3 Percent Topical Minoxidil Compared With Placebo for the Treatment of Chronic Severe Alopecia Areata

A study conducted on 21 patients with severe chronic alopecia areata, using a 3 percent topical minoxidil solution applied twice daily for one year, found it to be ineffective. The study, which included 13 women and 8 men aged 19 to 55, showed only transient regrowth of sparse vellus hair in 12 patients, with no significant or cosmetically acceptable results. The mean disease duration among participants was 11.5 years. No significant side effects were observed, except for one case of moderately severe bilateral dermatitis. Overall, the treatment did not prove effective for severe chronic alopecia areata.