In an article published in NBC News, experts stressed that there may be a regional shortage of the hair regrowth drug minoxidil in the United States. After calling 277 pharmacies in Washington, DC; Maryland; and Virginia, 60% were unable to immediately fill 30-day prescriptions of the drug. Although the investigators could not determine the definitive cause of the shortages, they hypothesized that the drug’s recent popularity on social media may have triggered an increase in prescriptions. Minoxidil works by boosting blood flow around the hair follicles, stimulating hair growth. Patients with androgenetic alopecia must maintain consistent daily use of minoxidil to see benefit, and interruptions in their regimen may result in hair loss. However, investigators believe that limited access to the drug may be regional rather than nationwide, since the FDA has not listed minoxidil on its list of drugs currently facing shortages. Other experts have suggested that the pharmacies may not be adequately stocking the drugs because they are not used in health emergency situations. “Hair loss is not life-threatening, but let’s not underestimate the impact on quality of life. When [patients] lose their hair, it is extraordinarily disabling,” concluded Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at George Washington University.