Review of oral minoxidil as treatment of hair disorders: in search of the perfect dose

Abstract

Topical minoxidil has been used for many years as treatment for different hair disorders. Even though it is an effective therapy, many patients show poor compliance due to the cosmesis, cost and side-effects. During the last few years, low-dose oral minoxidil has proven to be an alternative for patients with alopecia. We performed a literature search including all the articles that used oral minoxidil as a primary treatment in various hair diseases in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose oral minoxidil as an alternative to topical minoxidil. Androgenetic alopecia was the most common studied condition, but others included telogen effluvium, tractional alopecia, postchemotherapy-induced alopecia, monilethrix, loose anagen hair syndrome, alopecia areata and scarring alopecias (frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris). Larger randomized comparative studies including standardized objective measurements should be done in order to clarify the best treatment protocol, including dosage and treatment duration. Oral minoxidil has proven to be a successful and well-tolerated alternative for patients with hair loss, including those with poor adherence to other therapies. Different dosing regimens have been utilized in scarring and non-scarring alopecia, varying from 0.25 to 5 mg daily. Higher doses have not been studied in men or women. Available literature suggests women require lower doses, from 0.25 to 2.5 mg daily, while men require higher doses for maximal efficacy, from 1.25 to 5 mg a day.