“Why Do I Look Like a Monkey”: Woman Shows How Minoxidil Changed Her From Bald to Having Facial Hair

• A content creator shared her shocking hair growth journey after using minoxidil for several months
• The woman documented her transformation from having bald patches to unexpected facial hair growth
• Experts warn about potential side effects when using hair growth treatments incorrectly or using medication off-label

A woman from Gauteng has documented her unexpected journey with a hair growth serum. Content creator @precy_mashamba94, known for sharing personal content on social media, posted a video at the end of April, showing her experience with minoxidil. The footage begins with scenes from January showing her with significant hair loss and bald patches.

In the video, she captioned her journey:

"POV: You gave minoxidil a chance and now you look like a 🐒"

The creator shows the serum-like product she applied, followed by monthly progress pictures. By February, tiny bits of hair had appeared on the sides of her head. March brought more dramatic changes with hair growing along her sideburns.

By April, the transformation was undeniable, but not entirely welcome. The video reveals hair growth across her entire forehead and along the sides of her face. In her post, @precy_mashamba94 expressed concern about discontinuing the treatment, writing that she's scared her hair might fall out if she stops using it.

View the TikTok clip below:

Understanding minoxidil's effects

Minoxidil is a medication that was created for heart health issues but has been recently used for hair growth. It's applied to the scalp to stimulate hair growth in adults experiencing certain types of baldness for different reasons. While the exact method isn't fully understood, the treatment works by increasing blood flow to hair follicles.

The medication is available without prescription in various forms and is meant to be applied directly to the scalp twice daily. Results require several months of consistent use, and any hair growth is maintained only as long as the treatment continues.

Briefly News spoke to medical expert Jayshri Rangasamy regarding Minoxidil and the side effects of using such a medication without a prescription. She stated:

"Minoxidil was originally developed as a treatment for severe hypertension due to its ability to widen blood vessels and lower blood pressure. However, this same vasodilatory action makes off-label use, particularly oral administration, potentially dangerous, as it can lead to cardiovascular side effects like rapid heartbeat, fluid retention, and increased strain on the heart. These risks are especially concerning for individuals with underlying heart conditions, highlighting the importance of medical supervision when using minoxidil off-label."

"In addition to cardiovascular side effects, minoxidil can cause skin irritation, such as redness, itching, or flaking, especially when used topically. It may also lead to unwanted hair growth in areas other than the scalp, headaches, dizziness, and swelling in the hands or feet. Rarely, allergic reactions like rashes or severe itching can occur. You should always consult a medical professional before starting any prescription medication."

The minoxidil dilemma

Many social media users related to @precy_mashamba94's experience, sharing their struggles with the treatment in the comments section.

User MbalentleNkosi confirmed the fears, commenting:

"My cousins and I, we lost the hair 🥺."

Another user, 0909 KELE, shared a similar experience:

"I stopped using it after my hairline fully recovered, having been using it for 7 months. I stopped for 3 months, ahhh!!That minoxidil hair was gone like gone gone gone."

Some users have abandoned minoxidil entirely. Royalty7👑 wrote:

"I prefer my hair growth oil, my hair is coming back... After minoxidil disgraced me."

There were some success stories. Commenter rupza0 offered hope:

"I stopped using it after 6 months, and I'm still okay, it's been a year now."

Raregem pointed out the varied results that different users experience:

"You guys are the rare ones that minoxidil makes excessive hair even on your face 😩😩. I have been using it for six months now and my hairline hasn't recovered fully as yet 🫣🤞🏿"

Other hair-related stories

• Briefly News recently reported on a hairstylist who shared a shocking story about being scammed by a client who paid with counterfeit money and even offered a R100 tip to make the fake payment seem more legitimate.
• In another touching story, Amahle Jaxa revealed the deeply personal reason behind why she chooses to be bald full-time, inspiring many South African women with her incredible journey of self-acceptance.
• A creative entrepreneur named Enoch showed incredible business ingenuity by creating a fully functional barbershop, earning praise from South Africans for his resourcefulness and hustle.

Source: Briefly News