How Is Hair Loss Treated?
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Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD
Hair loss (medically known as alopecia) can stem from many different causes—including genetics, medical conditions, infections, certain medications, stress, and more. Fortunately, a variety of treatment options exist that can stop hair loss, promote hair regrowth, or reduce inflammation in some cases.
While there's no one-size-fits-all cure for hair loss, a dermatologist (a healthcare provider who specializes in skin, hair, and nail conditions) can help diagnose the underlying cause, recommend medications, and conduct procedures and other therapies to help slow down hair loss and promote hair regrowth.
Treatments by Hair Loss Type
There are several different types of hair loss, and they're not all treated in the exact same way.
Treatments for Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia (usually known as male or female pattern hair loss) is one of the most common forms of hair loss, affecting as many as 80 million people in the United States. Treatment options for this type of hair loss include:
Rogaine (topical minoxidil): This topical over-the-counter (OTC) solution helps stimulate hair growth, specifically for pattern hair loss. It's also available in pill form, though that version is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for hair loss treatment.
Propecia and Proscar (finasteride): These prescription oral medications are primarily used for male pattern hair loss, and sometimes prescribed off-label for post-menopausal female pattern hair loss. They work by blocking the production of a male hormone that can halt hair growth.
Aldactone (spironolactone): Off-label, this medication is often prescribed for female pattern hair loss. Studies have shown that it can be effective for male pattern hair loss, too, and may be particularly successful overall when it's combined with another treatment like minoxidil.
Medicated shampoos: Ketoconazole 2% shampoo (or Nizoral) and Pyrithione zinc 1% shampoo (like the brand Head and Shoulders) may also be recommended as supplemental treatments. Studies suggest these products may encourage hair growth by cutting down on scalp inflammation.
Treatments for Telogen Effluvium
Telogen effluvium is the medical name for hair loss that's caused by physical or emotional stress. This can happen temporarily with factors like childbirth, major surgery or illness, high fever, certain medications, a severely stressful incident, or crash diets. It can also be chronic (or long-lasting) depending on the stressor.
A main treatment method experts recommend for telogen effluvium is removing or limiting the underlying stress factor, which usually resolves the hair loss issue.
While getting rid of stress isn't always immediately possible, or may take some time to process, there are a couple of other therapies that you may want to discuss with your healthcare provider in the meantime:
Minoxidil: The topical version is often recommended, though studies are looking into the effectiveness of the (non FDA-approved) oral formula.
Topical or oral corticosteroids: These may be prescribed if inflammation is present.
Supplements: If blood tests determine that any vitamin or mineral deficiencies may be leading to your hair loss, your healthcare provider may recommend a specialized supplement regimen to help support hair health.
Treatments for Alopecia Areata
More than 300,000 people in the U.S. experience alopecia areata each year. This autoimmune condition causes prominent, patchy hair loss when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles.
Treatment options for alopecia areata include:
Topical or injectable corticosteroids: Applying prescription medication creams or injecting them into the area affected by hair loss can help treat inflammation and prompt hair growth.
Minoxidil: This topical solution can help maintain hair regrowth, particularly after corticosteroid treatment is stopped.
Other topical medications: A topical medication known as anthralin, which is FDA-approved to treat psoriasis on the scalp, may be prescribed to help reduce inflammation.
Olumiant (baricitinib): This prescription drug is an oral medication that works to block inflammation and prevent the immune system from attacking the hair follicles. It was FDA-approved in 2022.
Treatments for Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that happen when there's repeated tension or pulling on the hair due to tight hairstyles. Treatment for this form of hair loss aims to relieve symptoms, stop any future hair loss, and potentially regrow hair. There aren't any FDA-approved treatments for traction alopecia, but lifestyle changes can help stop hair loss and promote hair growth, including:
Stopping the tension-causing hairstyle: Often, hair loss can be prevented if the hairstyle is switched up when you first notice the shedding.
Topical or injectable corticosteroids: These prescription medications may be recommended if there is scalp inflammation involved.
