Does Topical Minoxidil Actually Work? - Doctor of Pharmacy Reviews

In this educational video, I discuss the use of topical minoxidil for treating androgenic alopecia (male and female pattern hair loss).
I cover the following topics:

1. Why minoxidil may work for some individuals but not others based on genetic expression of the minoxidil sulfotransferase enzyme in the outer root sheath of the hair follicle. This enzyme catalyses the conversion of inactive minoxidil to active minoxidil sulphate.
2. The mechanism of action of topical minoxidil - simplified version.
3. The efficacy of topical minoxidil 2% and 5% solution and 5% foam in men and women with androgenic alopecia as per a large meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized control trials.
4. Common side effects from topical minoxidil, the cause of these side effects and which require medical attention.
5. A comparison of the foam vs liquid versions of topical minoxidil in terms of efficacy, side effects, cost and convenience.
6. Potential work-arounds for achieving efficacy in topical minoxidil non-responders - these data are from smaller, lower quality studies.

I have created this video based on the latest scientific research so that you can make an informed decision about whether topical minoxidil is right for you.

This video is not medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Please send all personal health inquiries to your healthcare provider.

Thanks and all the best,
Isaac

References
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NB...
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30974...
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28078...
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
6. https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00037622.PDF