What treatments are available for female pattern hair loss?

From the Guidelines

Female pattern hair loss can be effectively treated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, which have been shown to stimulate hair growth and improve hair density, with a recommended protocol of 3-5 sessions, 1 month apart, using 5-7 mL of PRP per session 1. The treatment options for female pattern hair loss include:

• Topical minoxidil (2% or 5% solution) applied twice daily to the scalp
• Oral minoxidil at low doses (0.25-2.5mg daily)
• Oral anti-androgens like spironolactone (50-200mg daily)
• Finasteride (1-5mg daily) and dutasteride (0.5mg daily) for women who are not of childbearing potential
• Low-level laser therapy devices used 3-4 times weekly
• Hair transplantation for women with stable hair loss and good donor areas However, PRP injections have been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for female pattern hair loss, with significant increases in hair count and terminal hair density compared to placebo 1. The optimal protocol for PRP injections is still being studied, but a manual double-spin method for preparation of PRP, with a minimum of 3-5 sessions, 1 month apart, using 5-7 mL of PRP per session, has been recommended 1. It's also important to note that PRP injections can be used in combination with other treatments, such as topical minoxidil, to enhance their effectiveness 1. Overall, PRP injections are a promising treatment option for female pattern hair loss, with a strong evidence base supporting their safety and efficacy 1.

From the Research

Treatment Options for Female Pattern Hair Loss

• Minoxidil is a commonly used treatment for female pattern hair loss, available in both topical and oral forms 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
• Topical minoxidil solutions, including 2% and 5% concentrations, have been shown to be effective in promoting hair growth and reducing hair loss in women with female pattern hair loss 2, 5
• Oral minoxidil, particularly at low doses, has been proposed as a safe and effective alternative to topical minoxidil, with studies demonstrating its efficacy in treating androgenetic alopecia 4, 6

Efficacy of Minoxidil Treatments

• A study published in 2014 found that 5% minoxidil foam was effective in treating female pattern hair loss, with significant increases in hair count and improvements in hair growth 2
• Another study published in 2022 found that topical 5% minoxidil treatment was effective in increasing hair count and reducing single hair units, regardless of scalp vascularization 3
• A review of oral minoxidil treatment published in 2021 found that it was an effective and well-tolerated treatment alternative for healthy patients with difficulty using topical formulations 4

Comparison of Topical and Oral Minoxidil

• A randomized controlled trial published in 2024 compared the efficacy and safety of topical minoxidil solution with 1mg daily oral minoxidil, finding that both treatments showed significant improvement in hair diameter, but with no significant difference between the two groups 6
• The study suggested that 1mg oral minoxidil may be as effective and safe as standard topical minoxidil in treating female and male pattern hair loss 6