# Mahidol University trial: 3% minoxidil raised beard and mustache density by 15–17% in 69 trans men

- Published: 2026-11-12 07:07 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Medicine
- Tags: minoxidil beard, 3% minoxidil trial, facial hair density, Mahidol University study, testosterone therapy trans men, randomized placebo-controlled trial, Journal of Dermatological Treatment, off-label minoxidil
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-7a472ada37c339065d968b41_mahidol_university_trial/

**In a 12-week placebo-controlled trial in Bangkok, twice-daily 3% minoxidil thickened facial hair in trans men on testosterone therapy. No serious side effects were reported.**

![Mahidol University trial: 3% minoxidil raised beard and mustache density by 15–17% in 69 trans men](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/72c36d76d4dec1bb.png)
*Поиск*

Researchers at Mahidol University in Bangkok tested topical minoxidil on facial hair in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, according to Poisk. After 12 weeks, mustache hair density rose by about 17% and beard density by about 15% from baseline in the minoxidil group [1].

The results were published in The Journal of Dermatological Treatment [1].

## Trial design and results

The trial enrolled 69 trans men receiving testosterone therapy, some of whom had insufficient facial hair despite treatment. Participants were randomly split into two groups. The first, 34 people, applied a 3% minoxidil solution to the face twice a day, and the other 35 used a placebo. Neither participants nor the researchers working with them knew who received the active drug [1].

By week eight, the beard and mustache of the minoxidil group were visibly thicker than in the control group. Many participants also reported greater satisfaction with their appearance and better quality of life [1].

Some participants had itching, redness and skin peeling, but the researchers recorded no serious side effects. Blood pressure stayed stable throughout. This matters because minoxidil dilates blood vessels, and if enough of it reaches the bloodstream, dizziness, low blood pressure and palpitations are theoretically possible [1].

## Limits and background

Minoxidil was developed in the 1970s to treat high blood pressure. Doctors noticed increased hair growth in patients, which led to a topical form approved in the US in 1988 for hair loss in men and later extended to women [1].

The authors suggest testosterone may have enhanced the drug's effect, so the results cannot automatically be extended to all men. A 2016 study reported that 3% minoxidil improved beard growth compared with placebo. In 2024, researchers described identical twins, one of whom applied 5% minoxidil to the beard area for over a year. After 16 months he had more and denser facial hair, but a comparison of two people does not allow firm conclusions [1].

Research on minoxidil for beard growth is at an early stage. The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for use on the face, although some doctors prescribe it off label. The authors consider it a possible additional option for trans men whose hormone therapy did not produce the desired growth. Specialists of the American Academy of Dermatology warn that applying it to the face on one's own can cause marked skin irritation and recommend consulting a dermatologist first [1].

## Sources

1. [Поиск](https://poisknews.ru/biologiya/preparat-ot-davleniya-neozhidanno-okazalsya-sredstvom-dlya-rosta-borody-teper-eto-podtverdili-issledovaniya)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-7a472ada37c339065d968b41_mahidol_university_trial/