Treatment of Male Pattern Alopecia Using Topical Minoxidil in The Netherlands

In a 24-week, double-blind, randomized study conducted in The Netherlands, 144 male patients with early male pattern alopecia were treated with either a 2% minoxidil solution or a placebo. The study found that the 2% minoxidil solution was approximately three times more effective than the placebo in increasing hair count and in both investigator and patient subjective evaluations. Minoxidil did not affect systolic and diastolic blood pressures, pulse rate, or body weight, indicating its safety. One patient in the placebo group withdrew due to a skin rash. The study confirmed the safe and effective use of minoxidil for treating early male pattern alopecia.