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

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