Low Dose Oral Minoxidil for the Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss

This document discusses the use of low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) as a treatment for female pattern hair loss (FPHL), particularly in cases where topical treatments are ineffective or not tolerated. A case study of a 63-year-old woman showed an increase in hair density from 98 to 140 hairs per square centimeter after 3 months of taking 1.25 mg of oral minoxidil daily. Although the mean hair diameter slightly decreased, likely due to new hair growth, the treatment was generally well-tolerated, with facial hair growth as a noted side effect. The study suggests that LDOM may promote hair growth by enhancing microcirculation and stimulating growth factors, but emphasizes the need for larger trials to fully understand its efficacy and safety, given the limited number of patients in current studies.