Minoxidil and Babies: Can I hold an infant if I use minoxidil?

Minoxidil Transfer to Babies: Can I hold the baby or not?

I am often asked if there is any problem with holding a baby if an adult has used minoxidil. The answer for 99.5% of the cases is - not a problem at all! The answer for 0.5 % of the cases is maybe. Of course, whether a person fits in the 99.5 % group of the 0.5 % group may need a bit of review.

The reality is that unless the baby is repeatedly coming into contact with freshly applied minoxidil (daily for more than 3 weeks) and eating the hair or chewing on the hair or touching the hair ( and then putting the fingers in the his or her mouth), the reality is that parents can be parents, grandparents can be grandparents, aunts can be aunts and uncles can be uncles. People who want to hold the baby … can …. hold the baby!

Common sense is Always Needed

Common sense is always a good thing. Applying fresh minoxidil to the scalp and then going to play with the baby who enjoys tugging on the hair is not a problem if it’s a single time event. But if this is the play routine for days and weeks on end, there is going to be transfer of minoxidil into the baby. Is it a problem if minoxidil gets into the baby? Well, the answer is that for most babies, the main thing that will happen is that there will be increased hair noted on various parts of the body, especially the back.

We need to keep in mind that tiny tiny bits of minoxidil are not advised for babies - but usually not a problem. Mom’s can even breastfeed babies while themselves using minoxidil. A small amount of minoxidil might be transferred to the baby - without consequence. I realize that every pharmacy leaflet and most pharmacists and many physicians advise against using minoxidil while breastfeeding - but the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Dermatology state that it is not unsafe.

Readers will be interested in a wonderful article from 2014 called “Piggyback acquired hypertrichosis.” The authors described a 9 month only girl who developed increased hair growth on the body. Increased hair growth in this manner is known by the medical term ‘hypertrichosis.’ It was discovered that the grandfather was using minoxidil and propping the baby on the shoulders for 1 hour or more daily for an extended number of weeks and months. When the mystery was solved - and minoxidil was removed from the baby’s environment - the hair went back to normal.

Small amount of minoxidil - occasionally - are not generally a problem. Hold the baby!

REFERENCE

Farsani TT et al. Piggyback-acquired hypertrichosis. Pediatr Dermatol. 2014 Jul-Aug;31(4):520-2. doi: 10.1111/pde.12329. Epub 2014 Jun 11.