Topical Minoxidil Adherence in Patients With Alopecia
February 2023
in “
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology
”
TLDR People who use minoxidil for hair loss often stop within 3.5 months due to lack of improvement, so educating them early on may help them stick with it.
This study aimed to understand the factors associated with adherence to topical minoxidil in patients with alopecia. The researchers surveyed 99 patients at a dermatology clinic and found that adherent patients had been using minoxidil for a median of 24 months, while non-adherent patients used it for a median of 3.5 months before discontinuing. A larger portion of non-adherent patients used minoxidil for fewer than 3 months compared to adherent patients. The most common reason for discontinuation among non-adherent patients was lack of improvement. The study suggests that patient education and intervention before the 3-month mark may help improve adherence to topical minoxidil.
