BH04 Growing Interest: A Survey of Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil Prescribing for Hair Loss

    June 2025 in “ British Journal of Dermatology ”
    Alicia Goh, Julie Mac Mahon, Nicola Cooke
    TLDR Low-dose oral minoxidil is increasingly used by dermatologists in the UK and Ireland to treat various hair loss conditions.
    A survey conducted among dermatologists in the UK and Ireland reveals the growing use of low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) as an off-label treatment for various hair loss conditions. The survey, which included 29 respondents, found that LDOM is frequently prescribed for androgenic alopecia, frontal fibrosing alopecia/lichen planopilaris, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium. Dermatologists often use LDOM as monotherapy for male and female pattern hair loss, but as an adjunct therapy for other conditions, often combined with medications like oral antiandrogens, spironolactone, hydroxychloroquine, tetracyclines, and Janus kinase inhibitors. Monitoring practices vary, with some dermatologists performing baseline blood tests and blood pressure checks. The study highlights the diverse prescribing practices and the widespread acceptance of LDOM in treating hair loss.
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