Minoxidil Foam Efficiency in Androgenic Alopecia

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.