Minoxidil for Treating White Hair: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Launched by SOUTHERN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, CHINA · Feb 3, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at whether a topical treatment called Minoxidil can help restore natural hair color in people who have gray hair that is not caused by any underlying health issues. The study will include men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 who have noticeable gray hair. Participants will be divided into two groups: one will use Minoxidil, while the other will use a placebo, which is a treatment that looks the same but does not contain the active ingredient. The researchers want to find out if Minoxidil makes a real difference in restoring hair color and what side effects, if any, participants might experience.

To qualify for the study, participants need to have a certain level of gray hair and must not have any specific medical conditions that cause gray hair or other scalp issues. Throughout the trial, which lasts for 12 months, participants will apply the treatment twice a day and come in for check-ups once a month. They will also need to report any changes in their hair or any side effects they notice. This study is currently not recruiting participants but will provide important information about the potential effects of Minoxidil on gray hair.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • The patients included in the study were those with a visible gray hair grading score of 2 or higher at screening and baseline visits, with depigmented hair shafts observable under dermoscopy.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Exclusion criteria included various pathological types of gray hair (including, but not limited to, alopecia areata, albinism, radiation-induced gray hair, and vitiligo); any scalp skin diseases (including, but not limited to, androgenetic alopecia, folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, tinea capitis, and scalp sebaceous cysts); and any history of medication use or other treatments applied to the scalp within the past year (including, but not limited to, minoxidil, hair transplantation surgery, boric acid lotion, ketoconazole shampoo, and corticosteroid ointments). Patients with severe systemic diseases, immune diseases, endocrine disorders, or neurological diseases were also excluded.