Minoxidil in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

    August 2018 in “ Dermatologic Therapy ”
    Andy Goren, Ty Naccarato
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    TLDR Minoxidil helps treat pattern hair loss in both men and women.
    This article reviews the use of minoxidil in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), also known as pattern hair loss. Minoxidil is the only topical drug approved for both male and female pattern hair loss in the US. The article summarizes the findings of pivotal studies used in support of the drug's approval, as well as recent discoveries and novel developments in the use of minoxidil for the treatment of AGA. The article also discusses the sulfotransferase enzymatic assay, which predicts a patient's response to topical minoxidil, and its potential clinical utility. Finally, the article highlights the effect of daily aspirin use on minoxidil response in hair follicles, which is currently being studied.
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      community Being Safe on Oral Minoxidil: tl;dr on the literature.

      in Research/Science  49 upvotes 2 months ago
      Oral minoxidil is effective for hair loss but can cause cardiovascular side effects, such as pericardial effusion, especially in those with genetic predispositions. Starting with low doses and monitoring cardiovascular health are advised to reduce risks.

      community DLQ01: A Better "Minoxidil" PGF2a synthetic analogue.

      in Research/Science  3 upvotes 1 month ago
      DLQ01, a prostaglandin F2α analog, shows promise for hair growth by directly stimulating PGE2/PGF receptors without needing conversion, and can be combined with minoxidil and retinoids like tretinoin for enhanced effectiveness. Minoxidil's efficacy may be reduced by COX-1 inhibitors, but using prostaglandin analogs like Latanoprost or Bimatoprost can help maintain its effectiveness.

      community Painkillers May Block Minoxidil

      in Research/Science  16 upvotes 1 week ago
      Painkillers like Aspirin may reduce Minoxidil's effectiveness by inhibiting the enzyme PGHS-1, which is crucial for hair growth. Using NSAIDs that inhibit COX-2 or combining Minoxidil with PGF2/E2 analogues or retinoids may enhance its efficacy.

      community Microneedling at .25 everyday before applying Min

      in Minoxidil  24 upvotes 2 weeks ago
      Daily microneedling at 0.25mm before applying minoxidil is debated, with some suggesting weekly microneedling is safer and more effective. Concerns include potential skin damage and systemic absorption, while alternatives like tretinoin are considered safer for enhancing minoxidil absorption.

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