Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: a review

Introduction

Minoxidil was first introduced as an oral medication for the treatment of severe and recalcitrant hypertension in the 1970s.¹ Coincidentally, physicians observed hair regrowth and generalized hypertrichosis in balding patients, which led to the development of a topical minoxidil formulation for treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) first in male and then in female individuals. The 2% minoxidil solution was first launched in the market in 1986, followed by the 5% solution in 1993.² Despite its global acceptance for over 30 years, the mechanism underlying the hair growth-promoting effects of minoxidil remains to be fully elucidated. We aimed to review and update critical clinical information on topical minoxidil including the pharmacology, mechanism of action, clinical efficacy, and adverse effects.

Pharmacology of topical minoxidil

Minoxidil is a piperidino-pyrimidine derivative, with the following chemical structure: 2,6-diamino-4-piperidinopyrimidine-1-oxide (C₉H₁₅N₅O) (Figure 1).² Minoxidil solution (MS) contains inactive ingredients, including water, as well as ethanol and propylene glycol (PG), which are used as vehicles to enhance the solubility of minoxidil.³ PG facilitates efficient drug delivery into the hair follicles; however, its frequent induction of local irritation led to the development of a PG-free minoxidil foam (MF). The non-medical ingredients in the foam formulation include cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and butylated hydroxytoluene.⁴

Figure 1 Chemical structure of minoxidil.

Compared to MS, MF allows for increased delivery of the active ingredient to the target site and easy penetration of the drug with less irritation; hence, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for 5% MF for the treatment of AGA. MF is also more convenient to use, because it dries quicker and spreads less to the peripheral region.⁵

Minoxidil is a potent arteriolar vasodilator that opens potassium channels located on the smooth muscles of the peripheral artery, causing hyperpolarization of the cell membrane.⁶ Xu et al suggested that K⁺-channel activity is necessary for progression to the G₁ stage of the cell cycle; therefore, it might play a key role in cell proliferation at the early stage.⁷ This theory was further supported by the results of an animal study in which minoxidil increased cellular DNA synthesis and enhanced cell proliferation.⁸

The positive effect of minoxidil on hair growth is mainly due to its metabolite, minoxidil sulfate, and the enzyme responsible for this conversion is sulfotransferase, which is located in hair follicles and varies in production among individuals.⁹ There are two phenol sulfotransferases responsible for minoxidil sulfation in the human scalp, and patients with higher enzyme activity responded better to topical minoxidil than those with lower enzyme activity did. It is noteworthy that there is no correlation between the serum or tissue concentration of minoxidil and hair growth.¹⁰ Salicylate and aspirin can inhibit sulfotransferase. A recent study showed that the follicular enzymatic activity decreased following 14 days of low-dose aspirin use. Thus, prior or concomitant use of aspirin decreases the clinical response to topical minoxidil.¹¹

Pharmacokinetically, approximately 1.4% of topical minoxidil is absorbed through a normal scalp, while increased absorption is associated with drug concentration, frequency of drug application, and damage to the barrier function of the stratum corneum. Systemic absorption of topical minoxidil is less than 99% of the amount applied on the scalp. Minoxidil does not bind to plasma proteins or crosses the blood–brain barrier. Approximately 95% of the systemically absorbed drug and its metabolites are excreted via the kidney within 4 days.^2,12

Biological effects of minoxidil

Minoxidil has been used for hair loss treatment for several decades. The medication affects follicular cells by enhancing hair growth and reducing hair loss. Termination of treatment results in progressive hair loss within 12 and 24 weeks.² Mori and Uno discovered that MS shortened the telogen phase to 1 to 2 days in treated rats compared to approximately 20 days in untreated rats. There was an increase in the rate of DNA synthesis in anagen bulbs, suggesting that minoxidil stimulated secondary hair germ cells of telogen follicles and caused a rapid shift to the anagen phase.¹³

Clinical trials in AGA patients treated with 2% or 5% MS showed a remarkable increase in hair growth and decrease in hair loss, and superior results were evident with the 5% formulation.^14,15 Hypertrichosis in untreated areas suggested that the drug increased the anagen interval in humans. An experimental study showed that minoxidil prolonged the anagen phase in the dermal papilla (DP), by inducing β-catenin activity and stimulated follicular proliferation and differentiation.¹⁶ Histologically, an increase in follicle size and anagen follicle percentage were noted.^17,18

