TLDR Low-dose oral minoxidil improved or stabilized hair loss in some patients, but higher doses may be needed for significant effects.
The study investigated the use of very low dose oral minoxidil (OM) as a monotherapy in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The results showed improvement or stabilization in a percentage of individual patients for all parameters analyzed, but statistical analysis did not show a significant variation in the group as a whole. Adverse effects reported were pedal edema, hair shedding, and body hypertrichosis. The study suggests that higher doses of OM might be necessary to produce significant effects in men.
52 citations,
May 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Low-dose oral minoxidil effectively improves male hair loss with mild side effects.
80 citations,
December 2017 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Low-dose oral minoxidil and spironolactone combo effectively reduces hair loss and improves hair density in women.
110 citations,
August 2016 in “Drugs” Minoxidil is the only FDA-approved topical drug for treating male or female pattern hair loss, and other medications like finasteride and dutasteride can also increase hair growth.
101 citations,
January 2012 in “Annals of Dermatology” Men with hair loss experience lower quality of life, worsened by factors like age, severity, and treatment history.
55 citations,
February 1985 in “Archives of Dermatology” Using minoxidil on the scalp can help grow hair for people with hereditary baldness.
3 citations,
January 2018 A woman had an unusual allergic reaction to a hair loss treatment, which cleared up after stopping the treatment and using a different medication.
January 2014 in “DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)” Minoxidil can effectively treat patchy hair loss by stimulating hair growth.
16 citations,
April 1984 in “Archives of Dermatology” Topical minoxidil can help hair regrowth in alopecia areata patients, but maintaining the growth after stopping treatment is inconsistent.
