Comparing Adherence, Side Effects, And Satisfaction In Oral And Topical Minoxidil: A Cross-Sectional Study

January 2025 in “ Journal of Drugs in Dermatology ”

Sonja Kobayashi, Lucy Rose, Abena Minta, Stephanie Trovato, Brittany Dulmage

oral minoxidil topical minoxidil hypertrichosis hair loss Rogaine

TLDR Oral minoxidil is easier to use and more satisfying for hair loss treatment than topical minoxidil.

This study compared adherence, side effects, and satisfaction between oral and topical minoxidil in 50 patients with hair loss. Oral minoxidil users reported greater ease of treatment, better adherence, and higher satisfaction with hair volume and changes, despite a higher incidence of hypertrichosis (48.5% vs 6.25%). No significant increase in systemic side effects was observed with oral minoxidil. The findings suggest oral minoxidil is superior to topical in terms of ease of use and patient satisfaction, highlighting the importance of considering patient experience in treatment plans to improve adherence.

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