Contact Dermatitis Caused by Topical Minoxidil: Allergy or Just Irritation

    April 2025 in “ Acta Dermato Venereologica ”
    Alexandra Junge, Susanne Radonjic‐Hoesli, Simon Bossart … S. Morteza Seyed Jafari
    Studysummary This review evaluates 21 studies on minoxidil-induced allergic contact dermatitis, finding that some patients with contact dermatitis symptoms like erythema and pruritus are sensitized to minoxidil or its vehicle components and should consider patch testing and alternative formulations for proper management.
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    Research cited in this study 24

    1. Safety of Antiandrogens for the Treatment of Female Androgenetic Alopecia with Respect to Gynecologic Malignancies Journal of clinical medicine · 2024
    2. Medical and Procedural Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia – Where Are We? Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2023
    3. Androgenetic Alopecia: An Update JAAD International · 2023
    4. Identification of Trichoscopic Features of Allergic Scalp Contact Dermatitis: A Pilot Study of a Single Center Italian journal of dermatology and venereology · 2023
    5. Compliance to Topical Minoxidil and Reasons for Discontinuation Among Patients With Androgenetic Alopecia Dermatology and therapy · 2023
    6. Acute Localized Exanthematous Pustulosis Caused by Topical Application of Minoxidil Journal of Clinical Medicine · 2023
    7. A Case of Contact Allergic Dermatitis to Topical Minoxidil Cureus · 2021
    8. How Safe Is Prescribing Oral Minoxidil in Patients Allergic to Topical Minoxidil? Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2020
    9. Common Allergens Identified Based on Patch Test Results in Patients with Suspected Contact Dermatitis of the Scalp Skin appendage disorders · 2016
    10. Scalp Psoriasiform Contact Dermatitis with Acute Telogen Effluvium Due to Topical Minoxidil Treatment Skin appendage disorders · 2015
    11. Patch Testing in Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Minoxidil Dermatitis · 2010
    12. Fatal Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Associated With Minoxidil Pharmacotherapy · 2009
    13. Videodermoscopy Does Not Enhance Diagnosis of Scalp Contact Dermatitis Due to Topical Minoxidil International Journal of Trichology · 2009
    14. Pustular Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Topical Minoxidil 5% JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · 2007
    15. Positive Lymphocyte Transformation Test in a Patient with Allergic Contact Dermatitis of the Scalp After Short-Term Use of Topical Minoxidil Solution Contact Dermatitis · 2005
    16. Minoxidil: Mechanisms of Action on Hair Growth British Journal of Dermatology · 2004
    17. Sensitization to Saw Palmetto and Minoxidil in Separate Topical Extemporaneous Treatments for Androgenetic Alopecia Australasian Journal of Dermatology · 2002
    18. Pigmented Contact Dermatitis from Topical Minoxidil 5% Contact Dermatitis · 2002
    19. Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Topical Minoxidil Solution: Etiology and Treatment Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2002
    20. Pustular Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Minoxidil Contact Dermatitis · 1998
    21. Penetration of Minoxidil from Ethanol/Propylene Glycol Solutions: Effect of Application Volume and Occlusion Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences · 1995
    22. Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Minoxidil Contact Dermatitis · 1995
    23. Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Minoxidil Contact Dermatitis · 1992
    24. Minoxidil-Induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Archives of internal medicine · 1981

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