Minoxidil (topical + oral low-dose)
Skin/Hair · Potassium channel opener / vasodilator
Tier A
What this is
Low-dose oral minoxidil has exploded in dermatology practice since 2018 for patients who can't tolerate topical (scalp irritation) or want easier adherence. NYT 2022 coverage drove huge public interest. Women typically use 0.625-2.5 mg/day; men 1.25-5 mg/day. Requires BP monitoring but rarely problematic at hair-growth doses.
Mechanism
ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener; originally oral antihypertensive (Loniten) with hair-growth side effect discovered; prolongs anagen (growth phase); topical 2-5% is OTC standard; low-dose oral (0.25-5 mg) is a resurgent off-label regimen
Dose & route
Topical: 1 mL 5% solution or foam 1-2x/day; oral: 0.25-5 mg/day
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29353826/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33197532/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8903124/
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This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.