Case Series of Oral Minoxidil for Androgenetic and Traction Alopecia: Tolerability and the Five C’s of Oral Therapy
September 2018
in “
Dermatologic Therapy
”
TLDR Oral minoxidil helps hair growth, is cost-effective, and mostly well-tolerated.
This case series explores the tolerability and adherence rates of oral minoxidil for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and traction alopecia (TA). The study identified 20 patients who were prescribed oral minoxidil, with 80% of them having a primary diagnosis of AGA and 20% with TA. The medication was continued by 78% of patients at reassessment, with 33% reporting decreased hair shedding and 28% reporting increased scalp hair. Hypertrichosis was reported in 39% of patients, but all affected patients continued therapy due to its perceived benefit for their scalp hair. The study concludes that oral minoxidil may be a more convenient and cost-effective alternative to topical minoxidil for some patients.