Minoxidil Foam Is Effective in Androgenic Alopecia

Once-daily 5 percent MTF is as effective as twice-daily 2 percent topical solution

FRIDAY, Nov. 18 (HealthDay News) -- For women with androgenic alopecia, hair growth can be stimulated effectively with once-daily 5 percent minoxidil topical foam (MTF), according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Ulrike Blume-Peytavi, M.D., Ph.D., from the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and colleagues compared the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of once-daily 5 percent MTF and twice-daily 2 percent minoxidil topical solution (MTS) in women with androgenetic alopecia. A total of 113 women were randomly allocated to receive 24 weeks of treatment with 5 percent MTF or 2 percent MTS. The change from baseline in nonvellus target area hair count at week 24 was the primary efficacy parameter.

The investigators found that target area hair count and target area hair width were noninferior in women receiving 5 percent MTF, and they experienced greater, but nonsignificant, improvements in target area hair count, target area hair width, and overall efficacy by global photographic review at 24 weeks. Participants' agreement with the treatment not interfering with their hair styling was significantly superior with 5 percent MTF than 2 percent MTS. There were lower rates of local intolerance, especially in pruritus and dandruff, for women treated with MTF rather than MTS.

"Once-daily 5 percent MTF is noninferior and as effective for stimulating hair growth as twice-daily 2 percent MTS in women with androgenetic alopecia and is associated with several aesthetic and practical advantages," the authors write.

One author disclosed financial relationships with the pharmaceutical industry. Another author disclosed a financial relationship with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Co. Inc., which funded the study.

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