Minoxidil for Alopecia Areata
Verdict: Published with Warning
Across 4 PubMed studies, the evidence for Minoxidil in Alopecia Areata grades Tier C — weak evidence. Effective, but with safety or population caveats.
C 🟠 C Weak Evidence Published with Warning
Why this grade7-layer evidence engine
⚖️
Scoring transparency
All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditableRaw score 0.66
D
C
B
A
S
← counter-evidence / ineffectiveeffective / strong evidence →
Final grade
C · Published with Warning
Confidence
78%
Broadly consistent
Evidence level
E2
Multiple high-quality MAs (≥2 independent, consistent)
▸View the full decision path (audit trail)
- compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.655
- tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
- apply_hec_rules — 高品質 SR/MA 顯示 positive (1 篇 > 0 negative)
- tier_strict_requirement_check — Tier 條件達標，未降階
- detect_disputes — 偵測到 0 個 hard + 0 個 soft dispute
- decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status
PubMed studies (4)L2 · primary research & systematic reviews
The Role of Minoxidil in Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Finding: Pooled response rate 82% (95% CI 0.70-0.93) for 5% topical and 82% for oral; <5% topical pooled 58% (95% CI 0.50-0.67); substantial heterogeneity (I2=80.4%) and publication bias detected for 5% subgroup (Egger b=-5.18, p=0.001).
View on PubMed The use of minoxidil in the treatment of alopecia areata: A systematic review
Finding: Minoxidil (topical or oral) may benefit AA as monotherapy but evidence is heterogeneous; the review explicitly frames minoxidil as an adjunct to corticosteroids or JAK inhibitors and states insufficient data exist to position it as first-line.
View on PubMed Comparison of Efficacy of Topical Betamethasone Dipropionate and Topical Minoxidil in Patients With Alopecia Areata
Finding: Betamethasone group achieved 74% Grade 3-4 response vs minoxidil 42% (p=0.001); minoxidil 5% was statistically significantly inferior to topical corticosteroid over 12 weeks.
View on PubMed Comparison of efficacy, safety and satisfaction of latanoprost versus minoxidil, betamethasone and in combination in patients with alopecia areata: A blinded multiple group randomized controlled trial
Finding: Combination betamethasone+latanoprost and latanoprost monotherapy produced greater regrowth than minoxidil monotherapy; minoxidil monotherapy was the weakest arm with significant difference vs combination groups (p<0.05).
View on PubMed Regulatory & authoritative positionsL4/L5 · FDA / EMA / NIH ODS / Cochrane / Mayo …
L4a US FDA
Supportive
to regrow hair on the top of the scalp (vertex only, see pictures on side of carton) source↗
L4c UK NHS
Supportive
L4d TW TFDA / 衛福部
Supportive
醫師藥師藥劑生指示藥品 source↗
L5b Mayo Clinic
Supportive
L5c Cleveland Clinic
Supportive
L5d Harvard Health
Supportive
Some people with the condition will respond to topical preparations applied to the affected areas, including minoxidil (Rogaine) which may increase hair growth by accelerating the speed of the natural hair cycle and increasing the diameter of hairs that begin to grow. source↗
L5e Specialty Society (condition-mapped)
Supportive