Diffuse hypertrichosis during treatment with 5% topical minoxidil
January 1997
in “British Journal of Dermatology”
TLDR 5% topical minoxidil can cause severe body hair growth, which disappears after stopping treatment.
The study reports on five women with androgenetic alopecia who developed severe hypertrichosis of the face and limbs after 2-3 months of treatment with 5% topical minoxidil. Minoxidil was discontinued and in all patients the hypertrichosis disappeared from the face and arms after 1-3 months, and from legs after 4-5 months. Systemic absorption of minoxidil, and a high sensitivity to minoxidil of the follicular apparatus in these areas, is hypothesized. The study suggests that 5% topical minoxidil treatment may induce diffuse hypertrichosis due to both systemic absorption of the drug and hypersensitivity of the hair follicle.
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