The Role of Minoxidil in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

December 2024 in “ Journal of Clinical Medicine ”

M. Majewski, Karolina Gardaś, Anna Waśkiel‐Burnat, Michał Ordak, Lidia Rudnicka

minoxidil alopecia areata topical minoxidil oral minoxidil Rogaine

From the encyclopedia

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Studysummary This study reported that both 5% topical and oral minoxidil achieved an 82% hair regrowth response rate in alopecia areata patients, but 5% topical minoxidil was more effective than lower concentrations.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of minoxidil as a monotherapy for alopecia areata, analyzing 13 studies with 372 patients. It found that 5% topical minoxidil had an 82% response rate, significantly higher than lower concentrations. Oral minoxidil also showed an 82% response rate, but due to a small sample size, it was not included in the meta-analysis. Despite promising results, the study concluded that there is insufficient data to recommend minoxidil as a first-line treatment for alopecia areata. The study highlighted the need for further research due to limitations such as a small number of studies, lack of long-term data, and variability in study design.

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Research cited in this study

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