Hair Fall Medical Treatment: Comprehensive Approaches and Advances

Hair loss can be distressing for anyone, regardless of gender. At the UC Davis Health Specialty Clinic for Hair Disorders, we offer advanced, highly effective treatments for all types of alopecia and unexplained hair loss. Alopecia is a skin disorder that causes hair to fall out from the scalp, face or body. Lichen planopilaris causes thinning hair or bald patches along with itchy, scaly skin. Alopecia affects people of all ages, genders, races and ethnicities. It can start in childhood. Genetics - Genes play a small role in alopecia. Most children with alopecia do not have a parent with the disorder. And most parents with alopecia do not pass on the disorder to their children. Hair products - Women who use hot oils and chemical relaxers may be more prone to CCCA. Hairstyles - Repeatedly pulling on hair to create certain hairstyles can damage hair follicles. Hormones - The androgen hormone regulates hair growth in both men and women. People with high androgen levels may experience rapid hair loss. Others have a faulty androgen receptor gene that causes androgenetic alopecia.

Our Specialty Clinic for Hair Loss Disorders is a trusted resource in Sacramento, offering comprehensive expertise and compassionate care. Our clinic director, Oma Agbai, M.D.,, has received the highest level of training in treating hair loss and ethnic skin conditions. With her advanced expertise, she provides thorough evaluations and develops personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient. We are proud to be the only hair loss disorders clinic in Sacramento offering this level of specialized care. In addition, Dr. Once we determine the cause of your hair loss, we create a personalized treatment plan designed for the best possible results. Dr. Agbai is also actively involved in dermatology research and clinical trials, working to discover new and more effective therapies for hair loss. Our team of board-certified dermatologists delivers expert care for a wide range of skin and hair conditions - from the most common concerns to the most complex.

Identifying the underlying cause and type of alopecia is essential for effective treatment. Treatment options vary depending on the type and cause of hair loss. In some cases, therapies can stimulate regrowth. When regrowth isn’t possible, we focus on slowing or preventing further hair loss. Twice-daily treatment with topical minoxidil (Rogaine®) can slow hair loss and stimulate new hair growth. This prescription cream may be combined with a topical corticosteroid cream. Hair may gradually fall out when treatment stops. Topical (applied directly to skin) corticosteroid products decrease hair follicle inflammation, which promotes new hair growth. This anti-inflammatory product stimulates new hair growth. Topical immunotherapy creams alter the immune system by causing an allergic rash (also known as allergic contact dermatitis). The rash looks like poison ivy and may be red and itchy. The treatment can be uncomfortable, causing redness and rash where it is applied.

The prescription oral medication lowers the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hormone in men that shrinks hair follicles. You take the medication daily to stop hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth. Results can take up to six months to become noticeable. If an autoimmune disease is the cause of alopecia, immunosuppressants can lessen the abnormal immune response. Immunosuppressants, such as oral corticosteroids, can cause side effects. Your physician will closely monitor your health. Certain nutritional deficiencies can affect hair growth. Your physician will review your nutrient intake and recommend supplements to support hair growth.

Most men notice their hair becoming a bit more sparse as they grow older. But more obvious thinning of the hair around the temples (a receding hairline) or crown of the head (a bald spot) is quite common even in younger men. “About 20% of men start balding by age 20, and about 30% do so by age 30,” says Dr. Maryanne Makredes Senna, director of the Lahey Hair Loss Center of Excellence and assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School. Also known as androgenetic alopecia, male-pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss. Along with increasing age, genetics and sex hormones known as androgens play major roles. The main one, dihydroxytestosterone (DHT), is derived from the hormone testosterone.

Two drugs are FDA-approved to treat male-pattern hair loss: topical minoxidil, which is available over the counter, and finasteride (Propecia), a prescription-only pill. 5% minoxidil (Rogaine). Minoxidil was originally developed as a pill to treat high blood pressure. It was repurposed as a hair loss treatment after doctors noticed that people taking minoxidil were growing excess hair. For hair loss, the drug comes as a foam or liquid that's applied to the scalp twice a day. “Most people find the liquid easier to use because it doesn't stick to nearby hair as much as the foam,” says Dr. Senna. Finasteride (Propecia). Taken as a daily pill, this drug works by interfering with the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Side effects of finasteride include a lower sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculation issues; there are some reports of these side effects persisting even after stopping the drug. Breast enlargement, a temporary impairment of fertility, and mood changes can also occur.

Other hair growth products, typically sold online, are not only unproven but potentially unsafe. In April 2025, the FDA issued a warning to consumers about possible risks from compounded topical finasteride products. Studies show these products can lower blood DHT levels almost as much as oral finasteride, says Dr. Senna. Other products contain untested mixtures of vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements such as curcumin, ashwagandha, and green tea extract. While rare, there are reports of healthy young people developing drug-induced liver injury from these supplements, says Dr. In the future, a low-dose, extended-release minoxidil pill also may be an effective and more convenient option for regrowing hair. If longer, larger studies confirm the benefits and safety of the new formulation (and lead to FDA approval), it would be the first non-hormonal pill for treating male-pattern baldness. (Dr. Several other potential new treatments are under development, including clascoterone (Breezula), which is already approved for treating acne (under the trade name Winlevi). This topical drug also blocks DHT, but very selectively - only at the hair follicle instead of throughout the body, says Dr. Senna. Clinical trials are ongoing, but early results suggest it's about as effective as currently available drugs and has only minor side effects, including redness and itching.

