Hair loss showdown: can a chemo drug gel beat minoxidil for alopecia areata?
NCT ID NCT07459933
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a gel containing methotrexate, an immune-suppressing drug, can regrow hair in people with localized alopecia areata better than minoxidil spray. About 268 adults with less than 25% scalp hair loss will apply one of the two treatments twice daily for 24 weeks. The main goal is to see how much hair regrows using a standard scalp measurement tool.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- topical methotrexate 1% gel and minoxidil 5% spray
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new topical treatment option for patchy hair loss from alopecia areata, potentially with fewer side effects than systemic drugs.
- What could go wrong
- This is a Phase 4 trial, but it hasn't started recruiting yet. Results may show no clear benefit over existing treatments, and topical methotrexate could cause skin irritation or other local side effects.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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