Low-26 dose oral minoxidil (OM) has been successfully used in female hair loss (0.25-1.25 mg daily), but there are scarce reports in male androgenetic alopecia (MAA). The objective of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of low-dose OM (2.5-5 mg daily) in men with MAA.

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Of 41 male patients (mean age, 33.3 years; range, 2055 years) with androgenetic alopecia who received oral minoxidil monotherapy (2.5 or 5 mg daily) for a minimum of 6 months, 37 patients (90.2%) had clinical improvement, which was marked in 11 of them (26.8%). Only 4 patients (9.8%) demonstrated stabilization of their alopecia; however, none of these patients experienced worsening of the condition. Adverse effects included hypertrichosis (24.3%), lower limb edema (4.8%), and shedding (2.4%).

Results of this retrospective study indicated that oral minoxidil at 2.5 mg and 5 mg daily can be an effective therapy for male androgenetic alopecia, with a mild side-effect profile.

- InYoung Kim, MD, PhD