Minoxidil in Australia: Foam, Solution and What to Expect

Q: What are the side effects?

Itching, dryness and flaking. These were more common with the 5% solution than the 2% (Olsen 2002). Unwanted hair on the forehead or face if it runs or gets on your hands. Rarely, dizziness, a fast heartbeat, chest pain or swollen ankles. Stop and see a doctor if any of these happen. Don’t use it on a scalp that is red, sore or sunburnt. If you have a heart condition, check with a doctor or pharmacist first.

In short

Minoxidil foam and solution are sold in Australian pharmacies without a prescription. Used twice a day, they slow male pattern hair loss and thicken hair for many men. The effect lasts only while you keep using it.

On this page

Minoxidil is the hair loss treatment you put on your scalp. In Australia the foam and the solution are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. This page answers the questions men ask about it most, with links to the studies.

Do you need a prescription for minoxidil in Australia?

Not for the foam or the solution. Both are sold over the counter at pharmacies, including the large chains such as Chemist Warehouse and Priceline, and by online pharmacies. The usual strength for men is 5%. Minoxidil tablets are different: they are a prescription medicine.

Does minoxidil work?

Yes, for many men, within limits. In a 48-week trial, the 5% solution grew more hair than the 2% solution, and both did better than a dummy treatment (Olsen 2002). In a separate trial, men using 5% foam had higher hair counts at 16 weeks than men using a dummy foam (Olsen 2007).

A review describes minoxidil on the scalp as the mainstay treatment for male pattern hair loss, although exactly how it works is still not fully understood (Suchonwanit 2019). It is better at holding on to hair and thickening thin hair than at bringing back hair on a bald patch.

Is the foam or the solution better?

Both have trial evidence at 5%. The choice mostly comes down to your scalp and your routine:

Foam dries faster and is less greasy.
Solution is easier to get to the scalp through longer hair. It contains propylene glycol. When men with an itchy, scaly scalp from the solution were patch tested, propylene glycol was the cause in most cases, not the minoxidil (Friedman 2002).

How long does minoxidil take to work?

Allow about four months of use, twice a day, before you judge it. The foam trial measured its result at 16 weeks, and in the solution trial the men on 5% responded sooner than the men on 2% (Olsen 2002). Some extra shedding in the first weeks is common and settles.

The gain doesn’t keep building. In men followed for about five years, regrowth peaked at around one year and then slowly declined, but stayed above where they started (Olsen 1990).

What happens if you stop?

The effect lasts only while you use it. The pack information says hair gained with minoxidil is usually lost again within a few months of stopping.

How does it compare with the prescription tablets?

A 2022 analysis that pooled 23 studies found the prescription tablets that lower DHT increased hair counts more than minoxidil applied to the scalp (Gupta 2022). They work in a different way, need a prescription and have their own side effects. Our guide to hair loss treatment for men covers each option.

What are the side effects?

Itching, dryness and flaking. These were more common with the 5% solution than the 2% (Olsen 2002).
Unwanted hair on the forehead or face if it runs or gets on your hands.
Rarely, dizziness, a fast heartbeat, chest pain or swollen ankles. Stop and see a doctor if any of these happen.

Don’t use it on a scalp that is red, sore or sunburnt. If you have a heart condition, check with a doctor or pharmacist first.

Is minoxidil safe around pets?

No. It is poisonous to cats and dogs, even in small amounts. A review of 211 cases found pets became ill after a few licks or drops, often from the owner’s skin or pillowcase, and 8 of the 62 cats that showed signs died (Tater 2021). Wash your hands after applying it, let it dry, and keep the bottle shut away.

What about minoxidil tablets?

Minoxidil tablets are a prescription blood pressure medicine. Some doctors prescribe a low dose for hair loss, which is outside the approved use. In a study of 1,404 patients taking a low dose, 15.1% grew extra body or facial hair, 1.7% felt light-headed, 1.3% had fluid retention and 0.9% had a fast heartbeat (Vañó-Galván 2021). The study looked back at patient records and had no comparison group. Whether tablets suit someone is a decision for a doctor.

When should you see a GP?

Hair loss that is sudden, patchy or comes with a sore, itchy or scaly scalp.
Hair loss elsewhere on the body.
You are under 18.
Four to six months of minoxidil has made no difference.

References

This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.