Indications, Efficacy, and Side Effects of Oral Minoxidil: An Integrative Review
January 2023
in “
Revista Eletrônica Acervo Saúde
”
Studysummary This integrative literature review found that oral Minoxidil is a favorable alternative for individuals intolerant to topical application, effectively treating various forms of alopecia, though side effects like increased hair growth and minor dermatological reactions are noted. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The integrative review analyzed the indications, efficacy, and side effects of oral Minoxidil, using 15 articles from various databases. Oral Minoxidil is an effective alternative for individuals intolerant to topical application, showing efficacy in treating various types of alopecia, including androgenetic, areata, traction, fibrosing frontal, and others. In men, it is particularly effective for androgenetic, areata, cicatricial alopecia, and telogen effluvium. A notable side effect is hypertrichosis, or increased hair growth. Low doses are considered safe for healthy individuals, with adverse reactions such as dermatitis, itching, scalp flaking, sodium and water retention, and weight gain, though serious side effects are rare.
