An international consensus sets out low-dose oral minoxidil for children's hair loss

The edition in brief

A modified Delphi consensus of 49 hair specialists from nine countries agreed recommendations for low-dose oral minoxidil in children aged 4 to under 12, including weight-band dosing (about 0.25–0.625 mg under 20 kg, 1.25 mg at 20–40 kg, 1.875 mg over 40 kg), reassessment every three to six months and contraindications. This is expert opinion on off-label use, not trial evidence. A Spanish Delphi consensus on scalp psoriasis kept potent topical corticosteroids first line, with vitamin D analogue combinations for maintenance and IL-17 or IL-23 inhibitors preferred when systemic treatment is needed. In two birth cohorts, children with the most respiratory infections before age 3 had higher odds of atopic dermatitis (OR about 1.6–1.8), an association rather than a cause. A Spanish registry of 365 patients with metastatic melanoma found that those whose primary had been stage I relapsed later but with more brain metastases and shorter survival. The pearl covers follow-up advice for patients after a thin melanoma.