In Vitro Release of Minoxidil From Topical Formulations
November 1987
in “
Archives of Dermatology
”
Studysummary This study found that minoxidil was released 50% less from creams than from lotions, with a similar release profile across different lotion formulations, suggesting a specific vehicle composition for topical use. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The study from 1987 investigated the release of minoxidil from different topical formulations and found that lotions released minoxidil more effectively than creams, with creams showing 50% less release. A lotion with a specific ratio of propylene glycol, water, and ethanol (15:15:70) was recommended for topical application, especially when minoxidil is not available in topical form. The study used a Franz diffusion cell for measuring release and HPLC for analysis, concluding that the one-phase system of lotions facilitated better dissolution and release of minoxidil compared to the two-phase system of creams.
