Minoxidil. Update on its clinical role.

The study and common use of minoxidil have legitimized research in common baldness. Prior to this time, with rare exception, the field was dominated by charlatans and "snake oil merchants." Minoxidil has opened the door to scientific inquiry and allowed support of serious laboratory investigation.

Alopecia in children: the most common causes.

The differential diagnosis of alopecia in the pediatric age group is simplified by the fact that 90% to 95% of the cases are caused by four major entities: alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, tinea capitis, and trichotillomania. Careful examination of the scalp, hair, and historical pattern of the loss will usually be rewarded by the correct diagnosis.