just curious... how could minoxidil. cause hair growth elsewhere

[nate2004]

Such as I hear about people who experience thicker beards and hair growth on places on the body. Is this because the minoxidil. diffuses into the blood stream or what?

I could see how the facial hair thing could work because like maybe some runs down into the face if youre not careful. But the body hair thing is confusing me.

 

[Aplunk1]

too much minoxidil can lead to systemic absorbtion (I believe this is the term for it)-- it will be absorbed into the bloodstream and take effect on the body.

 

[Anderz]

On avarage, 1.4% of the minoxidil is "absorbed into the system". I doubt that it will have any effect on hair growth at all.

 

[dek]

but what about the areas of ones face or body that has no hair follicles? How are these areas affected if the minoxidil is growing hair there but has not been physically exposed to them? Does minoxidil grow hair on parts of the head that never had hair on them, like below the hairline?

 

[Aplunk1]

Vellous hair covers almost all of the body, even if you cannot visibly see it. Minoxidil should make these hairs noticeable...

 

[Anderz]

If you apply 2 ml of minoxidil daily, the systemic absorbtion will be in the range of 0.006-0.09 ml.

I think everyone can imagine how much hair growth it will promote in areas where it isn't directly applied.