Can I Use Rogaine on my Eyebrows?
Eyebrows. They seem to be either a blessing or a curse. From elderly men with eyebrows that grow long and wild, to elderly women who often lose their eyebrows entirely, most of us are somewhere in between.
Reduction of eyebrow hair can be a normal part of the aging process for women. However, there are also a few medical conditions that can cause loss of the lateral part of the eyebrows, called madarosis. Madarosis can be seen with thyroid disease, autoimmune disorders, leprosy and much more. Most of the time it is just a normal part of the aging process. To learn more about madarosis check this link. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3358936/?report=printable
No matter the reason eyebrows are thinning, help is on the way! Recently a friend asked me about using Rogaine on the eyebrows. On a quick google search I saw lots of conflicting opinions from Board Certified Dermatologists and others. So, here’s my opinion based on facts. Rogaine is a great product with proven safety and efficacy for treating hair loss on the scalp. The risks with Rogaine are irritation of the skin and excessive growth of hairs beyond the area where you want them. For this reason, if using Rogaine on the eyebrows I recommend using a q tip to apply directly to the brow. If you develop irritation or discoloration, stop use. It’s as simple as that. Expect to take a few months to be impressed, but as long as the hair follicles are intact and not scarred, it should work great. Rogaine is available OTC in 2% and 5%. Both strengths are fine. Most of the scientific studies I saw were with the lower strength.
In addition to Rogaine, Latisse is another great option. Latisse was discovered when patients using eye drops developed extra long eyelashes. It is now available as a topical to “paint” along the base of the eyelashes to encourage eyelash growth. This is also a very good, safe and effective product. It used to be much more expensive than Rogaine, but thanks to a generic, it is much more affordable now. As with Rogaine, if you develop irritation or discoloration, simply stop using it. Latisse is available by prescription only.
As a recap, both products are safe and effective. There probably is a higher risk of irritation with Rogaine, but it is very minimal if you apply it only on the eyebrow area and not other areas of the eyelid. I have done both myself in the past, but generally my brows are pretty good, so it is not something that I do on a regular basis.
I’m a science girl, MD PhD, so when there is disagreement amongst experts, I turn to the real scientific studies. I did find an article that compared use of Rogaine and Latisse on the eyebrows, and if you’re into hard core science you can read it HERE ( LINK PLEASE to https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10514173/pdf/403_2023_Article_2679.pdf) They were equally effective and safe. So, if you’re having trouble with thinning eyebrows, go ahead and start your choice product today.
