Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women with Minoxidil: Apply it Once or Twice a Day ?
A randomized, single-blind trial of 5% minoxidil foam once daily versus 2% minoxidil solution twice daily in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in women.
Blume-Peytavi U, Hillmann K, Dietz E, Canfield D, Garcia Bartels N.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Dec;65(6):1126-1134.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2010.09.724. Epub 2011 Jun 23.
- Androgenic (androgenetic) alopecia is the most common cause of hairloss. It can occur in females in a “male-” or “female-pattern hair loss”
- Topical treatment with minoxidil is to be initiated as early as possible as its effectiveness is more about preventing thinning of hair than enabling regrowth of lost hair. It works 30% of the time.
- That being said, if minoxidil is effective treatment must be continued for life and that raises the question of compliance.
- This study sought to compare minoxidil 2% applied twice a day with minnoxidil 5% applied once daily. 113 women with androgenetic alopecia were randomized in 2 groups for a treatment of either one for a duration of 24 weeks.
- Results showed non statistically significant differences:
- in treated area hair count, target area hair width, photographic assessment.
- There less local intolerance (pruritus and dandruff) in the once daily 5% application (p=0.046).
- Although the study is funded by Johnson & Johnson it does suggest that the once daily 5% minoxidil formulation could be as effective as the twice daily 2% minoxidil formulation.
Contributors
Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland
