Hair Restoration Research Hub
Three main types of hair loss
Identifying which type you have is the most important step before evaluating any treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for the right diagnosis and before starting any treatment.
Pattern hair loss (AGA)
Most commonCaused by genetics and hormones. Gradual thinning — receding hairline or crown in men, diffuse thinning across the top in women. Most treatments on this page are researched for this condition.
Alopecia areata
Immune-related. The immune system attacks hair follicles, causing patchy or complete hair loss. A different condition requiring different treatment. Only JAK inhibitors have established RCT evidence for this condition.
Other types
Scarring alopecia, telogen effluvium, nutritional deficiency, and medication-induced hair loss have different causes. None of the treatments on this page have established evidence for these conditions. A specialist assessment is needed.
Treatments for pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)
Treatments fall into four broad categories: home and OTC options, prescription medications, clinic-based procedures, and experimental treatments.
Home and OTC options with strong evidence
Topical minoxidil and FDA-cleared red light therapy devices are available without a prescription and have the strongest evidence base among home-use options. Both are studied for men and women with pattern hair loss.
Prescription options
Oral finasteride has the strongest evidence among oral prescription treatments for men. Oral minoxidil and spironolactone are used off-label for women. All prescription treatments require assessment by a qualified doctor.
Adding a second treatment
Research supports combining microneedling with topical minoxidil. Multiple meta-analyses found significant additional hair count improvement compared to minoxidil alone. PRP is an alternative clinic-based addition with moderate evidence.
Clinic and surgical options
Hair transplant is the only treatment in this database studied for areas where hair has been permanently lost. PRP and microneedling are clinic procedures used as adjuncts. Exosome therapy has no controlled trial evidence as of 2025.
Best Red Light Therapy Devices for Hair Growth
Best Red Light Therapy Devices for Hair Growth
Ordered by evidence score. Each treatment links to its full research page.
| Treatment | Evidence | Backed by | FDA approved | Access | Invasive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topical Minoxidil | 8/10 | 3 studies | Yes — men & women | OTC | No |
| Oral Finasteride | 8/10 | 2 studies | Yes — men only | Prescription | No |
| Red Light Therapy | 7/10 | 5 studies | Cleared — home devices | OTC | No |
| Oral Minoxidil | 7/10 | 2 studies | No — off-label | Prescription | No |
| Topical Finasteride | 7/10 | 2 studies | No — FDA warning 2024 | Prescription | No |
| Oral Dutasteride (vs Finasteride) | 7/10 | 4 studies | No — off-label | Prescription | No |
| Microneedling | 7/10 | 4 studies | No | Clinic | Yes |
| Topical Dutasteride | 6/10 | 1 study | No — not yet available | Prescription | No |
| Spironolactone | 6/10 | 3 studies | No — women only | Prescription | No |
| Hair Supplements | 6/10 | 6 studies | No | OTC | No |
| Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) | 6/10 | 4 studies | No | Clinic | Yes |
| Hair Transplant (FUE) | 5/10 | 1 study | N/A — surgical | Clinic | Yes |
| Rosemary Oil | 5/10 | 2 studies | No | OTC | No |
| Ketoconazole Shampoo | 4/10 | 3 studies | No | OTC / Rx | No |
| Topical Caffeine | 4/10 | 3 studies | No | OTC | No |
| Topical Melatonin | 4/10 | 3 studies | No | OTC | No |
| Exosome Therapy | 2/10 | 1 study | No — experimental | Clinic | Yes |
| Scalp Massage | 2/10 | 2 studies | N/A | No product needed | No |
Best Red Light Therapy Devices for Hair Growth
Best Red Light Therapy Devices for Hair Growth
Treatments for alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an immune-related condition. The treatments in the table above are not studied for alopecia areata and should not be used to treat it.
| Treatment | Evidence | Backed by | FDA approved | Access | Invasive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAK Inhibitors | 8/10 | 2 studies | Yes — severe AA only | Prescription — specialist | No |