Minoxidil Emulgel for Androgenic Alopecia: A Literature Review Including Patents

Abstract

Minoxidil is a powerful vasodialator (antihypertensive drug), i.e. direct relaxation of arteriolar smooth muscle with little effect on venous capacitance. Minoxidil is the only FDA approved topical medication with proven efficacy for the treatment of androgenic alopecia. Alopecia is characterized by round or oval patches of non-scarring hair loss. It is believed that it only causes scalp hair loss that may be partial (transient or persistent) or complete (alopecia totalis), but sometimes it may progress to cause total body hair loss (alopecia universalis). Eumlgels are emulsion gels which contains randomly distributed oil microdroplets. They are emulsions either of oil-in- water or water-in-oil type, which are gelled by mixing with gelling agent. Emulgels have been found to be novel approach for the treatment of various topical disorders. According to the various literature collected emulgels were found to be optimum over other topical preparations i.e. gel, cream, etc.