Topical Minoxidil Effectiveness in Enhancing Facial Aesthetics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

November 2025 in “ Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care ”

Atheer G. Almutairi, Lamia AlAkrash

topical minoxidil facial hair loss randomized controlled trials RCTs low-dose minoxidil Rogaine

TLDR Low-dose minoxidil effectively enhances facial hair with minimal side effects.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness and safety of topical minoxidil for facial hair loss, focusing on studies published between January 2001 and May 2024. Out of 302 studies initially identified, 19 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the final analysis. The review found that low-dose minoxidil is an effective treatment for enhancing facial hair development with relatively minimal side effects, making it a viable option in primary care settings. However, concerns about the risk of bias were noted, with five studies having high risk and six studies having low risk.

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