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
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    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.
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