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Over 90% of users saw increased regrowth or reduced hair loss in clinical trials
Maybe you bought a bottle of minoxidil (aka Rogaine®) a few months or even years ago when you first started noticing hair thinning. Now, it’s just collecting dust under your bathroom sink. You’re ready to try it again — and this time stick with it — but first, you need to know: Does minoxidil expire?
We’re glad you asked.
Minoxidil has an expiration date. But if you’re using it as intended (you diligent man), it shouldn’t expire because you’ll have used it all before the expiry date.
Here, we’ll discuss minoxidil expiration dates and the subtle difference between expiration and shelf life. We’ll also go over what to do with expired minoxidil and touch on the types of minoxidil products (because if you’re Googling questions about the expiration date, it might be time for a fresh bottle).
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Yes, minoxidil does expire. If you’ve looked closely at almost any product in your medicine cabinet, including your minoxidil bottle, you’ll notice an expiration date marked on it. This is the last day (or month) the manufacturer guarantees full potency and safety of a medication.
The expiration date will, of course, depend on when you bought your minoxidil. It can also vary by brand and formula (liquid solution versus foam).
An expiration date ensures a product is used before it’s no longer safe or effective. Expiration dates exist on most medication labels, including prescriptions, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and supplements.
You may also find expiration dates on shampoos and skin care products, though cosmetics aren’t required to have these labels.
Topical minoxidil may feel more like a haircare product than the FDA-approved medication it is — but it is a drug, and it does expire.
As a rough estimate, you can expect minoxidil foam and liquid to have a shelf life of about two years. (Shelf life is how long a product will last, whereas the expiration date is an actual month and year.) Oral minoxidil usually expires after six months.
If you have our topical minoxidil solution, for instance, the expiration date is etched on the bottom of the box below the lot number or on the back of the bottle. It’s written as a year and a month (such as 2025/July).
Generally speaking, the expiration date is stamped on the outer packaging of minoxidil and on the product itself. The exact placement varies among brands and products, but it shouldn’t be hard to find (you may have to flip the box or product over to see its underside).
If you’re using minoxidil as prescribed (twice a day for the foam and solution and once a day for the pill), your supply should last about a month.
But if you go on vacation and forget to bring your minoxidil or just skip a few days (it happens to the best of us), it’s fine to use the product into the next month, as long as it hasn’t expired.
As noted, unopened topical minoxidil should last about two years, but — we’re going to sound like a broken record here — check the expiration on your bottle.
Here’s where things get tricky, though: The expiration date refers to the length of time a product lasts before it’s opened. Once opened and exposed to oxygen, light, or bacteria (for example, if you dip your fingers into it), topical products begin to degrade.
If you examine a shampoo bottle or other cosmetic product, you’ll likely see a small open jar symbol with a number and the letter M inside it. This “open jar label” is the period after opening (PAO) — or the amount of time you can reasonably expect it to stay good after it’s been open. The M stands for months, so if it says 12M, the product will be good for a year after opening.
Minoxidil doesn’t typically have a PAO label, but it’s still an important factor to keep in mind. If you know you’ll only use the product sporadically, you may want to note when you opened it (you can write it on the bottle in permanent marker if that helps).
There’s no hard-and-fast guideline, but generally, products like serums or shampoos last anywhere from 12 to 18 months.
Aerosol products may last longer because they’re not exposed to air. Opened minoxidil should be stable (okay to use) for about a year, but check with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns or questions.
So, you dust off your minoxidil and find that it’s expired. What happens if you use expired minoxidil? Probably nothing — and we mean that in the most literal sense. It won’t do anything for your hair.
It can be tempting to overlook a product’s expiration date, especially with something topical.
Here’s what to consider before using expired minoxidil:
It may not work as well (or at all). As anyone who’s ever used expired sunscreen knows, expired drugs and products just don’t work — and there’s no point in wasting time with a hair loss treatment that doesn’t do what it’s supposed to.
It could be risky. Using expired minoxidil is probably not dangerous per se, but it does carry risks. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) notes that “expired medical products can be less effective or risky due to a change in chemical composition or a decrease in strength.”
It could lead to more or worse side effects. In more extreme cases, a drug past its expiry date can “yield toxic compounds” that cause an increased risk of side effects, including scalp irritation or redness.
FDA approval is based on the expiration date. As mentioned, minoxidil is FDA-approved, and the FDA does rigorous testing to prove a medication’s expiration date. For that reason, you’re wise to take it seriously.
