minoxidil / Generic mfg. - LARVOL DELTA

Efficacy and safety outcomes of oral minoxidil versus topical minoxidil in patients undergoing follicle unit extraction (AAD 2026) - "Since it can be started as early as day 3 of surgery, the chances of telogen shedding seen in there subjects can be reduced. Conclusion- The role of oral minoxidil in graft survival and overall outcome of hair restoration surgery shows promising outcome compared to topical minoxidil."

Clinical • Alopecia • Immunology

Systematic Review of Low-Level Light Therapy for Hair Follicle Stimulation and Pattern Hair Loss (AAD 2026) - "Combination therapies, such as LLLT with topical minoxidil, demonstrated synergistic effects... Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria, encompassing over 600 patients across multiple countries. Treatment protocols ranged from 12 to 26 weeks, using wavelengths between 630–680 nm. Across most trials, LLLT significantly increased hair density, with a mean improvement of 15–25% compared to baseline hair density."

Review • Alopecia • Immunology • Pruritus

Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Local Therapies in Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (AAD 2026) - "PRP may improve clinical outcomes in AA compared with minoxidil, whereas its advantage over triamcinolone remains uncertain. Given biological plausibility and an acceptable safety profile, PRP can be considered an alternative or adjunctive local therapy in selected patients. Well-designed trials with standardized protocols and longer follow-up are needed to confirm PRP's long-term efficacy and guide clinical use."

Retrospective data • Review • Alopecia • Immunology

Adjunctive Combined Regenerative Technique (CRT) vs Oral Minoxidil Alone for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Six-Month Retrospective Study (AAD 2026) - "We evaluated a Combined Regenerative Technique (CRT)—transdermal tattoo-assisted delivery of minoxidil sulfate, dutasteride, copper peptides, and autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP), used in conjunction with daily oral minoxidil (OM) and topical finasteride—as previously described, adapting it to a controlled, comparative setting. In a 6-month, controlled comparison, five monthly CRT sessions plus daily OM and topical finasteride produced significantly greater trichoscopic improvements in terminal hair thickness and density across frontal, mid-scalp, and vertex regions than OM alone. These findings, building on the original CRT protocol, support further randomized, larger, and longer-term studies to confirm efficacy, durability, and component contributions."

Retrospective data • Alopecia • Immunology

A Retrospective Study of Dose Titration and Adverse Events Associated with Oral Minoxidil (AAD 2026) - "Oral minoxidil was generally safe and effective across alopecia subtypes. Dose escalation was infrequent and most strongly associated with BMI, underscoring the individualized nature of treatment decisions. These findings support oral minoxidil as a well-tolerated therapeutic option and highlight BMI as a modest but significant predictor of dose titration."

Adverse events • Retrospective data • Alopecia • Immunology

Nutraceuticals and Foods as Adjunctive Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA): A Systematic Review (AAD 2026) - "FDA-approved therapies include minoxidil and finasteride, with adjunctive options such as low-level laser therapy, hair transplantation, and nutraceuticals and foods [1]. Studies suggest that nutraceuticals and foods targeting follicular miniaturization significantly improve hair growth when used as adjuncts to first-line therapy [4-6]. Effective newer formulations include one combining Serenoa repens, pumpkin seed extract, L-cystine, and vitamin C, as well as another incorporating saw palmetto, ashwagandha, vitamin E, curcumin, and various minerals, the latter demonstrating benefit even as monotherapy [7-8]. Pumpkin seed oil has shown outcomes nearly comparable to minoxidil, highlighting its potential as a natural alternative [9]."

Review • Aesthetic Medicine • Alopecia • Immunology

Prescribing Patterns of Androgenetic Alopecia Treatments in Transgender vs. Cisgender Patients: A Database Analysis (AAD 2026) - "Transgender patients were prescribed minoxidil, finasteride, dutasteride, and spironolactone following diagnosis of AGA at higher rates and earlier times compared to non-transgender patients, highlighting clinically meaningful prescribing differences. Dual use of spironolactone and finasteride as GAHT medications presents a key limitation of our study. Future studies are warranted to optimize AGA management in transgender populations, specifically those undergoing GAHT."

Clinical • Alopecia • Immunology

Faster Onset and Superior Efficacy of an Investigational Extended-Release Oral Minoxidil Tablet (VDPHL01) Versus Topical and Immediate-Release Oral Minoxidil for Androgenetic Alopecia: Results from a Blinded Retrospective Investigator Global Assessment (AAD 2026) - "VDPHL01 produced superior frontal and vertex hair growth at 2 months versus 6 months with topical and IR oral minoxidil, suggesting VDPHL01 is faster acting and potentially superior in treating AGA. Limitations include potential differences in baseline characteristics across trials and the retrospective methodology."

