Medications

Prescription hair loss medications fall into two families: those that reduce the hormonal signal driving follicle miniaturization, such as finasteride and dutasteride, and those that act on the follicle itself, such as minoxidil. Most of the evidence base rests on these few active ingredients, so understanding how each works, what the trials actually measured, and how clinicians combine them is the foundation for everything else on this site. The guides below cover each medication on its own and the questions that come up when they are used together.

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  Medications

  Spironolactone for Hair Loss in Women: How It Works and Who It Helps

  How the anti-androgen spironolactone may help female pattern hair loss, who tends to benefit, typical dosing and timeline, and the monitoring involved.

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  Medications

  Topical Finasteride: A Newer Alternative for Pattern Hair Loss

  Topical finasteride delivers the medication directly to the scalp. How it works, what the evidence shows, and how it compares with the oral version.

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  Medications

  Combining Minoxidil and Finasteride: Why Pairing the Two Works Better Than Either Alone

  Minoxidil and finasteride act on pattern hair loss through different mechanisms. What research shows about using them together as combination therapy.

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  Medications

  Dutasteride for Hair Loss: How It Works, Dose, Side Effects and Who It Suits

  Dutasteride lowers DHT more than finasteride and is used off-label for male pattern hair loss. How it works, the usual dose, timeline, side effects, PSA tests and who should not take it.

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  Medications

  How Finasteride Treats Hair Loss: The Science, the Evidence, and What to Expect

  Finasteride is one of two FDA-approved medications for pattern hair loss. How it lowers DHT, what trials show, and what to weigh before starting it.

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  Medications

  How Minoxidil Treats Hair Loss: The Science, the Evidence, and What to Expect

  Minoxidil is one of the most widely studied hair loss medications. How it acts on follicles, what clinical trials show, and what to expect when you start.