Several treatments can stop hair loss, ranging from medications that block the hormone responsible for shrinking follicles to procedures that stimulate new growth directly at the scalp. The right approach depends on what’s causing your hair loss in the first place. Most common hair loss in men and women traces back to hormones, nutritional gaps, or a combination of both, and each cause has a different solution.
Why Hair Falls Out in the First Place
The most common type of hair loss, pattern hair loss, is driven by a hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Your body creates DHT by converting testosterone through an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT isn’t inherently harmful. It stimulates body hair growth and plays a role in development. But in the scalp, DHT binds to receptors on hair follicles with about five times the strength of regular testosterone, and over time this causes follicles to shrink.
As follicles miniaturize, each hair growth cycle produces thinner, shorter, lighter strands until eventually the follicle stops producing visible hair altogether. This process is gradual, which is why early intervention matters. Treatments work best when follicles are still active, even if the hair they’re producing has become fine and wispy.
Not all hair loss is hormonal. Iron deficiency, thyroid disorders, extreme stress, and certain autoimmune conditions can all trigger shedding. These causes require different strategies, and treating the underlying issue often reverses the loss entirely.
Medications That Target DHT
Finasteride is the most studied oral treatment for pattern hair loss. It works by blocking 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, which lowers DHT levels in the scalp and slows or stops follicle miniaturization. A long-term Japanese study following 532 men over 10 years found that 99.1% maintained their hair or prevented further loss, and 91.5% showed visible improvement. Those numbers reflect consistent daily use over years, not a quick fix.
Finasteride is currently approved for men. Women of childbearing age cannot use it due to the risk of birth defects. For women with pattern hair loss, the oral option is typically spironolactone, which reduces the effect of androgens through a different pathway.
Minoxidil: Topical and Oral Forms
Minoxidil doesn’t block DHT. Instead, it extends the active growth phase of hair follicles by stimulating cell activity in the dermal papilla, the structure at the base of each follicle. It also increases blood flow to the scalp, helping deliver nutrients to follicles that have begun to shrink. The topical version (applied directly to the scalp as a liquid or foam) has been available over the counter for decades and works for both men and women.
More recently, low-dose oral minoxidil has gained traction as an off-label alternative. Doses ranging from 0.25 to 5 mg daily have shown beneficial results in studies. The oral form can be easier to use consistently and may produce more even coverage across the scalp, though it carries a slightly different side effect profile, including potential for increased body hair and, rarely, fluid retention. A dermatologist can help determine whether the topical or oral form makes more sense for your situation.
One important detail with minoxidil: it commonly causes a temporary increase in shedding during the first few weeks. This happens because it pushes resting hairs out to make room for new growth. The shedding typically stops within a month or two.
When Low Iron Is the Problem
Iron deficiency is one of the most overlooked causes of hair loss, particularly in women. You don’t need to be anemic for low iron to affect your hair. Dermatologists consider a ferritin level (the protein that stores iron in your body) below 70 ng/mL a potential contributor to hair loss, even when standard blood work comes back “normal.” Many labs flag ferritin as low only when it drops below 12 or 20 ng/mL, so your levels could be technically in range but still too low to support a healthy hair cycle.
If your ferritin is between 21 and 70 ng/mL, that falls into a zone where iron stores are adequate for basic body functions but may not be sufficient for hair growth. Hair isn’t essential for survival, so when iron is limited, your body prioritizes it elsewhere. Bringing ferritin above 70 ng/mL through diet or supplementation often improves shedding within three to six months. Red meat, lentils, spinach, and fortified cereals are good dietary sources, though supplementation may be necessary if levels are significantly low.
PRP Injections
Platelet-rich plasma therapy involves drawing a small amount of your blood, concentrating the platelets (which contain growth factors), and injecting the concentrated solution into the scalp. The growth factors stimulate dormant follicles and improve blood supply to existing ones.
The standard protocol is one treatment session per month for three months, followed by a booster session every six months. Results vary more than with medications, and PRP tends to work best as a complement to other treatments rather than a standalone solution. It’s particularly popular among people who want to avoid daily medication or who haven’t responded fully to minoxidil or finasteride alone. Cost is a significant factor since PRP is not covered by insurance and typically runs several hundred dollars per session.
Low-Level Laser Therapy
At-home laser devices (caps, helmets, and handheld combs) use red light at wavelengths between 630 and 670 nanometers to stimulate hair follicles. The light energy is thought to increase cellular activity in the follicle, similar in concept to how minoxidil works but through a completely different mechanism.
Typical use involves two to three sessions per week, with each session lasting 8 to 15 minutes. The devices are FDA-cleared and carry virtually no side effects, which makes them appealing. The trade-off is that the evidence, while positive, shows more modest results compared to medications. Laser therapy is best thought of as a low-risk add-on to a broader treatment plan rather than a primary treatment on its own.
Natural Supplements: What the Evidence Shows
Saw palmetto is the most studied natural supplement for hair loss. Like finasteride, it appears to partially block 5-alpha reductase, reducing DHT production. In a small 2012 study comparing the two, about 70% of people taking finasteride reported improvement compared to roughly 40% taking saw palmetto. That gap is significant, but a 40% response rate suggests saw palmetto does have a real, if more limited, effect.
Other supplements with some supporting evidence include biotin (mainly helpful if you’re actually deficient, which is rare), pumpkin seed oil, and marine protein supplements. None of these approach the efficacy of prescription treatments, but they carry fewer side effects and can be reasonable options for people with mild thinning or those who prefer to start with a gentler approach.
Combining Treatments for Better Results
Most dermatologists recommend a multi-pronged approach because different treatments target different parts of the hair loss process. A common combination for men is finasteride (to lower DHT) plus minoxidil (to stimulate growth), sometimes with a laser device or PRP layered on top. For women, the combination might be topical minoxidil, spironolactone, and iron supplementation if ferritin levels are suboptimal.
Consistency matters more than intensity. Hair growth cycles are slow. A single hair takes three to six months to grow long enough to be visible, so most treatments require at least that long before you can judge whether they’re working. Stopping treatment typically means the hair loss resumes, since these treatments manage the process rather than cure it permanently. The exception is hair loss caused by a correctable deficiency like low iron or a thyroid imbalance, where treating the root cause can produce lasting improvement.