You might ask yourself, “What can I do to regain healthy hair?”. Simple methods like topical minoxidil and innovative approaches such as laser therapy work to revive hair health. These options bring promising results that can change your life.
In this article, you will learn about various treatments that can help restore your hair and boost your self-esteem.
| 🔑 Key Takeaway ➤ Topical minoxidil is applied as a liquid or foam and helps make hair thicker and stronger. ➤ Oral minoxidil is taken by mouth and is turned into an active form in the liver, which can help hair grow. ➤ Finasteride and vb,b5t work by lowering a hormone that causes hair loss, with dutasteride often showing better results. ➤ Platelet-rich plasma therapy uses your own blood to boost hair growth by increasing hair density. ➤ Microneedling makes tiny holes in the scalp that help kick-start hair growth. ➤ Low-level laser therapy uses red light to improve blood flow to the hair follicles and encourage hair growth. ➤ Stem cell treatments aim to restore and rebuild hair follicles, and early studies show promising results. |
Medical Treatments
There are different medical treatments used to help slow hair loss and boost hair regrowth. These treatments work in different ways, and each has its benefits and possible side effects.
Minoxidil (Topical & Oral)
Minoxidil is a medicine used to help regrow hair and slow hair loss in both men and women with pattern baldness. It started as a treatment for high blood pressure, but doctors noticed an unexpected side effect—hair growth.
One study explains that this discovery led to the use of minoxidil for hair loss. This medicine is now available in a topical form that you apply directly to your scalp, and in an oral form taken by mouth.
Topical
Topical minoxidil comes as a liquid or foam, usually in 2% and 5% strengths. When you apply it, it works by making the hair’s growing phase last longer and by thickening the hair. This method is safe and effective for many people. The foam formulation, for example, is often preferred because it causes less irritation than the liquid, helping more users stick with their treatment.
Oral
On the other hand, oral minoxidil is taken by mouth, typically in doses ranging from 0.625 mg to 5 mg per day. When minoxidil is taken orally, the liver converts it into its active form, minoxidil sulfate, more consistently. This makes the oral form often more effective in stimulating hair growth.
However, it can also lead to side effects such as dizziness, fast heart rates, and even extra hair growth on the face or body.
Finasteride and dutasteride
Finasteride and dutasteride are both used to treat hair loss, but they work a bit differently. Finasteride is approved by the FDA for treating male-pattern hair loss by lowering the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Dutasteride, on the other hand, blocks two forms of the 5α‐reductase enzyme (both type 1 and type 2), which makes it more potent in reducing DHT levels. This extra inhibition can lead to a greater increase in hair count and thickness.
Studies have shown that dutasteride, especially at doses of 0.5 mg and even 2.5 mg, produces a significantly higher hair count than finasteride given at 1 mg.
For instance, one research demonstrated that patients using dutasteride experienced a marked increase in hair count compared to those on placebo, and dutasteride outperformed finasteride in head-to-head comparisons. Another study also reported that hair thickness improved more with dutasteride than with finasteride. These findings suggest that dutasteride can be more effective in reversing miniaturization and boosting hair regrowth.
In women with androgenetic alopecia, the evidence is still mixed. Although neither drug has clear-cut approval for female hair loss, some studies have shown that both finasteride and dutasteride can improve hair thickness. In fact, one report noted that younger women might respond better to dutasteride, while older women could see more benefit from finasteride. However, more research is needed to firmly establish which medication is best for women.
Regarding safety, both drugs have similar side effect profiles. Common issues include changes in sexual function, such as decreased libido. Notably, finasteride has been linked to several side effects like sexual dysfunction, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. These side effects have led some experts to prefer dutasteride, especially for patients who do not respond well to finasteride. One systematic review concluded that dutasteride is more potent than finasteride while showing comparable safety.
Non-Medical & Regenerative Therapies
Mon-medical and regenerative therapies don’t use regular medicines. Instead, they help your body heal and grow hair. They boost your body’s natural power to grow stronger and thicker hair.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) therapy for hair loss shows promise and has been studied in several clinical trials. PRP is made from a patient’s own blood. The blood is spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, which contain growth factors that can help hair follicles grow stronger and thicker. These growth factors help cells multiply and can extend the active (anagen) phase of hair growth. Studies have found that PRP injections can increase hair density and thickness over time.
For example, one study treated 52 patients with PRP using a double-spin technique without an extra platelet activator. Their study showed a significant increase in hair density after three monthly injections.
Similarly, another study compared different treatment groups, and their results indicated that patients receiving PRP—with or without additional minoxidil—had more hair growth than those using minoxidil alone. Another study found that three monthly PRP injections increased both hair density and thickness compared to baseline measurements, even though the differences compared to the placebo were not always significant.
When it comes to female pattern hair loss, studies have also shown good outcomes. One study treated 30 women with three monthly PRP injections, which led to significant increases in both hair density and thickness compared to placebo.
| ✂️ In Short Could PRP be the solution for you? While many studies show that PRP injections can help regrow hair and improve hair quality, the results can vary. Researchers believe that differences in how the PRP is prepared, the number of platelets injected, and the treatment intervals all play a role in the outcomes. Moreover, since the effects are not permanent, patients often need follow-up sessions to maintain the benefits. |
Microneedling
Microneedling has emerged as a promising treatment for hair loss. One study explains that this procedure uses very fine needles to make tiny punctures in the scalp. These small injuries trigger the wound-healing process. As a result, growth factors like platelet‐derived and epidermal growth factors are released. This reaction may activate hair follicle stem cells and increase the expression of hair growth genes.