Minoxidil: The application of this solution can help "spot treat" for traction-related hair regrowth.
Hair transplant surgery: For more severe cases, a procedure that involves removing hair from a healthy part of the scalp and placing it over the areas that are experiencing hair loss might be an option.
Treatments for Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania is a hair-pulling disorder that impacts up to 4% of the population. It involves habitually pulling or twirling strands of hair, which can lead to hair loss. It is especially common in children. Treatment options for this condition include:
Behavioral therapy: Using cognitive behavioral therapy and habit reversal training may be effective in some cases, particularly if combined with a prescription medication regimen.
Prescription medications: Because there aren't any FDA-approved treatments specifically for trichotillomania, experts may look into other options like antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anticonvulsants to treat any underlying mental health conditions.
Mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques can help manage stress and anxiety, which are often associated with trichotillomania.
Treatments for Tinea Capitis
Tinea capitis (or ringworm) is a fungal infection on the scalp that can cause hair loss. Treatment for tinea capitis focuses on killing the underlying fungus, then supporting hair regrowth:
Antifungal medications: Oral antifungal medications like Lamisil (terbinafine) can help resolve the infection.
Topical corticosteroids: When applied to the scalp in conjunction with an antifungal medication, these creams can help cut down on inflammation caused by the infection.
Antifungal shampoos: While these products typically can't clear a fungal infection on their own, they may help prevent it from spreading and relieve mild symptoms like itching.
Treatments Being Studied
Research is being performed every day to help find more treatment methods for various types of hair loss. Treatments that are being tested and developed include:
Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections (PRP)
This therapy involves using a sample of your own blood and injecting the plasma into the scalp. While early research indicates it may be useful for treating hair loss, more evidence is needed before it's broadly recommended.
Microneedling
Microneedling is an at-home tool or medical spa device with hundreds of tiny (but safe) needles that can be used to massage the scalp, potentially promoting hair growth.
The idea is that microneedling causes minor damage to the skin, initiating your body's natural healing process. Your body then produces and releases more collagen and elastin during this healing process, which leads to an improved appearance of the skin. More data is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Red Light Therapy
Some studies suggest that shining red light onto the scalp may promote hair growth. Red light therapy is a wellness treatment that uses low-wavelength infrared LED light to treat cosmetic and medical skin conditions like acne, scars, and wrinkles.
The goal of red light therapy is to stimulate healing in the body. However, more studies are needed to confirm whether red light therapy is effective for hair loss.
Living With and Managing Hair Loss
Millions of people experience hair loss, which can be challenging, stressful, and frustrating.
The good news is that regrowth is possible for many types of hair loss. But it's a good idea to see a healthcare provider to get a diagnosis first—because the earlier treatment starts, the more likely you'll experience noticeable improvement.
Here are a couple of things to remember on your hair loss treatment journey:
Not every type of hair loss is fully treatable: But depending on the underlying cause, your dermatologist can work with you to help limit future hair loss.
Stay patient: Keep in mind that it may take months to see treatment results.
Treatment is not one-size-fits-all all: Even two cases of the same type of hair loss may require slightly different treatment plans.
Hair loss can be stubborn: Some cases may require a trial and error period of trying different treatments before finding the most effective one for you.
Experts also recommend some self-care tips to help you manage—and prevent—hair loss. These suggestions include:
Wash, condition, and style your hair gently so as not to further damage fragile strands
Stay away from at-home coloring or other chemical processes
Limit the use of heated hair care tools to avoid weakening and breaking your hair
Change up any tight hairstyles to help avoid permanent hair loss
Be mindful of managing stress levels to help cut down on cycles of hair loss
Eat a well-balanced diet full of nutrients like iron and protein
Avoid smoking, as the inflammation can worsen hair loss
A Quick Review
Because hair loss has many different causes, there are many different treatment options. Some treatments aim to stop hair loss, while others focus on hair regrowth. The earlier you get a diagnosis and start treatment, the better chances you'll have for positive results.
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