Retrospective data • Alopecia • Immunology

Social Listening Analysis of 143,000 Online Conversations on Hair Loss Treatments: Side Effects, Satisfaction, and Discontinuation (AAD 2026) - "Background: Building on existing clinical research, this study examines patient perceptions of common treatments for hair loss, including oral minoxidil (OM), topical minoxidil (TM), and oral finasteride (OF).1,2 Between March 2024 and April 2025, Meltwater was utilized to capture >700,000 public conversations across Reddit, X, and other forums using hair loss-related search terms... Dissatisfaction was driven by a lack of results and SEs. Cardiovascular and shedding concerns were common in OM, while finasteride was linked to sexual SEs. Understanding discontinuation is crucial for alopecia management."

Adverse events • Alopecia • Cardiovascular • CNS Disorders • Depression • Immunology

Impact of Hair Specialist Dermatologists in Optimizing Treatment and Patient Experience in Scarring Alopecia (AAD 2026) - "HSD patients were also more likely to be prescribed topical minoxidil (p<0.001) or oral minoxidil (p=0.009). Our study illustrates that HSD demonstrate superior knowledge, counseling, empathy, and prescribing practices in scarring alopecia, highlighting their role in optimizing treatment and patient experience."

Clinical • Alopecia • CNS Disorders • Depression • Immunology • Lichen Planus • Mood Disorders

Trends in Medicaid Distribution of Prescription Minoxidil from 2015 - 2024 as a Proxy for Hair Loss Incidence in the U.S (AAD 2026) - "Minoxidil prescription usage has been rapidly increasing over the past seven years. The shift in prescription usage may be attributed to shifts in patient demand due to recent pandemic-related stress, the effects of long COVID, and post-viral telogen effluvium. Further studies can explore the emotional, clinical, and financial burden of hair loss, as well as potential racial and socioeconomic disparities in access to treatments."

Medicaid • Reimbursement • US reimbursement • Alopecia • Immunology • Novel Coronavirus Disease

Epidemiology of Alopecia Areata in Puerto Rico: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis (AAD 2026) - "Most received topical corticosteroids and minoxidil, while systemic therapies included corticosteroids, methotrexate, and increasing use of JAK inhibitors. High loss-to-follow-up underscores the impact of socioeconomic barriers and public health crises on continuity of care. Contribution: Residents led study design, data analysis, literature review, and manuscript preparation; medical students contributed with data extraction and drafting."

Retrospective data • Alopecia • Endocrine Disorders • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Novel Coronavirus Disease

Differential Hair Loss Patterns in Women Receiving Endocrine Therapy With or Without a CDK4/6 Inhibitor (AAD 2026) - "Amongst all women, hair loss most often involved the frontal (86%) and bitemporal (75%) scalp. Patients additionally receiving a CDK4/6i demonstrated more widespread involvement, with significantly greater vertex and bitemporal loss (p<0.0001; p=0.0009). These patients were more likely to reach Dean’s scale score of 2 (26-50% hair loss; p=0.0002)."

Clinical • Alopecia • Breast Cancer • Immunology • Solid Tumor

Clinical Effectiveness of Complementary and Alternate Therapies for Androgenetic Alopecia (AAD 2026) - "Physical modalities consist of low-level laser therapy, platelet rich plasma, scalp massage and acupuncture.2,3 Botanical 5-alpha reductase inhibitors include rosemary oil, pumpkin seed oil, and saw palmetto.1,4 Green tea extract, peppermint oil, and tea tree oil are examples of other natural products with different mechanisms.1 Rosemary oil, in particular, may be the most promising and cost effective natural product for androgenetic alopecia.1,5 Long-term use of finasteride and minoxidil can cause adverse effects such as decreased libido, scalp dermatitis, and pruritus.1 Comparatively, these alternative therapies are generally well-tolerated and may possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.1 Overall, there is varying scientific evidence supporting the use of these complementary and alternative therapies for androgenetic alopecia. In this review, we will further examine the properties and clinical effectiveness of these treatments."

Clinical • Alopecia • CNS Disorders • Dermatitis • Immunology • Pruritus • Seborrheic Dermatitis

Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil Discontinuation Rates and Reasoning (AAD 2026) - "Patients taking higher doses were less likely to discontinue. The most common contributors to discontinuation were hypertrichosis, edema/bloating, perceived inefficacy, and hypotension."

Acne Vulgaris • Alopecia • Cardiovascular • Hypotension • Immunology • Sexual Disorders

Vision at Risk? Ophthalmologic Safety of Anti-Androgens in Androgenic Alopecia (AAD 2026) - "In women with AGA, finasteride/dutasteride were associated with higher risks of dry eye, MGD, blepharitis, CME, and POAG compared with minoxidil. These findings underscore the need for ocular monitoring in women prescribed systemic anti-androgens."

