Summation and recommendations for the safe and effective use of topical and oral minoxidil.

BACKGROUND: Topical minoxidil, approved for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, also has efficacy in many other hair loss disorders, its use is limited due to the need for at least daily application. Oral minoxidil, in doses below those likely to lower blood pressure (so called "low dose oral minoxidil") has increasingly been used off label to treat a variety of hair loss conditions but without any standard recommended best practices. OBJECTIVES: To provide a review of how experts in hair loss use the available literature on topical and low dose oral minoxidil to educate and treat safely and effectively patients with hair loss. METHODS: Dermatologists with expertise in hair disorders met by teleconference and email to review the literature and share their direct experience with topical and oral minoxidil. RESULTS: Provision of basic knowledge of the key aspects of the use of topical or oral minoxidil to insure safe and effective use of either in treating hair loss.