Oral minoxidil is frequently prescribed for hair loss treatment. This medication is also the key component of over-the-counter Rogaine. While it is known to widen blood vessels, experts express concerns that its use might heighten heart-related side effects from chemotherapy, potentially causing issues like chest pain, breathlessness, or fluid retention. However, recent research involving women with breast cancer indicates that low doses of oral minoxidil, taken during or after cancer treatments, can effectively promote hair regrowth for most patients without leading to significant heart-related complications that would necessitate further medical interventions or hospitalization.
Facing hair loss due to chemotherapy can be distressing enough for some women to suffer a decline in self-esteem, which experts suggest might deter them from pursuing chemotherapy altogether.
Oral minoxidil is frequently prescribed for hair loss treatment. This medication is also the key component of over-the-counter Rogaine. While it is known to widen blood vessels, experts express concerns that its use might heighten heart-related side effects from chemotherapy, potentially causing issues like chest pain, breathlessness, or fluid retention.
However, recent research involving women with breast cancer indicates that low doses of oral minoxidil, taken during or after cancer treatments, can effectively promote hair regrowth for most patients without leading to significant heart-related complications that would necessitate further medical interventions or hospitalization.
The study, conducted by researchers at NYU Langone Health, examined 51 women receiving treatment for varying stages of breast cancer. Among these participants, 25 underwent a combination of surgery and radiation alongside chemotherapy, while 26 received only the former two treatments.
“Our results should offer reassurance to breast cancer patients that there is indeed a safe way to combat their hair loss,” stated co-lead author Devyn Zaminski, BA, a medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Although prior studies have looked into the effectiveness of minoxidil for breast cancer patients, this recent research is among the most comprehensive to investigate both the safety and benefits of minoxidil in this context, as noted by the researchers.
A detailed report on this study was published online on December 3 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
To gather information for the analysis, the research team utilized data from NYU Langone Health’s electronic health records from 2012 to 2023. From a large pool of breast cancer patients prescribed oral minoxidil for hair loss, they identified 51 women who had used the medication for over a month and possessed detailed records on how well they tolerated the treatment. The team considered factors such as age, race, and medical history, along with specifics about the breast cancer diagnosis, other medications, and various demographic details.
According to evaluations from both physicians and patients’ personal reports, every participant who took a low dose of oral minoxidil experienced either an enhancement in hair growth or stabilization of hair loss within three to six months after beginning the treatment.
“Based on these findings, minoxidil has demonstrated safety for patients alongside its effectiveness,” emphasized co-senior author Kristen Lo Sicco, MD, an associate professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “The positive impact of minoxidil can help patients regain a sense of identity and control in circumstances where they feel it has been visibly diminished,” added Lo Sicco.
Lo Sicco suggested that further research is essential to confirm these findings among a broader patient group and those undergoing different cancer treatments and chemotherapy regimens.
The research team pointed out that some patients may not have reported minor heart-related side effects, such as slight fluid accumulation, especially if these occurred without noticeable symptoms. Consequently, these issues may not have been recorded in the patients’ health records. Another limitation highlighted by the team is that some assessments made by doctors and patients were self-reported or subjective.
The study was funded by NYU Langone Health.
Alongside Zaminski and Lo Sicco, additional researchers from NYU Langone involved in the study include Ambika Nohria, BS; Deesha Desai, BS; Michael Buontempo, MS; Avrom Caplan, MD; Mario Lacouture, MD; Michael Garshick, MD; and Jerry Shapiro, MD. Michelle Sikora, BS, served as the study’s co-lead author, while Daniel R. Mazori, MD, was the study’s co-senior author.
Another contributor to the research is Elise Olsen, MD, from Duke University in Durham, NC.
