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

Studysummary This review reports that oral minoxidil has shown promising results in treating various types of alopecia, including androgenetic alopecia and female pattern hair loss, at low doses with minimal side effects, offering an alternative to topical treatments. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

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”

This study reported that oral minoxidil was associated with clinical improvement in androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium, showing better outcomes compared to controls.

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”

This meta-analysis reported that 0.5 mg/d of dutasteride significantly increased total hair count at 24 weeks compared to finasteride and minoxidil in men with androgenetic alopecia.

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”

This study reviewed literature on low-dose oral minoxidil as a treatment for hair loss, finding good compliance and tolerability, with mild adverse effects like hypertrichosis, which increase with higher doses.

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”

In this phase 1B clinical trial, sublingual minoxidil was tested for its effects on male and female pattern hair loss in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled setting, but the abstract does not provide specific results or conclusions.

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”

This research letter reports that low-dose oral minoxidil improved hair density and length in children with 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”

This letter discusses the limited adaptation of low dose oral minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia in North America and reports no new clinical results; the authors suggest safety concerns or unclear dosing may be factors.

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”

This study found that low-dose oral minoxidil 5 mg daily significantly increased hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia over 24 weeks, with increased hair count and vertex area improvement, though most experienced hypertrichosis and some had pedal edema.

research Efficacy and Safety of Oral Minoxidil in Female Androgenetic Alopecia

14 citations , September 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

This study reported that oral minoxidil improved hair density and had an acceptable safety profile in women with androgenetic alopecia.

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”

This study concluded that oral minoxidil is an effective and well-tolerated alternative to topical minoxidil for healthy patients struggling with application-related compliance issues.

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”

This case series reports the experience of using oral minoxidil at 1.25 mg/day in 32 patients with male androgenetic alopecia, noting both therapeutic effects and potential adverse reactions.

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”

This report describes nine women who were allergic to topical minoxidil but successfully tolerated low-dose oral minoxidil without significant adverse effects, suggesting it may be a viable alternative for those with similar allergies.

research Oral Minoxidil Improves Background Hair Thickness in Lichen Planopilaris

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

This article discusses the challenges of treating lichen planopilaris, reviews various therapeutic options including minoxidil, and reports no new clinical findings.

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”

This study found that using very-low-dose oral minoxidil (0.25 mg/d) led to improvement or stabilization of hair parameters in 40% to 60% of men with androgenetic alopecia, although results were not statistically significant for the overall group.

research Combination Tofacitinib and Oral Minoxidil Treatment for Severe Alopecia Areata

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

In this retrospective analysis, combination therapy with tofacitinib and oral minoxidil led to significant scalp hair regrowth in patients with severe alopecia areata, with 67% achieving at least 75% regrowth, although the small sample size limits the findings.

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”

This study observed that low-dose oral minoxidil and topical minoxidil 5% solution both improved hair density in women with female-pattern hair loss, but oral minoxidil may offer advantages in reducing hair shedding.

research Minoxidil And Its Use In Hair Disorders: A Review

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

This review article provides an updated overview of the pharmacology, mechanism of action, clinical efficacy, and adverse events associated with topical minoxidil, a widely used treatment for androgenetic alopecia and other hair loss conditions, while noting that its exact mechanism is still not fully understood.

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”

This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of low-dose oral minoxidil (2.5-5 mg daily) in men with male androgenetic alopecia, aiming to contribute data to an area with limited previous reports. Results are not provided in the abstract.

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”

This study found that 78% of patients continued taking oral minoxidil for androgenetic or traction alopecia, with 33% reporting decreased hair shedding and 28% noting increased scalp hair.

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

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

This letter to the editor discusses the use of systemic minoxidil for loose anagen hair syndrome, noting a significant change in hair color, but reports no new study results.

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”

This study reported that once-daily treatment with oral minoxidil and spironolactone for 12 months reduced hair loss severity and hair shedding in women with pattern hair loss, with generally mild side effects, though results came from an uncontrolled, observational pilot study.

research Treatment of Chronic Telogen Effluvium with Oral Minoxidil: A Retrospective Study

40 citations , September 2017 in “F1000Research”

In this study, women with chronic telogen effluvium experienced reduced hair shedding after being treated with once daily oral minoxidil for 12 months, but facial hypertrichosis was a reported side effect, suggesting the need for further placebo-controlled research.

research Treatment of Monilethrix with Oral Minoxidil

37 citations , May 2016 in “JAAD case reports”

This abstract describes monilethrix, an autosomal dominant genodermatosis with symptoms like hair fragility and keratosis pilaris, and does not report new experimental results.

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

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

This case report described cosmetically significant hair regrowth in a 39-year-old woman with permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia after continuous oral minoxidil use.

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”

This study found that oral minoxidil 5 mg daily significantly improves hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia, although common side effects include hypertrichosis and pedal edema.

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”

This study found that oral minoxidil showed limited cosmetic effectiveness in treating severe alopecia areata, with only 18% of patients experiencing a noticeable response.