Efficacy and Safety of Oral Minoxidil Compared to Topical Form in Male Pattern Hair Loss

A randomized controlled trial with 42 male participants with androgenetic alopecia compared the efficacy and safety of oral minoxidil (2.5 mg daily) to topical minoxidil (5% solution daily) over 6 months. The study found that oral minoxidil significantly increased hair thickness, counts, and density in both frontal and vertex areas compared to topical minoxidil. Additionally, the oral minoxidil group experienced increased anagen rates and density, and decreased telogen and vellus rates, while the topical group did not show significant changes in mean thickness and hair counts. The study concluded that oral minoxidil is more effective than topical minoxidil for hair growth, with tolerable side effects and better compliance, suggesting it could become a first-line treatment for healthy males with AGA.