Clinical • Alopecia • Dry Eye Disease • Glaucoma • Immunology • Macular Edema • Ocular Inflammation • Ophthalmology

Barriers in the Feed: Social Media Perspectives on Minoxidil Hesitancy (AAD 2026) - "This study highlights leading reasons for LDOM and TM hesitancy expressed online. Although online concerns align with known side effects, their frequency in personal experience posts was higher than rates in the literature [1,2]. Heightened online concern may contribute to minoxidil hesitancy, underscoring the importance of clinician counseling to diminish barriers to alopecia treatment."

Alopecia • Cardiovascular • CNS Disorders • Hypotension • Immunology • Insomnia • Sleep Disorder

Barking Up the Wrong Tree: How Human Topical Medications Can Be a Dog's Worst Nightmare (AAD 2026) - " Three categories of topical treatments were identified to demonstrate significant animal toxicity: 1) vasodilators (minoxidil), 2) antimetabolites (5-fluorouracil/ 5-FU), and 3) vitamin D analogues (calcipotriene, calcipotriol). Dermatologists and frequent prescribers of these topical treatments should be aware of the potentially fatal consequences for our beloved canine/ feline companions. It is our responsibility, alongside veterinarians, to educate and warn our human patients about how to use and store these medicines safely."

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Treatment Utilization in Cicatricial Alopecia: A Retrospective Cohort Study (AAD 2026) - "Outcomes included use of topical steroids, intralesional corticosteroids, minoxidil, tetracyclines, hydroxychloroquine, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus after GLP-1RA initiation. GLP-1RA therapy in CA is associated with decreased utilization of multiple therapeutic modalities, potentially reflecting improved disease control. These findings support a role for metabolic regulation in modulating CA progression and warrant further prospective investigation."

Retrospective data • Alopecia • Diabetes • Dyslipidemia • Immunology • Inflammation • Metabolic Disorders • Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Treatment Plateau After Two Years of Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil in Patients with Alopecia: A Retrospective Cohort Study (AAD 2026) - "Androgenetic alopecia (43%, n=13) was the most common subtype among individuals whose disease plateaued after two years of LDOM in PRO and PGA, followed by telogen effluvium (33%, n=10). Concomitant therapies were common, yet the plateau effect persisted despite combination treatment."

Retrospective data • Alopecia • Immunology

Oral Minoxidil for Pediatric and Adolescent Hair Loss: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Satisfaction and Perceived Benefit (AAD 2026) - "One respondent (2%) reported it was worth it but planned to stop, while 5% (n=2) did not believe it was worth it but intended to continue. These findings suggest that most pediatric and adolescent patients report moderate satisfaction and strong willingness to continue oral minoxidil for hair loss."

Clinical • Alopecia • Cardiovascular • Immunology • Pediatrics

Myths of Minoxidil: A Survey Study (AAD 2026) - "These misunderstandings may reduce adherence and treatment success of minoxidil. Therefore, targeted patient education addressing these myths could optimize outcomes and improve hair loss management."

Alopecia

Exosomes and hair regeneration: a novel approach awaiting clinical validation (AAD 2026) - "Androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss, yet currently approved therapies, including topical minoxidil, oral finasteride, and photobiomodulation, offer incomplete and temporary benefits...Human research is needed to ascertain the benefits and limitations of this intervention. Although exosome/extracellular vesicle therapy shows promise, FDA regulation should be followed before integration into mainstream therapy."

Clinical • Alopecia • Immunology • CTNNB1

Oral Intake of Colostrum-Derived Bioactives for Hair and Skin: Integrating Mechanistic, Translational, and Clinical Evidence (AAD 2026) - "Results Many studies demonstrated that colostrum-derived exosomes stimulated dermal papilla cell proliferation, promoted angiogenesis, and induced anagen transition via Wnt/β-catenin signaling, yielding hair growth comparable to minoxidil in murine and human follicle models...Conclusion Oral intake of colostrum-derived bioactives appear to be promising as novel adjuncts for hair regeneration, skin rejuvenation, and management of inflammatory dermatoses. Translational data support clinical relevance, though large, randomized trials remain necessary to confirm efficacy and define optimal dosing."

Clinical • Acne Vulgaris • Atopic Dermatitis • Dermatitis • Immunology • Inflammation • Psoriasis

Oral and Topical Minoxidil Use Not Associated with Elevated Incidence of Hematologic or Solid Organ Malignancy (AAD 2026) - "Protective associations between minoxidil and malignancy may be due to minoxidil exerting a negative effect on tumor growth [2]. Dermatologists may continue to prescribe minoxidil with confidence regarding malignancy risk."

Alopecia • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Hematological Malignancies • Oncology • Solid Tumor