Oral Minoxidil in Trichology: A Review

Oral minoxidil, originally an antihypertensive drug, has been found to promote hair growth and is used in treating various hair loss disorders such as androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, traction alopecia, and others. The exact mechanism of action and efficacy of oral minoxidil in these disorders remains undetermined. Side effects are generally mild and comparable to topical minoxidil, but patients should be monitored for blood pressure and heart rate. The document reviews various studies that have found oral minoxidil to be effective in treating different types of hair loss, with one study involving 148 women and another comparing 1mg oral minoxidil to 5% topical solution. However, the quality of evidence is low and high-quality studies are needed before advocating the use of oral minoxidil in hair disorders.