Use of 5% Topical Minoxidil Application for Telogen Effluvium: An Open-Label Single-Arm Clinical Trial

July 2025 in “ The Journal of Dermatology ”

Manabu Ohyama, Ryokichi Irisawa, M Uchiyama, Miho Mori, K Aoki, Yuto Ueda, Toru Fujita

minoxidil telogen effluvium topical minoxidil hair shedding terminal hair count Rogaine

TLDR 5% topical minoxidil may help reduce hair loss and increase hair growth in telogen effluvium.

A clinical trial investigated the use of 5% topical minoxidil for treating telogen effluvium (TE), a form of hair loss often linked to COVID-19. The study involved 12 Japanese participants (3 men and 9 women) who applied the lotion twice daily for 24 weeks. Results showed a significant increase in terminal hair count and a reduction in hair shedding, with nearly 70% of subjects showing improvement. Both investigators and participants reported notable improvements by week 24, with minimal adverse effects. Despite the small sample size and the self-healing nature of TE, the study suggests that topical minoxidil could be a safe and reassuring option for managing TE, although it is an off-label use.

View this study on onlinelibrary.wiley.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

16 / 16 results

Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil and Associated Adverse Events: Analyses of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System With a Focus on Pericardial Effusions

research Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil and Associated Adverse Events: Analyses of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System With a Focus on Pericardial Effusions

September 2024 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

Low-dose oral minoxidil can cause serious side effects like heart issues, so use the lowest effective dose.

research Recent Advances in Understanding of the Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management of Hair Loss Diseases

May 2023 in “Journal of Clinical Medicine”

New understanding and treatments for hair loss are improving, but more research is needed.

Management of Hair Loss After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: Insight Into the Pathophysiology With Implication for Better Management

research Management of Hair Loss After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: Insight Into the Pathophysiology With Implication for Better Management

7 citations, May 2022 in “The Journal of Dermatology”

Hair loss is a frequent long-term effect of COVID-19, and oral minoxidil is the most common effective treatment.

research Oral Minoxidil Use in Androgenetic Alopecia and Telogen Effluvium

3 citations, March 2022 in “Archives of Dermatological Research”

research Telogen Effluvium: A Review of the Science and Current Obstacles

23 citations, January 2021 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

The document concludes that we need more research to understand Telogen Effluvium and find effective treatments.

research Telogen Effluvium: A Review of the Literature

40 citations, May 2020 in “Cureus”

The conclusion is that treatments for Telogen Effluvium exist, but standard treatment guidelines are needed.

research Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Male-Pattern and Female-Pattern Hair Loss, 2017 Version

36 citations, June 2018 in “Journal of Dermatology”

Use finasteride, dutasteride, and minoxidil for hair loss treatment.

research Treatment of Chronic Telogen Effluvium with Oral Minoxidil: A Retrospective Study

40 citations, September 2017 in “F1000Research”

Oral minoxidil effectively reduces hair shedding in women with CTE, with no major side effects.

research Hair Shedding in Women: How Much Is Too Much?

32 citations, April 2015 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

The hair shedding scale accurately identifies abnormal hair shedding in women with long hair, with grades 5 and 6 indicating excessive shedding.

research Telogen Effluvium: A Review

70 citations, January 2015 in “Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research”

Hair loss from Telogen Effluvium usually gets better within 6 months after addressing the cause.

research Telogen Effluvium: A Review of Acute and Chronic Forms

67 citations, January 2013 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology”

Chronic Telogen Effluvium may resolve after years and is diagnosed by examining the patient's history and clinical signs, with treatment aimed at underlying causes and possibly minoxidil.

research Hair Evaluation Methods: Merits and Demerits

91 citations, January 2009 in “International Journal of Trichology”

Different hair evaluation methods have their own pros and cons, and using multiple methods together is best for accurate hair loss diagnosis and tracking.

research Burden of Hair Loss: Stress and the Underestimated Psychosocial Impact of Telogen Effluvium and Androgenetic Alopecia

162 citations, August 2004 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Hair loss causes stress and affects mental health; treatment and support needed.

research Effect of Minoxidil on Proliferation and Apoptosis in Dermal Papilla Cells of Human Hair Follicle

149 citations, April 2004 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

Minoxidil boosts hair growth by increasing cell production and survival.

research Minoxidil: Mechanisms of Action on Hair Growth

397 citations, February 2004 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Minoxidil boosts hair growth by opening potassium channels and increasing cell activity.

research Telogen Effluvium: A Comprehensive Review

214 citations, March 1993 in “Archives of Dermatology”

Telogen effluvium is a reversible hair loss condition that requires a detailed diagnosis and often resolves on its own.

Related Research

7 / 7 results

research Continued Year-On-Year Improvement in Hair Density With Systemic Minoxidil in Women With Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Case Series

March 2025 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Systemic minoxidil improves hair density in women with female pattern hair loss over time.

research Role Of Oral Minoxidil In The Treatment Of Androgenetic Alopecia

February 2024 in “Cosmoderma”

Low-dose oral minoxidil can help treat male and female pattern hair loss, especially in those who can't use topical treatments or have heart health issues.

A Pilot Split-Scalp Study of Combined Fractional Radiofrequency Microneedling and 5% Topical Minoxidil in Treating Male Pattern Hair Loss

research A Pilot Split-Scalp Study of Combined Fractional Radiofrequency Microneedling and 5% Topical Minoxidil in Treating Male Pattern Hair Loss

25 citations, June 2018 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

Combined microneedling and minoxidil improves hair growth more than minoxidil alone.

research 5% Minoxidil: Treatment for Female Pattern Hair Loss

8 citations, March 2015 in “PubMed”

5% minoxidil foam effectively treats female hair loss.

research Androgenetic Alopecia in Adolescents

12 citations, February 2003 in “PubMed”

research Effect of Minoxidil on Hair Growth in Androgenic Alopecia in Women

1 citations, September 2002 in “PubMed”

Minoxidil helps stimulate hair growth and reduce hair loss in women with androgenic alopecia.

research A Randomized Trial of Minoxidil in Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

127 citations, July 1996 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Minoxidil shortens baldness from chemotherapy by 50.2 days without significant side effects.