Australas J Dermatol. 2002 Nov; 43(4): 311-2.

Sensitization to saw palmetto and minoxidil in separate topical extemporaneous treatments for androgenetic alopecia.

Sinclair RD, Mallari RS, Tate B.

Skin and Cancer Foundation, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. sinclair@svhm.org.au

We report a 24-year-old woman with androgenetic alopecia who became sensitized to topical minoxidil following use of an extemporaneous preparation of minoxidil 4% with retinoic acid in a propylene glycol base. She subsequently also became sensitized to saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), a topical herbal extract commonly promoted for the treatment of hair loss.