A Comparative Study Between the Efficacy and Safety of 5% Minoxidil Solution and 5% Minoxidil Milky Lotion in the Treatment of Male Androgenic Alopecia

In a study conducted 6 years ago, 20 males with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) were treated with either 5% minoxidil solution or 5% minoxidil milky lotion to compare their efficacy and safety. The mean age of the subjects was 43.5 years. After 8 weeks, the hair density increased by 8.8% in the minoxidil solution group and 37.4% in the minoxidil milky lotion group, a statistically significant difference (p = 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the two treatments at the 16 and 24 week visits. Only one case of mild irritation was reported in the minoxidil milky lotion group. The study concluded that both formulations were effective and safe for treating male AGA. The 5% minoxidil milky lotion, which uses butylene glycol instead of propylene glycol, could be an alternative treatment for propylene glycol-sensitive patients.