Table 3.

Clinical evidence of topical alcohol-free minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia

Study design	Intervention group, dose, and duration	Efficacy	Safety
DB RCT[15]	5% minoxidil alcohol-free topical solution or 5% minoxidil alcohol-based topical solutions for 30 days	The mean hydration increased in patients treated with 5% alcohol-free minoxidil (9.74) and reduced in patients treated with alcohol-based solution (3.28, P=0.001) after a month The mean score for redness was significantly decreased by 5% alcohol-free minoxidil (0.01, P=0.009)	Patients reported no burning or itching in the alcohol-free minoxidil group compared with alcohol-based minoxidil (96.7%, 80%)
DB RCT[18]	5% minoxidil topical PG-free foam or placebo for 52 weeks	Significant increase in hair counts in the 5% minoxidil group versus placebo (P<0.0001) and subjective assessment of improved hair loss condition (P<0.0001) in the 5% minoxidil group versus placebo	-
A pilot study[19]	PG-free 5% minoxidil lotion or 5% minoxidil lotion for 12 weeks	The global tolerability score mean value was 1.7 Clinical efficacy scores were 0.4, 0.6, and 1.2 at weeks 4, 8, and 12, respectively	-

DB – Double-blind; RCT – Randomized controlled trial; PG – Propylene glycol