Social media users brag online that an over-the-counter product can act “like fertilizer for your eyebrows.”
The commonly prescribed drug minoxidil, sold under the brand name Regaine in Britain, has long been available as a treatment for hair loss.
But research also suggests that the drug, which you apply to the scalp daily, can be just as effective at thickening eyebrows.
When used two to three times a week, the drug “significantly” improves eyebrow hair growth, proponents say.
However, other doctors have warned that the treatment is not approved for this use and, ironically, can even cause side effects, including hair loss, if used incorrectly.
In a TikTok that has been viewed 386,000 times, London-based dermatologist Dr. Aamna Adel recommended two percent minoxidil – found in Regaine for Women.
She gave instructions and said, “First we are going to apply some Vaseline to protect the skin around the eyes.
In a TikTok that has been viewed 386,000 times, London-based dermatologist Dr. Aamna Adel urged viewers to apply a 2 percent concentration of minoxidil to get “thick eyebrows.”
In a separate video, which has been viewed more than 1.3 million times, American dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon Dr Neera Nathan said: ‘Get your minoxidil because this is like fertilizer for your eyebrows’
In a Reddit thread with more than 4.1 million members, a user shared images showing the big difference that three months of using 5 percent minoxidil reportedly made
“The last thing we want is thick eyebrows but flaky red skin around them,” she says.
“I use the two percent Regaine, not the five percent (found in Regaine for Men Extra Strength and Regain For Women Extra Strength) because I find it much less irritating.”
In the video, Dr. Adel applies the solution to a mascara wand and then brushes it through her brows in both directions to make sure “every little brow hair is covered.”
She adds: ‘You simply repeat this two to three times a week. It will probably take two to three months before you notice your eyebrows getting thicker.
‘But stay consistent, because it works.’
In a separate video, which has been viewed more than 1.3 million times, American dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon Dr Neera Nathan said: ‘Get your minoxidil because this is like fertilizer for your eyebrows.
‘Make sure you buy the liquid form and then take a clean mascara spoolie (wand) and saturate it with product.
The Harvard-trained dermatologist added: ‘I want you to stop using eyebrow gels or eyebrow waxes as this can actually cause irritation and cause your eyebrow hairs to fall out.
The commonly prescribed drug minoxidil, sold under the brand name Regaine in Britain, has long been known to treat hair loss by increasing blood flow to hair follicles.
The Reddit user, who shared images, wrote: ‘I had given up until I read someone saying they had had success using minoxidil to regrow their eyebrows’
“Instead, use some regular Vaseline to shape your eyebrows.”
And the phenomenon has become so common that forum users also share their experiences of trying the remedy.
In a Reddit thread with over 4.1 million members, someone wrote, “I tried growing them out last year, but there was hardly any growth and they came in super sparsely.
“I had given up until I heard someone say they had success using minoxidil to regrow their eyebrows.”
Images shared on the forum showed the big difference that three months of using 5 percent minoxidil was said to have made.
“I have sensitive skin and use tretinoin and didn’t find the 5 percent too strong,” she added.
Another said: ‘I use five percent minoxidil on my naturally thin eyebrows and I’m telling you it works! It’s been two months now.
‘I’m looking forward to having full, bushy eyebrows in the coming months. I can’t wait.’
A Thai study from 2012which assessed the effectiveness of minoxidil, found it was ‘effective for hair regeneration’ after 16 weeks.
Another 2014 study involved 39 volunteers who were given minoxidil for one eyebrow and a placebo for the other.
To write The Journal of Dermatologyresearchers said that after 16 weeks, “the minoxidil group achieved significantly better results” than the placebo group.
Side effects were also “minor,” they noted, concluding that “minoxidil 2 percent lotion is a safe and effective treatment for eyebrow hypotrichosis.”
However, the NHS advises that minoxidil is only intended to treat hair loss in men and women that has a family history.
It is not intended to treat hair loss caused by other factors, including stress, illness or even iron deficiency.
Users must also take minoxidil for life to have any lasting benefit. The limited research in under-18s means it is not currently recommended for anyone who is not yet an adult.
Possible side effects include skin irritation and, in rare cases, even causing hair loss – the opposite of what it aims to achieve.
Nowhere does Rogaine claim that it is effective or should be used for eyebrows.