TOPLINE:

In a review of patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) was associated with improvements in hair density and diameter by 3-6 months, followed by stabilization.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a retrospective review of 178 patients with AGA who received LDOM at New York University, New York City, between January 2020 to October 2025 and had undergone at least one baseline and follow-up frontal hair measurement (hair density and diameter measured 2 cm above the glabella). Mean age was 42.4 years; 61.9% were women and 66.9% were White, 6.7% Asian, 1.1% Black individuals.
• At baseline, 64% of the patients had early AGA and 30.3% had moderate AGA.
• The median LDOM starting dose was 1.25 mg/d, and 65.2% of patients underwent dose escalation during treatment.
• Follow-up visits were conducted at 3-6 months, 6-12 months, and 12-36 months; median follow-up was 18 months.

TAKEAWAY:

• The mean hair density increased significantly from baseline at 3-6 months (mean, 16.1 hairs/cm²) and remained at similar levels at 6-12 months (16.2 hairs/cm²) and 12-36 months (19.0 hairs/cm²; P < .05 for all).
• Mean hair diameter improved significantly from baseline at 3-6 months (mean, 3.0 μm; P < .05) and 6-12 months (mean, 2.4 μm; P < .05), but not at 12-36 months.
• No significant differences in improvement were observed between follow-up intervals, indicating a plateau.

IN PRACTICE:

“LDOM is associated with initial hair density increases as early as 3-6 months, followed by stabilization,” the authors wrote, noting “hair diameter similarly demonstrated early gains within 3-6 months, with stabilization beginning around 6 months.” A drop in hair diameter was observed during the 12-36 months, they said, “potentially reflecting AGA progression.” Prospective studies with long follow-up are needed “to better characterize the long-term trajectory of LDOM responses and determine whether dose escalation or additional therapies may be necessary to counteract disease progression,” they noted.

SOURCE:

The study was co-led by Archie Spindler and Derek Maas, BS MBA, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, and was published online on April 14 as a brief report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

LIMITATIONS:

The study was retrospective and lacked a control group. Unequal follow‑up group sizes could have led to attrition bias. Additionally, measurements were taken from a single frontal scalp site and may not reflect vertex or temporal response, and LDOM adherence could not be verified.

DISCLOSURES:

The study did not receive any specific funding. Two authors disclosed serving as investigators and consultants for Pfizer, Regen, Lilly, Ro, Priovant, Veradermics, and Aquis. The remaining authors reported having no relevant conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.