Sensitization to Saw Palmetto and Minoxidil in Separate Topical Extemporaneous Treatments for Androgenetic Alopecia
November 2002
in “
Australasian Journal of Dermatology
”
TLDR Saw palmetto causes allergic reaction, minoxidil causes skin irritation; use cautiously for hair loss.
The study investigated the sensitization to saw palmetto and minoxidil in separate topical extemporaneous treatments for androgenetic alopecia. The results showed that the reaction to saw palmetto represented an allergic contact reaction, while the reaction to minoxidil was a contact allergic dermatitis. The study suggests that patients with hair loss should be cautious about using topical preparations of minoxidil and natural remedies that may have unforeseen hazards.