Treatments
19 evidence-based articles
Dermarolling for Hair Loss: Evidence, Protocol & Best Rollers (2026)
Microneedling plus minoxidil beat minoxidil alone in a 2013 trial. Here is the exact protocol that trial used — 1.5 mm, weekly, no minoxidil for 24 hours — and which rollers match it.
Dutasteride for Hair Loss: Off-Label Guide (2026)
Dutasteride blocks both types of 5-alpha reductase and may outperform finasteride for hair regrowth — but it's not FDA-approved for hair loss. Here's what the evidence shows.
Ketoconazole Shampoo for Hair Loss: Does It Work? (2026)
Ketoconazole shampoo (Nizoral) has mild anti-DHT properties and improves hair density as a complement to minoxidil or finasteride. Here's what the evidence actually shows.
Laser Therapy for Hair Loss: Does Low-Level Light Actually Work? (2026)
Evidence-based guide to LLLT and laser caps for hair regrowth. Clinical studies, FDA clearances, device comparison, and honest assessment.
Minoxidil Shedding: Why It Happens and When It Stops (2026)
Starting minoxidil and shedding more hair? That's the 'dread shed' — and it's usually a sign the drug is working. Here's why it happens, how long it lasts, and when to worry.
Oral Minoxidil for Hair Loss: The Off-Label Trend Explained (2026)
Low-dose oral minoxidil (2.5-5mg) is increasingly prescribed off-label for hair loss as a convenient alternative to topical. Here's what the evidence shows and what to watch out for.
PRP for Hair Loss: Is Platelet-Rich Plasma Worth the Cost? (2026)
PRP therapy injects concentrated platelets into your scalp to stimulate hair follicles. Some studies show promising results, but protocols vary widely and costs are $500-2,000 per session.
Saw Palmetto for Hair Loss: Does It Work vs Finasteride? (2026)
Saw palmetto is sold as a natural finasteride. In a two-year comparison, 38% of men improved on saw palmetto versus 68% on finasteride. Here is what that means, plus dosing, side effects and who it suits.
Spironolactone for Women's Hair Loss: What to Know (2026)
Spironolactone is an anti-androgen prescribed off-label for women with pattern hair loss. Here's how it works, what the evidence shows, and what to expect.
Topical Finasteride: Lower Side Effects, Same Results? (2026)
Topical finasteride delivers DHT-blocking to the scalp with significantly less systemic absorption than oral — meaning fewer side effects. Here's what the evidence actually shows.
Do Scalp Serums Work for Hair Growth?
Most scalp serums are decent scalp treatments sold as hair-growth treatments. The distinction matters: a healthier scalp can reduce shedding, but nothing in a typical serum reverses pattern hair loss.
Sudden Hair Shedding: What Telogen Effluvium Is and What Actually Helps
Handfuls of hair after childbirth, illness, surgery or stress is usually telogen effluvium — and it usually stops on its own. That fact is also why almost every product sold for it appears to work.
Spermidine and Ceramides for Hair Loss: What the Trials Actually Show
Two of the newer supplement ingredients have something most do not — randomized, placebo-controlled human trials showing more anagen hair. Here is what those studies found, how strong they are, and where they still fall short.
Do Vitamin Patches Work for Hair Loss?
Biotin patches promise to bypass your gut and deliver nutrients through the skin. The chemistry argues against it, the only clinical comparison found patch users more deficient than pill users, and oral biotin was never the bottleneck anyway.
Laser Therapy After a Hair Transplant: Is It Worth It? (2026)
Can an LLLT laser cap help after a hair transplant? What the evidence supports (protecting native hair, possibly aiding healing), when to start, and what your surgeon needs to clear first.
Does Laser Therapy Help Alopecia Areata? (The Honest Answer)
Low-level laser therapy is for pattern hair loss, not alopecia areata. Here's why LLLT isn't an established treatment for this autoimmune condition — and what actually works.
Laser Therapy for Women's Hair Loss: Does It Work? (2026)
LLLT laser caps and helmets are FDA-cleared for women, and some of the strongest evidence was gathered in women. Here's what it can and can't do for female pattern hair loss — and how to use it.
Minoxidil + Laser Cap: Does the Combination Work Better? (2026)
The strongest evidence for laser caps is when they're used alongside minoxidil, not instead of it. Here's what the combination trials found, how to run the stack, and who it's actually for.
Biotin for Hair Loss: Does It Actually Work?
Biotin is the most-sold hair supplement and the least likely to help you. It works only if you are deficient, deficiency is rare, and high doses can corrupt your thyroid and heart lab results.