April 2025 in “Al-Azhar International Medical Journal /Al-Azhar International Medical Journal” This study found that topical minoxidil 5% remains the most common treatment for androgenic alopecia due to its high tolerability and patient satisfaction, but topical sildenafil 2% shows promise as an alternative, especially with positive hair thickness outcomes in certain areas.
October 2021 in “QJM: An International Journal of Medicine” This exploratory pilot study found that topical sildenafil and minoxidil both significantly increased hair counts in male patients with androgenic alopecia, with varying effects at different scalp regions.
November 2022 in “Research Square (Research Square)” This pilot study observed that topical sildenafil 1% significantly increased vellus and terminal hair counts in female pattern hair loss patients, but did not improve hair thickness, while topical minoxidil 5% increased terminal hair count and thickness, making it the preferred treatment option.
In this study, topical sildenafil citrate was found to improve hair regeneration in a rat model of androgenic alopecia, showing superior long-term effects compared to minoxidil, including increased hair follicle numbers and epidermal thickness.
January 2025 in “International Journal of Medical Arts” This study found that a topical 1.0% sildenafil citrate solution significantly increased vellus and terminal hairs in women with female pattern hair loss without affecting hair thickness, suggesting it may be a promising treatment option.