While there is no cure for alopecia areata, there are treatments that may regrow hair in both adults and children. Effective treatments for alopecia areata block the immune system attack on the hair follicles so hair can regrow. Not all treatments work for everyone and finding the right treatment for you can take some time and patience. But there is new hope for people with alopecia areata. Some people with mild alopecia areata decide not to have any treatment. Corticosteroids, or steroids, reduce inflammation around hair follicles, helping hair grow. Corticosteroids are often combined with other treatments for alopecia areata. The most common treatment for adults with patchy alopecia areata is intralesional injection of corticosteroids (meaning injection within the bald patch). A very fine needle injects the medication into the areas of missing hair on the scalp or face. Some find the injections painful, while others feel only slight discomfort. If the injections are successful, you may see new hair growth within six to eight weeks. You can repeat them every four to six weeks, stopping treatment when the hair regrows. Corticosteroid injections don’t prevent further hair loss.

Oral Minoxidil comes as a tablet in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, or 10 mg strengths. For patients with moderate disease, treatment for alopecia areata may include topical corticosteroids with or without topical or oral minoxidil. JAK inhibitors may be recommended in some cases of moderate alopecia areata. Pulse corticosteroids are corticosteroids given at a high dose at regular intervals over a short period of time. Oral steroids cause side effects like weight gain, thinning bones (osteoporosis), rising blood sugar levels, and high blood pressure, among others, and can not be used as a long term treatment. The immunotherapy agent causes an allergic rash (allergic contact dermatitis) where it is applied. This changes your body’s immune response around the hair follicles, though researchers don’t understand why this promotes hair regrowth. The rash can look like poison oak or ivy. There are reports that 40 to 55% of patients experience significant regrowth. If hair regrowth is successful, treatment usually needs to continue to maintain the regrowth. The treatment can be uncomfortable, causing redness and rash where it is applied. About one-third of people with alopecia areata also have atopic dermatitis or eczema. Dupilumab (Dupixent) is a monoclonal antibody that is FDA-approved for treating atopic dermatitis in adults and children as young as six months.

Novel developments in treating alopecia areata: What is Type 2 inflammation and why is it important? JAK inhibitors are immunomodulatory drugs. Immune cells and hair follicles interact through cellular mechanisms that utilize Janus kinase proteins (or JAKs) to transmit signals in the immune system. JAK inhibitors are considered the first-line treatment for severe alopecia areata, including universalis and totalis. Losing your hair is not usually anything to be worried about, but it can be upsetting. It's normal to lose hair. We can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, often without noticing. Hair loss is not usually anything to be worried about, but occasionally it can be a sign of a medical condition. Some types of hair loss are permanent, like male and female pattern baldness. Other types of hair loss may be temporary. Most hair loss does not need treatment and is either: temporary and it'll grow back, a normal part of getting older. Hair loss caused by a medical condition usually stops or grows back once you've recovered. There are things you can try if your hair loss is causing you distress. But not all treatments are available on the NHS, so you may have to pay. No treatment is 100% effective. Finasteride and minoxidil-Finasteride and minoxidil are the main treatments for male pattern baldness. Minoxidil can also be used to treat female pattern baldness. Losing hair can be upsetting. Recent years have witnessed remarkable progress in the field of hair loss treatment, particularly in combating conditions like androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata.

Evidence-based treatment pathways

• Identify the underlying cause and type of alopecia for an effective plan.
• Topical minoxidil twice daily to slow loss and promote regrowth when appropriate.
• Topical corticosteroids to reduce follicular inflammation and support regrowth.
• Topical immunotherapy to modulate immune responses in select alopecia areata cases.
• Oral antiandrogens or antiandrogen therapies in male-pattern baldness under medical supervision.
• JAK inhibitors for severe alopecia areata after careful evaluation.
• Immunosuppressants and pulse steroids in specific autoimmune-driven cases with close monitoring.
• Supportive measures: nutritional assessment and supplementation as indicated.

Regenerative medicine, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals are evolving areas in hair loss management. The landscape includes low-dose oral minoxidil, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, surgical restoration, and advanced hairpieces, alongside critical caution against unproven online treatments and compounded products. Early intervention remains a key determinant of success, while FDA-approved therapies provide a solid foundation for many patients.

For those seeking reliable care, Dr. Agbai and our board-certified team offer thorough evaluations and personalized plans, combining medical therapies with monitoring and ongoing research participation when appropriate. Our aim is to slow or halt hair loss, promote regrowth where possible, and improve quality of life through compassionate, evidence-based care.

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