Do botanical oils actually improve absorption in a minoxidil and finasteride topical?
    8/1/2026

    From the encyclopedia
    Minoxidil →

    An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

    Finasteride →

    Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

    Azelaic Acid →

    acid used for antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-androgenic properties

    At a glance
    In this question or advice post, the primary subjects mentioned are
    💧 Minoxidil (topical) 5%
    💧 Finasteride (topical) 0.1%
    💧 Azelaic Acid (topical) 7%
    💧 Caffeine (topical) 0.1%
    💧 Oil Blend (topical) 8%
    the tone is 😐 neutral.

    Other terms

    A user is using a pharmacy-compounded topical treatment for hair loss containing minoxidil, finasteride, azelaic acid, caffeine, and an oil blend including argan, jojoba, castor, rosemary, tea tree, and nettle oils. They are questioning if the oil blend improves absorption of the active ingredients compared to a simple alcohol/propylene glycol solution.
    View this post in the Community →

    Similar Community Posts Join

    5 / 5 results

      community Topical solution recommendation

      in Treatment  2 upvotes 1 year ago
      The user is using finasteride 1mg every other day and seeks a topical solution excluding minoxidil. They are considering various combinations of ingredients like finasteride, dutasteride, and tofacitinib, with options for nourishing oils and other additives.

      community Topical solution recommendation

      in Product  1 upvotes 1 year ago
      The user is using finasteride 1mg every other day and seeks a topical solution to complement it, excluding minoxidil. They are considering various combinations of ingredients like finasteride, dutasteride, and tofacitinib, with options for nourishing oils and other additives.

      community Adding caffeine to topical minoxidil

       4 upvotes 1 year ago
      Adding caffeine to topical minoxidil is unlikely to enhance its effectiveness, with most users agreeing it has minimal impact. The main treatments discussed are minoxidil and finasteride, with some users adding other ingredients like azelaic acid and retinol.

      community Results of 2 years of topical Fin + Min

      in Progress Pictures  15 upvotes 1 year ago
      The user is pleased with the hair growth results after using a topical treatment containing Minoxidil, Finasteride, azelaic acid, retinol, and caffeine for two years. The treatment was applied once daily before sleep.

      community Is this solution unnecessarily aggresive?

      in Product  2 upvotes 8 months ago
      The solution contains minoxidil, finasteride, azelaic acid, caffeine, retinoic acid, and procapil. Users suggest minoxidil with tretinoin and a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, while dismissing retinoic and azelaic acids as unnecessary.

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