What Happens When Minoxidil is Stopped
If you stop using minoxidil, you will lose your newly regrown hair within 3 to 4 months, and hair loss will resume at the rate it would have progressed without treatment. 1
Timeline of Hair Loss After Discontinuation
- Within 3-4 months: Complete loss of all newly regrown hair gained from minoxidil treatment 1
- Potential for worse baseline: Some patients may experience hair counts that fall below their original pre-treatment levels after stopping minoxidil 2
- Return to natural progression: Hair loss resumes at the rate determined by your underlying androgenetic alopecia, as if you had never used the medication 3, 4
Why This Happens
- Minoxidil requires continuous use: The medication only works while actively being applied; it does not cure or permanently alter the hair loss process 1
- Telogen synchronization: When stopped, the hair follicles that were maintained in the growth phase by minoxidil rapidly shift back to the resting/shedding phase 3
- No sustained benefit: Hair growth achieved with topical minoxidil is not sustained when the drug is discontinued, with objective hair counts showing loss of most recruited hairs 2
Clinical Evidence on Discontinuation
A key study demonstrated that men who stopped minoxidil after at least 4 months of treatment lost most of their newly grown hair, with 4 out of 10 patients experiencing hair counts that fell below their original baseline levels 2. This suggests that stopping minoxidil may temporarily result in worse hair density than before starting treatment.
Duration of Treatment Effect
- Maximum documented benefit: Hair regrowth has not been shown to last longer than 48 weeks of continuous treatment in large clinical trials 1
- Maintenance requirement: Continued daily application (twice daily) is necessary to maintain any hair regrowth achieved 1
Important Considerations
- Shedding phase upon restart: If you restart minoxidil after stopping, expect a temporary increase in hair loss for up to 2 weeks as old hairs are shed to make way for new growth 1
- Time to see results again: If restarting, results may be seen as early as 2 months, but may take 4 months or longer 1
- Alternative maintenance strategies: Combination therapy with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may provide more sustained results, though PRP also requires maintenance treatments every 6 months 5
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not expect any permanent benefit from minoxidil treatment. The medication is a lifelong commitment if you want to maintain results. Patients who stop treatment hoping to retain their gains will be disappointed, as the hair loss process resumes immediately upon discontinuation 1, 2, 4.