Topical minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia: optimizing the chance for success by appropriate patient selection.
Cosmetically acceptable hair growth was achieved in 18 (32%) of 56 balding male subjects during a 12-month study using 2 or 3% topical minoxidil. The criteria for successful hair regrowth devised from those subjects were: (1) no baldness greater than a Hamilton pattern IV; (2) a balding vertex area smaller than 10 cm in diameter, and (3) a balding process of less than 5 years' duration. Frontotemporal hair loss did not respond to treatment and in fact progressed in severity, despite the twice-daily applications of minoxidil. In a subsequent study of 91 subjects who met these three criteria, 51 (56%) subjects achieved cosmetically acceptable hair growth after 1 year using 2% topical minoxidil (Regaine; registered trade mark of The Upjohn Company) twice daily.
Division of Dermatology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
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DeVillez
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008914:Minoxidil / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D008914:Minoxidil