Enhanced Clinical Outcomes and Treatment Adherence in Patients Using Compounded Topical Minoxidil to Treat Androgenetic and Traction Alopecia

This study evaluated the effectiveness and adherence of compounded topical minoxidil (CTM) in treating androgenetic and traction alopecia in 66 Black women at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The CTM formulation included a steroid and retinoid, and was compared to over-the-counter (OTC) minoxidil. Results showed that 69.6% of patients using CTM reported clinical improvement, compared to 45.0% with OTC minoxidil. Additionally, CTM had a higher adherence rate of 84.7% versus 44.7% for OTC minoxidil, and fewer side effects were reported with CTM. The study suggests that CTM may be more effective and better tolerated than OTC minoxidil for this patient group.