We touched on this briefly, but a medication or product’s shelf life is the span of time it is stable (unopened) from the date of manufacturing. You’ll need to check the expiration date on your specific product, but minoxidil’s shelf life is about two years.
One recent study found that compounded minoxidil (the active ingredient combined with other hair loss drugs or supplements, like finasteride or saw palmetto) has a beyond-use date of 120 and 150 days. The beyond-use date (or BUD) is the last date you can safely use a compounded medication.
Though you may not be able to tell the exact shelf life of a product, the expiration date gives you the information you need. But remember, this date may shift if you don’t store the product properly.
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Minoxidil should be stored at room temperature (between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit) in an upright position and protected from light. So, if you accidentally leave your minoxidil bottle in your car on a hot day, it may expire sooner.
Be aware of any changes to the formula’s texture, smell, or color, which can indicate that a product has begun to degrade. If you think something’s off, seek medical advice before using it.
It’s easy to forget that topical minoxidil is a drug because it feels so cosmetic, like mousse or hair gel. But minoxidil is a medication, so it should be disposed of with care once it expires.
Topical minoxidil is not on the FDA’s flush list (a list of expired medications that should be flushed down the toilet). The best thing to do with topical minoxidil is take it to a drug take-back location.
If that seems like a bridge too far (we get it, errands are tough), the FDA says it’s okay to throw it in the trash. You might be able to recycle the container if you empty it first.
Even with all the research available on its efficacy, the way minoxidil works isn’t entirely understood. We know it’s a vasodilator, meaning it widens blood vessels, including those that bring oxygen and blood flow to the scalp.
The effect seems to increase the diameter of hair follicles and extend the anagen (growing) phase of the hair growth cycle. This helps slow down hair loss and potentially even promotes hair regrowth.
When it’s not expired, minoxidil is a highly effective treatment for hair loss with minimal side effects.
How long before minoxidil starts working? Our blog has answers.
Googling “does minoxidil expire?” Sounds like it’s time for a new bottle (no judgment).
Minoxidil is available in oral and topical forms. In its topical form, it’s approved by the FDA for treating male pattern baldness (and is often prescribed off-label for oral use).
We offer the following minoxidil treatments:
Our topical minoxidil products are over-the-counter, and the oral chews require a prescription following an online consultation with a healthcare provider.
If your minoxidil is expired and you want to try something new, consider finasteride. This is the only drug other than topical minoxidil that’s FDA-approved for treating male pattern baldness.
It works by slowing the conversion of testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the hormone largely responsible for male pattern baldness (aka androgenetic alopecia). That’s the three-second version, but if you’re interested in learning more, check out our guide to finasteride.
We offer finasteride following a consultation with a healthcare provider who’ll determine if a prescription is right for your needs.
You can also find it in our topical finasteride & minoxidil spray. These are just a handful of our products, and our free hair quiz can help you figure out your best options.
Pop quiz: Does Rogaine expire? Ding ding! Yes, minoxidil has a shelf life.
Here are a few key points to remember:
Topical minoxidil typically has a shelf life of two to three years, and oral minoxidil usually lasts about six months.
It’s crucial to check the expiration date before use to ensure minoxidil’s effectiveness. (The FDA requires the expiration date to be written on the outer packaging and the product’s label, so it should be easy to spot).
There’s a difference between the expiration date and “period after opening.” The latter is how long a topical product stays stable once opened. There are no established guidelines, but generally, topical minoxidil should be good for about a year after opening.
Common signs of expired Minoxidil include changes in color, consistency, or smell, which can indicate it’s no longer safe or effective.
Topical minoxidil is available without a prescription. But if you’re interested in one of our prescription medications, make a virtual appointment with a healthcare professional or dermatologist to learn more about hair loss causes and treatments.
Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. See a mistake? Let us know at [email protected]!
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
Dr. Knox Beasley is a board certified dermatologist specializing in hair loss. He completed his undergraduate studies at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, and subsequently attended medical school at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA.
Dr. Beasley first began doing telemedicine during his dermatology residency in 2013 with the military, helping to diagnose dermatologic conditions in soldiers all over the world.
Dr. Beasley is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Originally from Nashville, TN, Dr. Beasley currently lives in North Carolina and enjoys spending time outdoors (with sunscreen of course) with his wife and two children in his spare time.
Bachelor of Science, Life Sciences. United States Military Academy.
Doctor of Medicine. Tulane University School of Medicine
Dermatology Residency. San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium
Board Certified. American Board of Dermatology
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