Comparing Compliance, Side Effects, and Satisfaction in Oral and Topical Minoxidil

September 2024 in “ Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ”

Sonja Kobayashi, Salvatore C. Trovato, Brittany Dulmage

oral minoxidil topical minoxidil hair loss treatment hypertrichosis Rogaine

TLDR Oral minoxidil is easier to use and more satisfying for hair loss treatment but may cause more unwanted hair growth.

A study comparing oral and topical minoxidil for hair loss treatment surveyed 35 patients and found that oral minoxidil led to greater ease of use, higher compliance, and increased satisfaction with hair volume and changes. While side effects were generally similar, oral minoxidil had a higher incidence of hypertrichosis (52.4% vs 7.15%). The study suggests that oral minoxidil is superior in terms of compliance and satisfaction, without increasing systemic side effects, and recommends considering patient experience when choosing treatment plans.

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community switched from topical to oral minoxidil (topical mixed with water) 3 months ago and aside from being much easier i’ve also had much more density overall. My results aren’t even finished yet!

in Progress Pictures 2 years ago

This user discussed using oral minoxidil as a hair loss treatment, and was cautioned against mixing topical minoxidil with water and drinking it due to potential side effects and risks. Other users shared their concerns about the dangers of self-prescribing medications without consulting a doctor.

community What's "wrong" with oral minoxidil, exactly?

in Minoxidil 173 upvotes 1 month ago

Oral minoxidil can boost hair growth but may cause side effects like heart palpitations and increased body hair. Many prefer topical minoxidil due to fewer side effects.

community Topical Minoxidil is a pain in the ass for diffuse thinners

in Minoxidil 95 upvotes 1 year ago

Topical minoxidil being a difficult product to apply, with users considering finasteride, RU58841, and oral minoxidil as alternative treatments for diffuse thinning hair. Other advice includes shaving the head in the first 3 months of using minoxidil and finding ways to apply it without saturating the hair.

community Physician here AMA – 30M oral Fin 1-1.25 mg daily

in Update 47 upvotes 2 years ago

Hair loss treatments, specifically the use of finasteride, microneedling and potentially oral minoxidil. People discussed their experiences with finasteride, its effects on sexual behaviors, as well as potential solutions such as tadalafil or using other growth factor signal peptides for hope in curing male pattern baldness.

community 2022 Official beginner guide for "I'm losing my hair, what can I do?"

in STARTER GUIDE 686 upvotes 2 years ago

Hair loss treatments include Finasteride, Minoxidil, Ketoconazole shampoo, and Microneedling. Additional options are Dutasteride, oral Minoxidil, and hair transplants.

community Minoxidil seems logistically impossible and impractical to use

in Minoxidil 136 upvotes 1 year ago

The post discusses concerns about the practicality of using Minoxidil foam for hair loss, including the frequency of application, preparation, coverage area, and drying time. Responses suggest that missing a dose isn't detrimental, it can be applied once a day, it works on all hair areas, and it doesn't need to be perfectly dry before application.

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