Their review noted that microneedling as a monotherapy significantly increased total hair count more than using 5% minoxidil alone. Moreover, when microneedling was combined with minoxidil, the hair count further increased. They also suggested that a longer overall treatment duration with less frequent sessions might boost the total hair count even more.
A separate study compared two groups of men with androgenetic alopecia. One group received weekly microneedling with a 1.5 mm dermaroller plus twice daily 5% minoxidil, while the other group used only the minoxidil lotion.
After 12 weeks, the microneedling group showed a mean increase in hair count of 91.4 hairs per square centimeter, compared to just 22.2 hairs in the minoxidil-only group. Researchers noted that 40 patients in the microneedling group scored +2 to +3 on a visual scale for hair growth, whereas none in the minoxidil group reached such a level.
Furthermore, 82% of the microneedling group reported more than 50% improvement in hair growth versus only 4.5% in the minoxidil group. In this study, new hair growth appeared around 6 weeks in the microneedling group, compared to about 10 weeks in the minoxidil-only group.
Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT)
Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) is a safe, non‐invasive option to boost hair growth for those with pattern baldness. This treatment uses devices that emit red light—typically in the 630–670 nm range—to help increase blood flow and energy production in hair follicles. The idea is that by stimulating the mitochondria in the hair bulge, the treatment may encourage follicles to shift from resting (telogen) to active growth (anagen).
In simple terms, LLLT helps turn on the “growth switch” for your hair.
One robust study involved 110 male patients with Norwood–Hamilton classes IIa–V androgenetic alopecia. After 26 weeks of using the HairMax® LaserComb—an FDA-cleared device—the treated group showed an average gain of 19 normal‐sized hairs per square centimeter.
In contrast, those using a sham device actually lost about 7 hairs per square centimeter. Patients also reported improvements in overall hair appearance, such as thicker and shinier hair, even though investigators did not note a significant change on global assessment.
Similar positive outcomes have been seen in studies involving both men and women. For instance, one study conducted a multicenter, double‐blind trial with 128 men and 141 women. Their results revealed a significant increase in terminal hair density when using the HairMax® LaserComb compared to a sham device.
Another study, which included 103 male and 122 female participants using the same device, reported a clear rise in terminal hair density compared to controls. These findings suggest that LLLT benefits both sexes and works well whether used alone or combined with standard treatments like minoxidil.
So, how often should you use LLLT? Typically, treatments are delivered two to three times a week for sessions lasting about 8 to 15 minutes, with many studies lasting between 12 and 26 weeks.
Devices like the HairMax® LaserComb and the iRestore Hair Growth System have gained FDA clearance and are designed for easy home use. Best of all, no major side effects have been reported, which makes LLLT a very attractive option for people looking to improve hair density without surgery or heavy medications.
Stem Cells
Stem cells hold great promise for treating hair loss by helping to restore and regenerate hair follicles.
For example, in one study, the researchers took a small biopsy from the hair follicle “bulge” (a rich source of stem cells), removed fat, and injected the remaining cells back into the scalp of patients with alopecia areata. This treatment led to improved hair density compared to untreated controls. Another study explained that both embryonic stem cells and adult mesenchymal stem cells can be used to generate new hair or help existing hair grow.
Another innovative method is “stem cell educator therapy,” In this process, a patient’s own blood is circulated through a system containing cord blood stem cells before being returned to the patient. This procedure produced a protective ring of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) around the hair follicles, which helped shield them from the immune system.
Another study further showed that when mature stem cells from a patient’s own hair follicles were isolated and injected into the scalp, 29% of the patients experienced an increase in hair density. This result is encouraging, especially when compared to the modest gains seen with traditional treatments like minoxidil.
Wrap Up
Medical options like minoxidil (topical or oral), finasteride, and dutasteride can offer strong results, yet each carries its own set of benefits and risks.
Non-medical methods, including PRP therapy, microneedling, low-level laser therapy, and stem cell treatments, add promising alternatives by tapping into your body’s natural healing powers. Each of these treatments works differently; what’s best for one person might not be ideal for another.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes hair loss?
Hair loss can happen for many reasons like genetics, stress, illness, or even harsh hair styling. Sometimes, medications or conditions like thyroid problems may also be the cause.
How is hair loss diagnosed?
Your doctor will check your scalp and ask about your history. They might run tests such as blood tests, a pull test, or even a scalp biopsy.
How does minoxidil work?
Minoxidil slows hair loss and may help regrow hair. You usually need to use it daily for about six months to see any improvements.
Can hair loss ever reverse naturally?
Sometimes hair loss caused by stress or hormonal changes may reverse on its own. However, severe cases might need treatment.
What lifestyle changes can protect my hair?
Eating a healthy diet, managing stress, and using gentle hair care can help. Avoid tight hairstyles and harsh chemicals to keep your hair strong.
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