Treatment of Traction Alopecia with Oral Minoxidil
April 2022
in “
JAAD case reports
”
TLDR Oral minoxidil helped significantly regrow hair in a patient with traction alopecia.
This document is titled "Treatment of traction alopecia with oral minoxidil" and was published on March 31, 2022. Traction alopecia (TA) is a type of hair loss that occurs due to persistent pulling forces on the hair follicles, often caused by tight hairstyles. This condition is most commonly seen in women of African descent. While modifying hair care practices can help reverse TA in its early stages, there is limited data on treatment options for more severe cases. This case report presents a 31-year-old female with TA who experienced significant hair regrowth with oral minoxidil. The patient was started on oral minoxidil 1.25 mg daily along with a topical solution. After 6 months, there was notable regrowth of hair, and the dosage of minoxidil was increased. After 11 months of treatment, there was continued regrowth of hair on the affected scalp. The patient experienced mild side effects but tolerated oral minoxidil well. The response to oral minoxidil suggests that it may be a promising treatment for patients with TA, particularly those with earlier-stage, nonscarring hair loss.