Minoxidil and Caffeine 2.5% May Be Better Than Caffeine Alone

Golpour, M. Rabbani. Comparing the effectiveness of local solution of minoxidil and caffeine 2.5% with local solution of minoxidil 2.5% in treatment of androgenetic alopecia. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. 2013;23:29-36.
Abstract: Background and purpose: Androgentic alopecia (AGA) is physiological hair loss induced by androgens in genetically predisposed persons. Different medications have been suggested to treat AGA until now but there is no certain treatment. This study aimed to compare the effect of caffeine + minoxidil topical solution 2.5% and minoxidil topical solution 2.5% in AGA treatment. Materials and methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial study 60 patients were enrolled. The sampling method was simple classification and patients were divided to 2 equal groups. The first group received minoxidil topical solution 2.5% and the second group received caffeine + minoxidil topical solution 2.5%. Method of treatment was the same in both groups (one milliliter of solution was applied twice a day) and follow-up was by computation of hair numbers on alopecia area in scalp. Both groups were followed in 7 stages: at the beginning of study and the days 7, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150. Results: Caffeine + minoxidil topical solution 2.5% was more effective than minoxidil topical solution 2.5%. There was a significant statistical difference between the groups. Conclusion: This study overtly showed that the effect of caffeine + minoxidil topical solution 2.5% to treat AGA was better than minoxidil topical solution 2.5%. We suggest more studies with greater sample size and longer period of follow-up

This study, as stated in the abstract, uses only a small population. Also, it is not clear that the increase in the number of hairs with Minoxidil and Caffeine 2.5%, produces enough hair to be visibly improved. We have seen benefits of Minoxidil, but only 15% of subjects have significant visible benefits. Clearly, more investigation is needed before the FDA will allow such a treatment on the market.