Laser Doppler velocimetry revealed that minoxidil may have vascular effects. However, electron microscopy showed evidence of increased fenestration in the follicular capillary wall around anagen bulbs with 4% MS.¹⁹ Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in DP cells regulated perifollicular vascularization, as it increased strikingly during the anagen phase and declined during the catagen and telogen phases.^20,21 Minoxidil increased VEGF mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner, where VEGF mRNA expression was increased by six times with the application of minoxidil. Furthermore, a recent study by Yum et al demonstrated that topical minoxidil induced hypoxia-inducible factor-1-alpha, which VEGF induction is dependent.²²

Minoxidil also stimulated prostaglandin E₂ production by activating prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-1²³ but inhibited prostacyclin production.²⁴ Additionally, expression of the prostaglandin E₂ receptor, the most upregulated target gene in the β-catenin pathway of DP cells, was enhanced by minoxidil, which may enable hair follicles to grow continuously and maintain the anagen phase.²⁵

Use of minoxidil in hair disorders

Topical minoxidil has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of AGA. Moreover, it has been used as an off-label medication to treat several hair disorders such as alopecia areata (AA), scarring alopecia, and hair shaft disorders as well as to improve body hair growth in other areas including the eyebrows and beard (Table 1).

Table 1 The use of topical minoxidil in hair disorders

Androgenetic alopecia

AGA is a non-scarring alopecia in which terminal hairs transform into miniaturized hairs. Typically in men, baldness occurs with frontal recession and vertex thinning,²⁶ while in women, hair loss is characterized by a decrease in hair density over the crown without frontal hairline involvement, also known as female pattern hair loss (FPHL).²⁷ Testosterone plays a role in AGA pathogenesis following conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5-alpha reductase.^28,29

A meta-analysis showed that topical minoxidil at all concentrations provided superior results to those achieved in the placebo group. Regarding AGA, the study showed mean differences of 8.11 hairs/cm² and 14.90 hairs/cm² associated with the 2% and 5% minoxidil treatments, respectively, compared to the placebo group. While a comparison of the 2% minoxidil and placebo groups in female patients showed a mean difference of 12.41 hairs/cm².³⁰ A 5-year follow-up study in 31 AGA patients treated with 2% and 5% MS showed peak hair regrowth at 1 year.³¹

Numerous clinical trials were conducted with topical minoxidil at several concentrations in different preparations to test the efficacy of the formulation. In men with AGA, 5% MS demonstrated a significant increase in the mean difference in hair density compared with the 2% MS and placebo treatments.^15,32,33 An earlier response was noted with 45% more hair regrowth in the 5% MS group than that in the 2% MS group at week 48. Both 2% and 5% MS showed promising results in FPHL. However, side effects such as dermatitis, headaches, and hypertrichosis were more common with 5% MS. Hypertrichosis could be problematic in women, leading to poor treatment compliance and, therefore, 2% MS is preferable.³⁴ Interestingly, 1% MS proved to be effective in Asian women, with a significant increase in non-vellus hair compared to that in the placebo group.³⁵ Evidence from randomized controlled trials of topical minoxidil in AGA and FPHL is summarized in Tables 2 and 3, respectively.

Table 2 Randomized controlled trials in male androgenic alopecia

Table 3 Randomized controlled trials in female pattern hair loss

The higher occurrence of contact dermatitis with MS led to the development of PG-free foam formulations to treat hair loss. In AGA patients, 5% MF was well tolerated and superior to placebo. Only 5% of the patients experienced symptoms of scalp irritation after 52 weeks of treatment.³²

For male AGA, the recommended treatment is twice daily application of 1 mL 5% MS and half a capful of 5% MF.³⁸ The treatment advised for FPHL is twice daily application of 1 mL 2% MS and once daily application of half a capful of 5% MF. Once daily topical application of 5% MF has been proven to be as effective as twice daily application of 2% MS in FPHL with significantly fewer adverse events.^36,37 Treatment should be continued indefinitely as termination of medication results in hair shedding within 3 to 4 months. Although there are limited data on teratogenicity, no serious adverse outcomes have been reported. As a safety measure, minoxidil should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.³⁹

The treatment response to topical minoxidil in AGA patients can be predicted by measuring sulfotransferase activity in plucked hair follicles. Studies have reported 93% sensitivity and 83% specificity.⁴⁰ The enzymatic assay also demonstrated great accuracy by correctly detecting 94% of non-responders.⁴¹ A subsequent study using this assay showed that at the week 8 of topical minoxidil treatment, the sulfotransferase enzyme activity in hairs stabilized. This finding suggests that those who respond to minoxidil will not develop resistance to the existing dosage and, similarly, non-responsive patients will not turn into responders.⁴² A study by McCoy et al demonstrated that an increase in topical minoxidil concentration up to 15% in patients predicted to be non-responders increased the clinical response compared to that associated with 5% minoxidil without cardiac side effects.⁴³ Therefore, the non-responders may have a clinical response with increased concentration of minoxidil.

