Topical Minoxidil for Nail Growth: A Conventional Medication with a Novel Indication

Topical minoxidil, commonly used for treating androgenetic alopecia, could potentially be a useful agent for accelerating nail growth in both healthy and diseased nails, according to a recent study. The study found that minoxidil increases cutaneous blood flow, which could positively affect nail growth rate. A quasi-experimental study on 38 healthy volunteers showed a positive effect of topical minoxidil on nail growth rate. However, the combination of minoxidil and biotin resulted in lesser longitudinal nail growth, possibly due to the limited capacity of the nail matrix in producing material. Another study on 50 patients with a total of 84 affected toenails showed a weak, but significant clinical effect of daily application of minoxidil. The authors suggest that further prospective controlled studies with larger sample sizes are needed to better understand the clinical effects and long-term side effects of using topical minoxidil for nail growth.