Topical minoxidil for hair
regrowth.
Am Acad Dermatol. 1984 Sep
Vanderveen EE, Ellis CN, Kang S, Case P, Headington JT, Voorhees JJ, Swanson
NA.
Minoxidil, a potent peripheral vasodilator used orally for refractory
hypertension, has produced hypertrichosis.
To determine the efficacy and safety
of 1% or 5% topical minoxidil for the stimulation of scalp hair regrowth, we
studied fifteen normotensive patients, five with androgenic alopecia and ten
with alopecia areata diagnosed clinically and by biopsy, for 12 months.
Three of
five patients with androgenic alopecia using 5% minoxidil for 12 months noted
hair regrowth, ranging from minimally observable hair to an appreciable
restoration of larger, pigmented, terminal hair in one patient.
Among the
patients with androgenic alopecia, regrowth response corresponded to the serum
minoxidil blood levels.
None of the patients with alopecia areata receiving
either 1% or 5% minoxidil noted hair regrowth despite comparable minoxidil blood
levels.
Improved local absorption of topical minoxidil solution may promote hair
regrowth in androgenic alopecia.
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