There has been an increase in the use of a novel formula, minoxidil sulfate-based solution (MXS) since it is an active metabolite of minoxidil. It has been proven that MXS has a higher efficacy than that of the conventional formula and might be an option for patients with low minoxidil sulfotransferase activity.^16,44 However, because of its larger molecular weight, which affects its penetrability, and its higher degree of degradation than that of MS, MXS may not be as efficacious.⁴⁵ To improve response, MXS should be applied at higher concentrations and the formulation should be kept in small package to decrease the instability of the solution.⁴⁴ A study conducted in 44 patients with AGA and FPHL who did not show improvements with twice daily application of 5% MS reported responsiveness to 10% MXS after treatment for 4 months. Side effects were tolerable irritation, erythema, and folliculitis.⁴⁶ Therefore, we believe that MXS is a promising agent for those who are MS non-responders.

Attempts have been made to use oral minoxidil for AGA or FPHL patients who were not satisfied with conventional treatment. A combination of low-dose minoxidil 2.5 mg and spironolactone 25 mg in patients with FPHL showed preferable outcomes with decrease hair shedding and improved hair density. The mean severity score reduced to 2.3 at 6 months and 2.6 at 12 months. Mild adverse effects including urticaria, postural hypotension, and facial hypertrichosis were reported. No significant change in blood pressure was observed in the study.⁴⁷

Alopecia areata

AA is an autoimmune disease of the hair follicles with a clinical presentation ranges from patchy non-scarring alopecia to complete scalp (alopecia totalis) and body (alopecia universalis) hair loss.⁴⁸ There are many treatment modalities available; nonetheless, none has received FDA approval. Minoxidil is occasionally used off-label as monotherapy or in combination with other treatments.^49,50

Minoxidil was initially tested in patients with AA, but there was a lack of satisfactory efficacy data.⁵¹ Monotherapy with topical minoxidil provided unsatisfactory outcomes as hair growth was stimulated only in cases of mild AA and not severe AA. Two randomized controlled trials demonstrated that treatment with 3% MS enhanced hair regrowth to some degree compared to placebo. Hair growth was detected earlier and became denser at the treated site, but slight to no effects were observed in patients with extensive AA. Only mild side effects of minoxidil were reported with no evidence of systemic effects.^52,53 A higher concentration of topical minoxidil was preferable in AA treatment because of its dose-response effect. In extensive AA (more than 75% scalp involvement), 5% MS demonstrated 81% terminal hair regrowth versus 38% in 1% MS group.⁵⁴ Moreover, Olsen et al demonstrated that a combination of prior systemic corticosteroid use (for more than 6 weeks) followed by 2% MS application (three times daily) provided a better outcome with persistent hair growth than without the combination.⁵⁵

Histologic studies on the effect of minoxidil in AA demonstrated a decrease in perifollicular infiltration in respondents.⁵⁶ Similar results were found with a significant reduction in perifollicular Langerhans cells and T cell infiltration in corresponding patients.⁵⁷ In contrast to previous studies, no significant change in perifollicular infiltration was detected.^58,59 Hence, the immunosuppressive effect of minoxidil is still unclear.

Collectively, many studies have suggested that topical minoxidil offered some benefits to AA patients as it slightly increased hair growth without altering disease progression or inducing remission.⁵² As a monotherapy, topical minoxidil treatment failed to demonstrate a statistically significant improvement. Thus, it has been recommended as an adjuvant therapy for AA.⁵¹

The use of oral minoxidil 5 mg twice daily in 65 recalcitrant AA patients was studied. The medication was relatively tolerable with 2 g of strict sodium intake. Better hair regrowth rate was noted in patients treated with oral minoxidil than in patients treated with 5% MS. However, only 18% of patients showed an improved cosmetic response at 34.8 weeks with a prominent increase in terminal hairs. Systemic symptoms of sodium and water retention developed in patients who did not adhere to the sodium restriction protocol. Other side effects included headache, palpitation, and facial hypertrichosis.⁶⁰

