Topical and oral minoxidil for hair disorders in pediatric patients: What do we know so far?
July 2020
in “Dermatologic Therapy”
TLDR Minoxidil, applied on the skin or taken orally, can improve hair growth in kids, but more research is needed due to possible side effects.
The 2020 review article discussed the use of both topical and oral minoxidil for treating various hair disorders in children. Topical minoxidil was found to be safe and effective in a retrospective study with 57 adolescents aged 10-19 years, and a survey of 84 clinicians reported that 95% of the 373 children treated with it showed improved scalp hair coverage or slowed hair thinning. Oral minoxidil has also been used for hair loss treatment in adults, but data on its use in children is limited. Despite the generally positive results, side effects such as excessive hair growth, skin irritation, and cardiovascular symptoms were reported in some cases. The authors concluded that more research is needed to establish the efficacy and safety of minoxidil in children.
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