Oral minoxidil treatment for hair loss: A review of efficacy and safety
March 2021
in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”
TLDR Oral minoxidil promotes hair growth but may cause side effects; needs monitoring.
This document is a compilation of reviews and studies on the efficacy and safety of oral minoxidil for hair loss treatment. The studies suggest that oral minoxidil can be effective in promoting hair growth, but it also has potential side effects such as fluid retention, weight gain, and cardiovascular issues. The recommended dosage ranges from 0.2mg to 5mg daily, and response to treatment should be monitored within 6 months. The studies also suggest that oral minoxidil can be a viable option for patients who struggle with topical treatments, but it requires careful patient monitoring and medical guidance.
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Cited in this study
research How safe is prescribing oral minoxidil in patients allergic to topical minoxidil?
Oral minoxidil is a reasonably safe alternative for patients allergic to the topical form.
research Combination tofacitinib and oral minoxidil treatment for severe alopecia areata
Tofacitinib and oral minoxidil together effectively regrow hair in severe alopecia areata patients.
research Oral minoxidil improves background hair thickness in lichen planopilaris
Oral minoxidil can increase or maintain hair thickness in most people with lichen planopilaris, with mild side effects.
research Efficacy and safety of very-low-dose oral minoxidil 1.25 mg in male androgenetic alopecia
Low-dose oral minoxidil improves hair growth in male hair loss.
research Treatment of male and female pattern hair loss with sublingual minoxidil: a retrospective case‐series of 64 patients
Sublingual minoxidil effectively treats hair loss with mild side effects.
research Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil for Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Unicenter Descriptive Study of 148 Women
Low-dose oral minoxidil effectively treats female hair loss with good safety.
research Very-low-dose oral minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia: A study with quantitative trichoscopic documentation
Low-dose oral minoxidil improved or stabilized hair loss in some patients, but higher doses may be needed for significant effects.
research Oral minoxidil bio‐activation by hair follicle outer root sheath cell sulfotransferase enzymes predicts clinical efficacy in female pattern hair loss
Minoxidil activation by hair enzymes predicts treatment success for female hair loss.
research Minoxidil 1 mg oral versus minoxidil 5% topical solution for the treatment of female-pattern hair loss: A randomized clinical trial
Oral minoxidil and topical minoxidil 5% both effectively improve female-pattern hair loss with safe side effects.
research Effectiveness and safety of low-dose oral minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia
Low-dose oral minoxidil effectively improves male hair loss with mild side effects.
research Case series of oral minoxidil for androgenetic and traction alopecia: Tolerability & the five C’s of oral therapy
Oral minoxidil helps hair growth, is cost-effective, and mostly well-tolerated.
research Loose anagen hair syndrome: Treatment with systemic minoxidil characterised by marked hair colour change
Minoxidil treatment can reduce hair shedding, increase hair volume, and even change hair color in patients with loose anagen hair syndrome.
research Female pattern hair loss: a pilot study investigating combination therapy with low-dose oral minoxidil and spironolactone
Low-dose oral minoxidil and spironolactone combo effectively reduces hair loss and improves hair density in women.
research Treatment of chronic telogen effluvium with oral minoxidil: A retrospective study
Oral minoxidil effectively reduces hair shedding in women with CTE, with no major side effects.
research Treatment of permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia with low dose oral minoxidil
Low dose oral minoxidil helps regrow hair in permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
research Treatment of monilethrix with oral minoxidil
Oral minoxidil shows promise in treating monilethrix-related hair loss.
research Novel enzymatic assay predicts minoxidil response in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia
New test predicts if hair loss treatment will work.
research Minoxidil: An Underused Vasodilator for Resistant or Severe Hypertension
Minoxidil effectively treats severe hypertension, but watch for side effects.
research Minoxidil: mechanisms of action on hair growth
Minoxidil boosts hair growth by opening potassium channels and increasing cell activity.
research Hypertrichosis in females applying minoxidil topical solution and in normal controls
Minoxidil use increases facial hair growth in females, more in older users.
research Allergic contact dermatitis to topical minoxidil solution: Etiology and treatment
Minoxidil can cause skin allergy; use alternative solvents or treatments if allergic.
research Changes in hair weight and hair count in men with androgenetic alopecia, after application of 5% and 2% topical minoxidil, placebo, or no treatment
Minoxidil increases hair weight and count temporarily in men with hair loss.
research Minoxidil Sulfate Is the Active Metabolite that Stimulates Hair Follicles
Minoxidil sulfate stimulates hair growth.
research Histologic Response to Topically Applied Minoxidil in Male-Pattern Alopecia
Minoxidil can help grow hair and make hair follicles bigger, but it can also cause side effects.
research Dose-response study of topical minoxidil in male pattern baldness
Lowest effective minoxidil concentration is 1%, but 2% works better for male pattern baldness.
research Contact dermatitis to Minoxidil
Minoxidil can cause skin irritation like eczema and rash in some users.
research Topical minoxidil for hair regrowth
5% minoxidil helps hair regrowth in androgenic alopecia.
research Minoxidil Stimulates Cutaneous Blood Flow in Human Balding Scalps: Pharmacodynamics Measured by Laser Doppler Velocimetry and Photopulse Plethysmography
Minoxidil increases blood flow in balding scalps, possibly reversing hair loss.
research Topical Minoxidil in Alopecia Areata
Minoxidil helps hair regrowth in alopecia areata safely.
research Reversal of Baldness in Patient Receiving Minoxidil for Hypertension
Minoxidil helped bald patient regrow hair.
research Treatment of Severe Hypertension with Minoxidil: Advantages and Limitations
Minoxidil effectively controls blood pressure but side effects may limit its use.
Related
research Sisaipho Alopecia Areata Treated With Tofacitinib and Oral Minoxidil
A study explored the treatment of Sisaipho alopecia areata, a rare variant of AA characterized by hair loss on the top of the scalp while sparing the temporal and occipital areas, using tofacitinib and oral minoxidil. The combination of these treatments showed promise in managing this challenging condition, which typically presents as nonscarring hair loss and can be difficult to treat.
research A Survey of Patient Attitudes Towards Topical Minoxidil in the Treatment of Hair Loss
Patients generally have positive attitudes towards using topical Minoxidil for hair loss treatment.
research Comprehensive Review of Oral Minoxidil in Alopecia
research Efficacy of systemic minoxidil and tofacitinib combination in treatment‐resistant alopecia universalis
Using minoxidil and tofacitinib together can effectively treat severe hair loss.
research The Use of Trichoscopy to Assess the Efficacy of Topical Minoxidil 2% Solution in Patients with Female Pattern Hair Loss
research Off-Label Use of Topical Minoxidil in Alopecia: A Review
Minoxidil helps treat eyebrow thinning, monilethrix, early hair loss, and shortens chemo-related hair loss.
research The Efficacy of Topical Minoxidil for Non-Scarring Alopecia: A Systematic Review
Minoxidil is effective in treating various types of hair loss and can improve quality of life, with combination therapies showing increased effectiveness.
research Scalp Psoriasiform Contact Dermatitis with Acute Telogen Effluvium due to Topical Minoxidil Treatment
Minoxidil treatment for hair loss can cause scalp allergy and severe hair loss.