Chronic telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a common non-scarring alopecia characterized by excessive telogen hair shedding triggered by stressful events such as pregnancy, a major illness, and surgery. Chronic telogen effluvium (CTE) is defined as hair loss persisting over 6 months.⁶¹ Treatment for CTE can be frustrating and many medications have been tried, including minoxidil. There have been limited clinical trials on topical minoxidil use to treat telogen effluvium. However, oral minoxidil may be a promising treatment option. Recently, a retrospective review was conducted among 36 female patients with CTE treated daily with oral minoxidil at doses ranging from 0.25 to 2.5 mg. Marked reduction in hair shedding was observed at 6 and 12 months. Some patients demonstrated mild facial hypertrichosis, dizziness, and altered blood pressure as adverse events.⁶²

Scarring alopecia

In scarring alopecia, medical treatment should be initiated as early as possible. The aim of the treatment is to preserve the remaining hair follicles and halt disease progression.⁶³ Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia is a common scarring alopecia among African American women. It usually presents with hair loss on the vertex and spreads toward the periphery.⁶⁴ In one small retrospective study, a combination of high-potency topical steroids and topical minoxidil showed no significant improvement. However, a decrease in disease severity score in some patients might suggest that the medication can slow the course of the condition.⁶⁵

Topical minoxidil has been used to treat frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), a scaring alopecia condition affecting the frontal and temporal hairlines.⁶⁶ In a case review, 50% of FFA patients (n=7) cotreatment with 2% MS applied twice daily and systemic steroids or finasteride showed slow disease progression.⁶⁷ Another type of scarring alopecia reported to be improved by topical minoxidil is traction alopecia. The characteristic feature of being non-scarring and reversible in the initial stages of the condition may benefit from minoxidil use. Two patients who did not respond to topical triamcinolone over 1 year experienced significant hair growth with 2% minoxidil alone.⁶⁸ Thus, topical minoxidil could be helpful and may be used as an adjuvant with other drugs to treat scarring hair loss condition.

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia

Hair loss is one of the common side effects of chemotherapy.⁶⁹ A randomized controlled trial conducted by Duvic et al showed that 1 mL 2% MS applied to the entire scalp twice daily shortened the duration of alopecia by approximately 50 days in patients (Table 4). The medication was used throughout and for up to 4 months after chemotherapy treatment.⁷⁰ However, in several cases, MS failed to prevent hair loss in gynecologic malignancies and solid tumors treated with doxorubicin-based chemotherapy.^71,72 Even in breast cancer patients who applied 1.5 mL 5% MS twice daily, there was no satisfactory hair regrowth 6 months after the treatment.⁷³ Therefore, the true effectiveness of topical minoxidil in chemotherapy-induced alopecia has still not been demonstrated.

Table 4 Randomized controlled trials in non-AGA conditions

Low-dose oral minoxidil (1 mg once daily) might be a potential treatment for permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia (PCIA). A patient diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia who had PCIA for 16 months showed an increase in hair growth at 6 weeks. Significant hair regrowth with re-emerged anagen follicles and decreased miniaturization was demonstrated histologically following 2 years of treatment.⁷⁴

Hair shaft disorders

Minoxidil has been used to treat monilethrix, a rare autosomal dominant hair disorder manifested as fragile hair shafts with a regular beaded appearance.⁷⁵ Four patients with monilethrix of the scalp who were treated with 1 mL 2% MS with twice daily application for 1 year showed an increase in normal hair growth in the affected areas at 6 and 12 months, and no one experienced adverse reactions. The effect seen might be due to anagen phase prolongation.⁷⁶ Topical minoxidil has also been reported to be effective in treating loose anagen hair syndrome (LAS). A 2-year-old girl with LAS who was treated with 5% MS applied for 20 months showed significant improvement and the effect persisted 28 months after the cessation of medication. No adverse effects were noted.⁷⁷

Oral minoxidil had been used in many cases of hair shaft disorders as topical minoxidil application may worsen hair shaft brittleness.⁷⁸ A low dose of oral minoxidil (0.25 mg once daily) was administered to treat two patients with monilethrix. Promising results were seen in one case with reduced hair shedding, lengthened hair, and initial significant improvement in hair density in the 3rd and 6th month. Improvement in the hair condition was maintained with the same dosage after 18 to 24 months. No adverse event was observed.⁷⁸ In another case, oral minoxidil was used for hair shaft disorder in a 6-year-old girl with LAS who did not respond to 5% MS. She received oral minoxidil 0.5 mg daily and showed improvement in hair color, density, and length within 3 months of treatment.⁷⁹

