Efficacy and safety of a new 10% topical minoxidil versus 5% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia: a trichoscopic evaluation

Introduction: Androgenetic alopecia is a stressful condition for males. Minoxidil 2% and 5% have been FDA approved for treatment of this condition. In literature, all studies have compared minoxidil 5% with 2%. Although other concentrations (2% to 12.5%) are available nowadays, we believe our study is the first to compare 10% versus 5% topical minoxidil in treatment of AGA. Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of 5% topical minoxidil with 10% topical minoxidil and placebo in AGA treatment. Materials and methods: 36-weeks, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. A total of 90 men with AGA. First group have applied 5% minoxidil solution, second group applied 10% minoxidil solution; or third placebo group. Efficacy was evaluated clinically and trichoscopically. Results: After 36 weeks of therapy; 5% topical minoxidil (0.47???0.26) (0.59???0.64) was significantly superior to 10% topical minoxidil (0.05???0.13) (0.45???0.74) and placebo (0.01???0.05) (?0.03???0.08) in terms of change from baseline in total vertex and frontal hair mean count respectively. Pull test change to negative in minoxidil 5%: (37%) patients after 6?month treatment, Minoxidil 10% group (37.5%) patients changed and in placebo group all patients after 6?month were the same (0%) change. No reported sexual dysfunction in all three groups. Conclusion: Five percent of topical minoxidil was moderately superior to 10% topical minoxidil and placebo in increasing hair regrowth opposite to the expected, the irritation was marked for 10% topical minoxidil. Psychosocial stress after 10% usage were worsen by the shedding, irritation compared to their high expectation in comparison to 5% usage.

Automated summary

After 36 weeks of treatment, 5% topical minoxidil was significantly more effective in promoting hair regrowth compared to 10% topical minoxidil and placebo, especially in terms of changes from baseline in total vertex and frontal hair mean count. The irritation caused by 10% minoxidil may worsen psychosocial stress, potentially leading to higher expectations and subsequent disappointment.