Editorial on Oral vs Topical minoxidil 5% in females

Editorial comment from American Journal of Dermatology: Scalp pruritus affected 19% of participants in the topical minoxidil group. Pretibial edema occurred in 4% of participants in the oral minoxidil group. Hypertrichosis was more common with oral minoxidil (27% oral vs 4% topical), although this side effect was mild and well tolerated; 3 participants did not take any action to remove the excess hair, and 5 managed it with waxing. There was no difference between the groups regarding the variation of mean blood pressure over time. The mean heart rate at rest increased 6.5% in the oral minoxidil group without tachycardia; there was no change in the topical minoxidil group. No hypotension-related events occurred. No adverse events in oral minoxidil group required cessation of medication.  Our results reveal that low-dose oral minoxidil provides improvement of FPHL that does  not differ Table I. Main clinical and demographic data from participants Category Oral minoxidil 1 mg Topical minoxidil 5%……. Research Letters from topical minoxidil 5% solution, with a safe profile and well-tolerated adverse effects. The performance of oral minoxidil in regard to the Sinclair hair shedding score was superior to that of topical minoxidil, reinforcing the favorable results reported with telogen effluvium. The increase in total hair density lay within the topical minoxidil 95% CI; however, if the outcomes are taken together, they suggest a trend toward a greater improvement in the oral minoxidil group. Confirmation of this would require larger and longer studies. In conclusion, oral minoxidil can be considered an option for FPHL patients with poor compliance or who cannot tolerate topical minoxidil.