Oral Minoxidil Improves Background Hair Thickness in Lichen Planopilaris

April 2020 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”

Sergio Vano-Galvan, Lara Trindade de Carvalho, David Saceda-Corralo, Ana Rita Rodrigues-Barata, Karolina L. Kerkemeyer, Rodney Sinclair, Ángela Hermosa-Gelbard, Oscar M. Moreno-Arrones, Juan Jimenez-Cauhe, Bevin Bhoyrul

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TLDR Oral minoxidil can increase or maintain hair thickness in most people with lichen planopilaris, with mild side effects.

The retrospective study "Oral minoxidil improves background hair thickness in lichen planopilaris" involved 51 patients (36 women and 15 men) with an average age of 55, who were treated with low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) for at least 6 months. The results indicated that hair thickness improved in 39% of the patients, remained stable in 53%, and worsened in 8%. Patients with diffuse LPP responded better to the treatment than those with patchy LPP. Mild side effects were observed in 37% of the patients, including hypertrichosis, postural hypotension, tachycardia, and weight gain. The study concluded that LDOM can maintain or increase hair thickness in most LPP patients, with a tolerable safety profile.