Hair Regeneration: What works?
Regenerating Hair Growth in Men and Women: What Works and How Long It Lasts
Hair thinning and hair loss affect millions of men and women. Modern treatments offer real potential to slow progression, stimulate regrowth, and restore density — but results vary by cause, treatment choice, and individual biology. This guide covers evidence-based options, what to expect in terms of durability, and practical steps for maximizing outcomes.
What causes hair loss?
Androgenetic alopecia (male- and female-pattern hair loss): the most common cause; genetically and hormonally driven.
Telogen effluvium: diffuse shedding from stress, illness, medications, or hormonal changes (often reversible).
Alopecia areata: autoimmune patchy loss; variable course.
Scarring alopecia and medical/scalp disorders: less common; require specialty treatment.
Nutritional deficiencies, thyroid disease, and chronic scalp inflammation can contribute and should be addressed.
General principles for successful regeneration
Early intervention yields better outcomes — the more viable hair follicles that remain, the greater the chance of regrowth.
Address underlying causes (thyroid, iron, medications, stress) before or alongside cosmetic therapies.
Combine therapies when appropriate, as multimodal approaches often outperform single treatments.
Realistic expectations: most treatments improve density and slow loss rather than instantly restore a full head of hair.
Top evidence-based treatments
Topical minoxidil
How it works: a vasodilator that prolongs the anagen (growth) phase and increases follicle size.
Use: 5% foam or solution for men and women (women often start with 2% or 5% depending on tolerance).
Timeline: look for improvement in 3–6 months; full effect by 12 months.
Durability: must be continued indefinitely; stopping leads to return to pre-treatment pattern over months.
Best for: early to moderate androgenetic alopecia; safe adjunct to other therapies.
Oral therapies
Finasteride (men) — 1 mg daily
How it works: inhibits type II 5α-reductase, lowering DHT that miniaturizes follicles.
Timeline: improvements seen 3–6 months, more robust by 12 months.
Durability: continuous use required; discontinuation reverses benefits.
Side effects: sexual side effects are uncommon but possible; discuss risks and monitoring.
Low-dose oral minoxidil (off-label)
How it works: systemic vasodilator at low doses can stimulate growth for both sexes.
Timeline/durability: similar to topical; requires ongoing use.
Monitoring: blood pressure and side effects should be assessed.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) Available at Pure Laser Med Spa & Wellness
How it works: concentrated growth factors from the patient’s blood injected into the scalp to stimulate follicles and reduce inflammation.
Protocol: series of 3 monthly sessions, then maintenance every 3–6 months.
Efficacy: randomized and controlled studies show significant hair count and thickness improvements, particularly for early androgenetic alopecia.
Durability: benefits last while maintenance treatments continue; repeat sessions prolong results.
Best for: patients with viable miniaturized follicles; often combined with topical/oral therapy.
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) Available at Pure Laser Med Spa & Wellness
How it works: photobiomodulation stimulates cellular activity in hair follicles.
Use: in-office devices or at-home caps/helmets used several times per week.
Timeline: improvements in 3–6 months.
Durability: requires ongoing use; stopping leads to gradual loss of benefit.
Safety: well tolerated, non-invasive.
Microneedling (with or without topical agents) Available at Pure Laser Med Spa & Wellness
How it works: controlled micro-injury stimulates wound-healing pathways and enhances topical drug penetration (e.g., minoxidil or PRP).
Protocol: monthly microneedling sessions often combined with PRP or topical agents.
Evidence: clinical trials show improved density when combined with minoxidil or PRP versus minoxidil alone.
Durability: benefits maintained with continued combination therapy and periodic sessions.
Hair transplantation
How it works: harvesting healthy follicles (FUE or FUT) from donor areas and implanting into thinning zones.
Who it's for: appropriate for stable, advanced pattern hair loss with adequate donor supply.
Results: can provide permanent, natural-looking results for transplanted follicles.
Durability: transplanted follicles are generally permanent; native hair may continue to thin — often requiring adjunctive medical therapy to preserve surrounding hair.
Considerations: costs, recovery, and need for medical therapy to protect remaining hair.
Emerging and adjunctive options
Hormone modulation for women (anti-androgens like spironolactone or oral contracebest. Which ones last? Are there different suggestions for men or women