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Systematic Review Efficacy of Topical Minoxidil for Nail Growth: A Systematic Review
Sara Mahfoud Alghmadi1, Mohammed Alahmadi2, Reenad Alharbi3
1Department of Dermatology, King Fahad Hospital in Al-Baha, Al-Bahah, Saudi Arabia.
Introduction:
Nail growth disorders may lead to functional limitations and cosmetic distress, yet evidence-based therapeutic options remain limited. Minoxidil, a vasodilatory agent widely used for androgenetic alopecia, has been proposed as a potential treatment to enhance nail growth because of its proliferative and vascular effects. This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of topical minoxidil for promoting nail growth in both healthy individuals and patients with nail growth disorders.
Methods:
The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Comprehensive searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Wiley, Google Scholar, and EBSCO identified eligible human studies reporting quantitative nail growth outcomes.
Results:
Three studies, including one randomized controlled trial and two non-randomized studies, met the inclusion criteria. Topical minoxidil was associated with increased nail growth compared with placebo or untreated controls. In healthy participants, twice-daily application of 5% topical minoxidil increased the mean nail growth rate from 3.91 mm/month to 4.27 mm/month after 1 month (p = 0.003). In patients with pathological nail arrest (onychomadesis), a 5% minoxidil formulation combined with vitamin E achieved an 81% clinical response rate after 12 months of treatment. Additionally, minoxidil showed a greater increase in nail growth compared to oral biotin, with a 19% versus 13% increase in longitudinal nail growth, respectively. No severe local or systemic adverse effects were reported.
Conclusion:
Preliminary evidence from three studies indicates that topical minoxidil may stimulate nail growth in healthy individuals and patients with nail growth disorders. Nevertheless, the limited number of included studies (n = 3), small sample sizes, and heterogeneous study designs preclude definitive clinical recommendations. More comprehensive randomized controlled trials should be conducted to prove efficacy and develop standardized treatment regimens.
