Hereditary Androgenetic Alopecia and Minoxidil

In a double-blind trial, 56 patients with androgenetic hereditary male pattern alopecia were treated with either 2% or 3% minoxidil or a vehicle for 12 months. The patients' bald patches were studied before and at monthly intervals during treatment. 32% of patients had hair regrowth that was classified as good to excellent. The patients who tended to show improvement had smaller diameter of baldness, shorter duration of baldness and had > 100 indeterminate hairs in the bald patch at treatment onset. Age and strength of minoxidil solution did not affect hair regrowth. No major side effects were reported.