Is There Benefit in Treating Traction Alopecia With Minoxidil? A Systematic Review

This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of minoxidil as an adjunctive treatment for traction alopecia (TA), a condition caused by prolonged tension on hair follicles. The review included 6 studies, with the largest involving 58 participants, but most studies had small sample sizes and high risk of bias. Minoxidil, both oral and topical, showed some hair regrowth, but the evidence was low-quality and largely subjective. The Marginal Traction Alopecia Score (M-TAS) was used in some studies to objectively measure improvement, but results varied. The review concluded that while minoxidil may aid hair regrowth, behavioral modification remains the primary treatment for TA. More high-quality studies with objective outcomes are needed to better assess minoxidil's effectiveness.