follicles:

• Extending the growth (anagen) phase of the hair cycle, while shortening its time in the resting (telogen) phase.
• Stimulating hair follicle activity and increasing hair shaft diameter

Minoxidil for Eyebrows

Most studies explore Minoxidil’s role in treating hair loss in the scalp and not the eyebrows. However, there are a handful of studies, outlined below, that explore its role in treating eyebrow hair loss or thinning.

• 2013 Study (40 Patients): Demonstrated that 2% minoxidil lotion, when applied to eyebrows, significantly improves their fullness, thickness, and hair count within 16 weeks, with only minor side effects reported, underscoring its safety.⁴
• Follow-up Study (42 Participants): Showed that 1% minoxidil lotion enhances eyebrow appearance and thickness, making it a well-accepted treatment among users.⁵
• Additional Research (22 Participants): Highlighted that twice-daily application of 2% minoxidil lotion for four months leads to notably thicker and denser eyebrows. Participants were happier with the look of their eyebrows, with mild itching reported as a minor side effect, further confirming the treatment’s efficacy and safety.⁶

From these findings, we can see that minoxidil, in both 1% and 2% concentrations, is a viable and safe treatment for enhancing eyebrow density and appearance.

I regularly advise my patients around their options for restoring fullness to their eyebrows. Using topical Minoxidil at the 2% concentration provides them a way of achieving fuller looking brows without the need for surgical intervention, especially so, in patients with some level of hair in their eyebrows alreadyDr Roshan vara, co-founder and hair transplant surgeon at the treatment rooms london

Dr Roshan Vara, Director and Hair Transplant Surgeon, The Treatment Rooms London 

How to Use Minoxidil for Eyebrows

1. Apply with Precision: Use Minoxidil carefully around your eyebrows to avoid accidental hair growth in unwanted areas like your cheeks

• How to Apply: Use a small applicator or cotton swab for direct application onto the eyebrow area. This ensures precise application.
• Frequency: Apply twice a day for best results.

2. Choose the Right Concentration:

• Start Low: Begin with a 1% or 2% Minoxidil concentration to reduce the chances of irritation or side effects.
• Consider increasing: If you tolerate the 1% or 2% solution well and want quicker results, you can cautiously try the 5% concentration.

3. Timeline from application to results:

• Initial Signs: Eyebrow regrowth may begin within 2-3 months of daily use.
• Peak Improvements: Most noticeable changes are typically seen by the 6-month mark if applied consistently, aligning with research findings mentioned above.

Potential side effects of using Minoxidil on eyebrows:

• Skin Irritation: You might experience mild itching or burning in the applied area.
• Dry Skin: You can apply hair oil or cream to the area to help relieve this symptom
• Redness: The skin around the eyebrows can become red and this may be a sign of allergy. If you notice this, please speak to your Doctor.
• Unwanted Hair Growth: If the solution spreads beyond the intended area, it could stimulate hair growth such as in your cheeks
• Allergic Reactions: Although rare, some individuals may be allergic to Minoxidil and experience reactions like severe itching. Stop using Minoxidil and consult with your healthcare provider if this occurs.

Alternatives to Minoxidil for Eyebrow Enhancement

For fuller eyebrows without Minoxidil, you can consider alternatives. They are split into giving your eyebrows pigmented enhancement (microblading or SMP) or restoring hair using surgery (hair transplant surgery).

• Microblading or SMP: A semi-permanent tattooing technique that enhances eyebrow appearance instantly by adding pigment to the skin.
• Eyebrow hair transplant: A permanent method of transferring hair to the eyebrows for a natural look, suitable for those with sparse brows. The typical eyebrow hair transplant cost is between £3,000 and £6,000.

Conclusion

Minoxidil can be used to enhance eyebrow thickness and fullness. It requires careful application and is a treatment modality; our clinic and its renowned Surgeons can help patients make a choice.

References

1. Nguyen, B., Hu, J. K., & Tosti, A. (2023). Eyebrow and Eyelash Alopecia: A Clinical Review. American journal of clinical dermatology, 24(1), 55–67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-022-00729-5 
2. Suchonwanit, P., Thammarucha, S., & Leerunyakul, K. (2019). Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: a review. Drug design, development and therapy, 13, 2777–2786. https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S214907 
3. Goren, A., Sharma, A., Dhurat, R., Shapiro, J., Sinclair, R., Situm, M., Kovacevic, M., Lukinovic Skudar, V., Goldust, M., Lotti, T., & McCoy, J. (2018). Low-dose daily aspirin reduces topical minoxidil efficacy in androgenetic alopecia patients. Dermatologic therapy, 31(6), e12741. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dth.12741
4. Lee, S., Tanglertsampan, C., Tanchotikul, M., & Worapunpong, N. (2014). Minoxidil 2% lotion for eyebrow enhancement: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face comparative study. The Journal of dermatology, 41(2), 149–152. https://doi.org/10.1111/1346-8138.12275 
5. Worapunpong, N., & Tanglertsampan, C. (2017). Treatment of Eyebrow Hypotrichosis with 1 % Minoxidil Lotion : A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Available from: http://www.jmatonline.com/PDF/573-577-PB-100-5.pdf
6. Gajbhiye, V., & Lamture, Y. (2020). Minoxidil: A Youth Elixir for Eyebrow Hypotrichosis. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 14. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2020/42801.13474