Generalized Hypertrichosis After Treatment With Topical Minoxidil
March 1994
in “
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
”
TLDR Too much topical minoxidil can cause excessive hair growth, but stopping treatment reverses it.
This article reports a case of a 16-year-old girl who developed generalized hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth) three months after applying topical minoxidil for treatment of diffuse alopecia in doses greater than that prescribed. Hypertrichosis is a common side-effect of oral minoxidil treatment for hypertension, but it is uncommon after treatment with topical minoxidil for alopecia, and normally only occurs in areas close to the site of application. The abnormal hair gradually diminished and disappeared four months after discontinuing treatment. The article concludes that an excess of topical minoxidil can induce a generalized hypertrichosis in certain patients, which is reversible after discontinuing treatment.