Body hair enhancement

Topical minoxidil has been employed to stimulate hair growth on eyebrows and beard growth (Table 4). Eyebrows serve an important role as periocular landmarks on the face. Eyebrow hypotrichosis is a condition comprising a reduction in eyebrow density and a lack of growth.^80,81 A recent 16-week randomized controlled trial proved that twice daily application of 2% MS was superior to placebo for eyebrow hypotrichosis treatment.⁸² Significant changes in the global photographic score were observed in the treatment group compared to those in the placebo group. Eyebrow density and diameter also increased significantly. Statistical differences in both subjective and objective assessment were noticed from week 8 to 16. Similar results were also noted with 1% MS applied twice daily, with significant changes in global photographic scores, hair count, hair diameter, and patient satisfaction.⁸³ Furthermore, MS 3% was proven to be as effective as 0.03% topical bimatoprost for eyebrow enhancement. Nevertheless, contact dermatitis was more common in the 3% MS group.⁸⁴

Beard hair is a collection of hair on the chin that frames the facial appearance and symbolizes masculinity. Compared to placebo, minoxidil was superior in enhancing beard growth, with only mild adverse effects. Statistically significant differences in global photographic scores, hair count, and patients’ self-assessment from baseline with twice daily application of 0.5 mL of 3% MS group were detected when compared to the placebo group.⁸⁵ Hence, minoxidil was considered to be safe and beneficial for eyebrow and beard enhancement.

Adverse effects of minoxidil

Topical minoxidil has been considered safe; however, some patients experienced side effects after application. The most common side effect of MS is irritant contact dermatitis with the typical symptoms of itching and scaling. The incidence is lower with 2% MS than it is with 5% MS. Allergic contact dermatitis can also occur because of PG or minoxidil itself. A patch test should be performed to determine the causative agents. Although an allergic reaction to minoxidil could occur, it is infrequent. If patients are allergic to PG, the vehicles should be substituted with butylene glycol, glycerin, or polysorbate. Moreover, MF, a PG-free formula, should be prescribed instead and if the reactions persist, then allergy to minoxidil should be suspected. In this scenario, the use of all minoxidil preparations should be discontinued.⁸⁶

Hypertrichosis depends on minoxidil concentration, with the highest incidence of unwanted hair growth experienced by those treated with 5% MS.⁸⁷ It occurs more commonly in female patients than in male patients and while there is no clear explanation, some female patients might have a higher number of minoxidil-sensitive follicles than others. Spontaneous resolution occurred first on the face and arms (1–3 months), followed by the legs (4–5 months) after minoxidil termination. It had been assumed that excessive topical application could induce systemic absorption, leading to excessive hair growth in non-treated areas.^88,89 Twice daily application of topical minoxidil shows no systemic side effects such as hypotension, abnormal heart rate, and weight gain.² It is considered safe and provides positive outcomes in various hair disorders.

Oral minoxidil is mostly metabolized via the liver by conjugation with glucuronic acid. The metabolized minoxidil is excreted through the kidneys 3–4 hrs after administration, but the vasodilation property may persist for up to 72 hrs.¹ Serious adverse effects including sodium and fluid retention, and cardiovascular effects (eg ischemic heart disease, pericardial effusion, and pulmonary hypertension) have been reported with systemically administered minoxidil.¹² Sodium and fluid retention causes a rise in body weight and in severe cases, congestive heart failure occurred. This is due to the redistribution of blood flow from the outer to the inner cortex of the kidney as well as plasma-renin activity.^1,2 Ischemic heart disease was reported, which might have been due to higher oxygen demand as heart rate and cardiac output increased.⁴ Pericardial effusion caused by minoxidil occurs around 5% of patients with unknown mechanism.¹² Pulmonary hypertension due to increased pulmonary artery pressure and high cardiac output from minoxidil has also been described.¹² Other adverse effects include hypertrichosis, occasional pulsating headache, itchy eyes, skin rashes such as bullous eruptions, and polymenorrhea.^12,89,90 In our opinion, the benefits of the oral medication are not sufficient to justify exposure to the risk of potential side effects.

Conclusion

Minoxidil is a common medication prescribed for treating hair loss-related problems. It provides remarkable benefits to patients with hair disorders. To date, the FDA has approved minoxidil only for AGA. However, minoxidil is used off-label for treating several hair disorders as well as increasing body hair growth. Although topical minoxidil is considered an effective and safe treatment option for various hair disorders, additional evidence-based data are needed for some applications.