Comprehensive Review of Oral Minoxidil in Alopecia

September 2022 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Jay Modha, Yashdeep Singh Pathania

oral minoxidil alopecia non-scarring alopecia scarring alopecia androgenetic alopecia female pattern hair loss topical treatments hair loss male pattern baldness female pattern baldness

TLDR Oral minoxidil effectively treats different types of hair loss with fewer side effects.

Oral minoxidil has shown promising results in treating various types of alopecia, including non-scarring and scarring forms, at lower dosages with fewer side effects. It has been particularly effective in androgenetic alopecia and female pattern hair loss, offering a viable alternative to topical treatments and addressing compliance issues. The review consolidates data from multiple clinical trials, case series, and case reports to highlight the efficacy and safety of oral minoxidil in these conditions.

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Research cited in this study

28 / 28 results

research Oral Minoxidil Use in Androgenetic Alopecia and Telogen Effluvium

3 citations, March 2022 in “Archives of Dermatological Research”

research Relative Efficacy of Minoxidil and the 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors in Androgenetic Alopecia Treatment of Male Patients

13 citations, February 2022 in “JAMA Dermatology”

Dutasteride is the most effective hair loss treatment after 24 weeks, but finasteride leads to the most hair growth after 48 weeks.

research Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil Increases Hair Density and Thickness in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Retrospective Analysis of 60 Patients

4 citations, October 2021 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Low-dose oral minoxidil increases hair density and thickness in people with hair loss.

research Role of Low Dose Oral Minoxidil in the Treatment of Hair Loss: A Review

1 citations, August 2021 in “Cosmoderma”

Low-dose oral minoxidil is effective and well-tolerated for treating hair loss.

Sublingual Minoxidil for the Treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 1B Clinical Trial

research Sublingual Minoxidil for the Treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 1B Clinical Trial

5 citations, August 2021 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Sublingual minoxidil safely promotes hair growth.

research Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil Improves Global Hair Density and Length in Children with Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome

9 citations, December 2020 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Low-dose oral minoxidil increases hair thickness and length in children with a hair disorder called Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome.

research Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil for Treating Alopecia: A 3-Year North American Retrospective Case Series

9 citations, October 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Low-dose oral minoxidil is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for hair growth in alopecia patients.

Efficacy and Safety of Oral Minoxidil 5 mg Once Daily in the Treatment of Male Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia: An Open-Label and Global Photographic Assessment

research Efficacy and Safety of Oral Minoxidil 5 mg Once Daily in the Treatment of Male Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia: An Open-Label and Global Photographic Assessment

24 citations, September 2020 in “Dermatology and therapy”

Oral minoxidil 5 mg daily increases hair growth safely in men with hair loss, with minor side effects.

research Efficacy and Safety of Oral Minoxidil in Female Androgenetic Alopecia

14 citations, September 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Oral minoxidil improves hair density in women with androgenetic alopecia, with mild side effects.

research Oral Minoxidil Treatment for Hair Loss: A Review of Efficacy and Safety

59 citations, July 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Oral minoxidil promotes hair growth but may cause side effects; needs monitoring.

research Efficacy and Safety of Very-Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil 1.25 mg in Male Androgenetic Alopecia

19 citations, May 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Low-dose oral minoxidil improves hair growth in male hair loss.

research How Safe Is Prescribing Oral Minoxidil in Patients Allergic to Topical Minoxidil?

8 citations, April 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Oral minoxidil is a reasonably safe alternative for patients allergic to the topical form.

research Oral Minoxidil Improves Background Hair Thickness in Lichen Planopilaris

15 citations, April 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

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

research Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil for Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Unicenter Descriptive Study of 148 Women

12 citations, January 2020 in “Skin appendage disorders”

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

24 citations, September 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Low-dose oral minoxidil improved or stabilized hair loss in some patients, but higher doses may be needed for significant effects.

research Combination Tofacitinib and Oral Minoxidil Treatment for Severe Alopecia Areata

23 citations, September 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Tofacitinib and oral minoxidil together effectively regrow hair in severe alopecia areata patients.

research Minoxidil 1 mg Oral Versus Minoxidil 5% Topical Solution for the Treatment of Female-Pattern Hair Loss: A Randomized Clinical Trial

53 citations, August 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Oral minoxidil and topical minoxidil 5% both effectively improve female-pattern hair loss with safe side effects.

research Minoxidil And Its Use In Hair Disorders: A Review

117 citations, August 2019 in “Drug Design Development and Therapy”

Minoxidil effectively treats hair loss, but use cautiously and monitor side effects.

research Effectiveness and Safety of Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil in Male Androgenetic Alopecia

52 citations, May 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

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 and the Five C’s of Oral Therapy

36 citations, September 2018 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Oral minoxidil helps hair growth, is cost-effective, and mostly well-tolerated.

research Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome: Treatment with Systemic Minoxidil Characterized by Marked Hair Color Change

12 citations, March 2018 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology”

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

80 citations, December 2017 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

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

40 citations, September 2017 in “F1000Research”

Oral minoxidil effectively reduces hair shedding in women with CTE, with no major side effects.

research Treatment of Monilethrix with Oral Minoxidil

37 citations, May 2016 in “JAAD case reports”

Oral minoxidil shows promise in treating monilethrix-related hair loss.

research Treatment of Permanent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia with Low Dose Oral Minoxidil

36 citations, May 2015 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology”

Low dose oral minoxidil helps regrow hair in permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

research Efficacy and Safety of Oral Minoxidil 5 mg Daily During 24-Week Treatment in Male Androgenetic Alopecia

13 citations, May 2015 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Oral minoxidil improves hair growth in men with hair loss, but caution needed for those with heart issues.

research Serendipity in Trichology

4 citations, January 2011 in “International Journal of Trichology”

Accidental findings have led to new hair treatment discoveries, like using blood pressure and diabetes medications for hair loss and unwanted hair.

research Evaluation of Oral Minoxidil in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

34 citations, November 1987 in “Archives of Dermatology”

Oral minoxidil helps hair regrowth in 80% of alopecia patients, but only 18% see cosmetic improvement.

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research Comprehensive Review of Oral Minoxidil in Alopecia

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Alopecia areata can cause unpredictable hair loss, and treatments like corticosteroids and minoxidil may help but have varying side effects.

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