Can oral Minoxidil help with alopecia areata & can it be taken as a preventative?

Question

Hello, hair loss Doctors. Can low dose oral minoxidil help with alopecia areata? Also can it also be taken as a preventative as well to future alopecia areata spots? I know it's meant for genetic hair loss but can it help prevent alopecia areata as well? Does minoxidil have any affect on the immune cells that attack the follicles in alopecia areata? Thank you

Marco Barusco, MD · Answer

Hello,

Oral minoxidil is not typically used to treat alopecia areata, as it primarily stimulates hair growth and addresses genetic hair loss. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where immune cells attack hair follicles, and minoxidil does not target the immune response. Treatment for alopecia areata usually involves therapies like corticosteroids or immunomodulators. Minoxidil won’t prevent future spots but may help regrow hair in affected areas when used alongside other treatments.

Best regards,
Dr. Marco Barusco

Kulakarn Amonpattana, MD · Answer

Hello Steven_gq,
My name is Dr. Wipawan Vathananai, a co-worker of Dr.Kulakarn Amonpattana from BHI clinic, Bangkok, Thailand. I would like to give the answers regarding your questions.
1. Can low dose oral minoxidil help with alopecia areata?Answer - Low dose oral minoxidil might help AA to recover faster as topical minoxidil is also a standard treatment for AA when used with topical corticosteroid.
2. Also can it also be taken as a preventative as well to future alopecia areata spots?Answer - No, minoxidil cannot provide a prevention against new AA spots.
3. Does minoxidil have any affect on the immune cells that attack the follicles in alopecia areata? Answer - According to current research, there has been no studies with strong evidences proving that minoxidil has an effect on the immune cells, or in AA case, cytotoxic T cells.
Best regards,Dr. Wipawan Vathananai, MD

Can oral Minoxidil help with alopecia areata & can it be taken as a preventative?

Answers (2)

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