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72 articles, newest first.

ExosomesStem CellsResearch
Exosomes: The Stem Cell Treatment That Isn't Actually Stem Cells
Clinics are charging thousands for exosome injections. The science behind them is genuinely interesting. The clinical evidence is significantly thinner than the price tags suggest.
May 14, 2026·7 days ago·Dr. Maya Chen
ResearchDHTGene Therapy
Prostaglandin D2: The Hidden Brake on Hair Growth That Scientists Have Known About Since 2012
A decade ago, a landmark study identified PGD2 as a potent inhibitor of hair follicle growth, elevated in bald scalp. Why is no approved treatment targeting it yet?
May 13, 2026·8 days ago·Liam Foster
ResearchInflammationDHT
Your Scalp Has a Microbiome. It Might Be Contributing to Your Hair Loss.
Research into the scalp microbiome is revealing links between bacterial and fungal communities and hair loss that go beyond simple dandruff. The therapeutic implications are only beginning to be explored.
May 2, 2026·19 days ago·Liam Foster
ResearchClinical TrialsMinoxidil
Low-Level Laser Therapy for Hair Loss: What the 2025 Evidence Actually Shows
LLLT devices have been FDA-cleared for hair loss since 2007. Eighteen years later, a Cochrane-style systematic review has assembled the most rigorous evidence yet, and the picture is more nuanced than the device manufacturers suggest.
Apr 30, 2026·21 days ago·Liam Foster
ResearchInflammationStem Cells
Scientists Have Mapped the Mechanism Behind Chronic Telogen Effluvium, IL-33 Is the Key
Telogen effluvium, the diffuse hair shedding that follows stress, illness, or hormonal shifts, has lacked a clear molecular explanation for chronic cases. New research points to IL-33 and the innate immune system.
Apr 28, 2026·23 days ago·Liam Foster
ResearchInflammationTelogen Effluvium
COVID-19 Hair Loss Three Years On: What the Long-Term Data Tells Us
Post-COVID telogen effluvium was one of the most widely reported symptoms of long COVID. Three years on, research from 40,000 patients answers the questions that early reports couldn't: how many recover, and who doesn't?
Apr 27, 2026·24 days ago·Liam Foster
Hair TransplantClinical TrialsResearch
Robotic Hair Transplantation in 2025: What the Outcome Data Says About When It's Worth It
Robotic systems for hair transplantation have been marketed as precision improvements on manual FUE. A 2025 comparison study of 800 patients finally answers the question of whether that precision translates to better outcomes.
Apr 26, 2026·25 days ago·Dr. Maya Chen
MinoxidilResearchClinical Trials
Topical Caffeine vs Minoxidil: What a Proper Head-to-Head Trial Found
Caffeine-based hair products claim to rival minoxidil. A 2024 randomised controlled trial with 200 participants and an 6-month follow-up finally tested that claim properly.
Apr 24, 2026·27 days ago·Dr. Maya Chen
ResearchNutritionTelogen Effluvium
Biotin and Hair Loss: What the Evidence Actually Shows (It's Not What the Supplement Industry Tells You)
Biotin supplements for hair loss generate over $2 billion in annual sales. The evidence base for this billion-dollar market is thinner than most users suspect, and the cases where biotin genuinely helps are narrower than marketing implies.
Apr 23, 2026·28 days ago·Liam Foster
MinoxidilResearch
Minoxidil Sulfotransferase Activity Explains Why Some People Don't Respond
Topical minoxidil works for some users and not others, and the variability isn't random. The enzyme SULT1A1 converts minoxidil to its active form, and scalp expression varies dramatically between individuals.
Apr 20, 2026·about 1 month ago·Dr. Maya Chen
FinasterideDHTResearch
Topical Finasteride Is Safer Than Oral, But the Pharmacokinetic Data Tells a More Complicated Story
The pitch for topical finasteride is straightforward: get the hair regrowth without the systemic side effects. The pharmacokinetic data shows the picture is more nuanced than the marketing suggests.
Apr 15, 2026·about 1 month ago·Liam Foster
Female Pattern Hair LossDHTResearch
Spironolactone for Female Pattern Hair Loss: The Most Underprescribed Effective Treatment
Spironolactone has been used off-label for female pattern hair loss for forty years. The 2024 systematic review finally collated the evidence base, and the picture is more positive than its niche status would suggest.
Apr 13, 2026·about 1 month ago·Dr. Maya Chen
Telogen EffluviumResearchNutrition
Semaglutide and Hair Loss: What 18 Months of Real-World Data Shows
GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide produce rapid weight loss, and a small but consistent fraction of users report telogen effluvium. The mechanism is now clearer.
Apr 8, 2026·about 1 month ago·Liam Foster
Telogen EffluviumResearchTreatment
Isotretinoin Hair Loss: How Common It Actually Is and What Recovery Looks Like
Isotretinoin is one of the most effective acne drugs ever developed. It also causes telogen effluvium in a meaningful minority of users, here's the data on incidence and recovery.
Apr 3, 2026·about 2 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
Scarring AlopeciaFemale Pattern Hair LossResearch
Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: The Mysterious Epidemic Affecting Postmenopausal Women
Frontal fibrosing alopecia was a rare diagnosis until the 1990s. Now it affects an estimated 1–2% of postmenopausal women, and we still don't know exactly why.
Mar 27, 2026·about 2 months ago·Liam Foster
ResearchMinoxidilClinical Trials
Rosemary Oil vs Minoxidil: The 2024 Trial That Actually Held Up
A widely cited 2015 trial suggested rosemary oil matched 2% minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia. A more rigorous 2024 replication has now tested whether that finding survives proper methodology.
Mar 22, 2026·about 2 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
ResearchDHTNutrition
Saw Palmetto for Hair Loss: A Mechanism Without Clinical Evidence
Saw palmetto extract is in dozens of hair loss supplements. The 5-alpha reductase inhibition is real in vitro. The clinical evidence remains stubbornly thin.
Mar 20, 2026·2 months ago·Liam Foster
NutritionTelogen EffluviumResearch
Iron Supplementation for Hair Loss: Why Ferritin Below 70 Is the Real Threshold
Most physicians say ferritin within the normal range is fine. For hair loss, the relevant threshold appears to be substantially higher than the general anemia cutoff.
Mar 15, 2026·2 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
NutritionResearchTelogen Effluvium
Vitamin D Deficiency and Hair Loss: The Causal Question Is Still Open
Vitamin D receptors are expressed on hair follicle cells, and deficient patients often have hair loss. Whether supplementation reverses the loss is a more complicated question.
Mar 10, 2026·2 months ago·Liam Foster
ResearchTreatmentNutrition
Scalp Massage: A 4-Minute Daily Protocol With Surprisingly Real Evidence
A 2016 Japanese study found that 4 minutes of daily scalp massage produced measurable hair thickening over 24 weeks. The follow-up survey of 327 men added a real-world dimension to the finding.
Mar 8, 2026·2 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
Female Pattern Hair LossDHTResearch
PCOS and Hair Loss: Treatment Considerations for the Underlying Endocrinology
Polycystic ovary syndrome affects 10–15% of women of reproductive age. Hair loss is a common feature, and treating it without addressing the underlying endocrinology often fails.
Mar 3, 2026·3 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
Telogen EffluviumFemale Pattern Hair LossResearch
Postpartum Hair Loss: Timing, Severity, and When to Worry
Postpartum hair shedding affects roughly half of new mothers. The timing is predictable, the cause is well understood, but a meaningful minority of women have persistent effects.
Feb 26, 2026·3 months ago·Liam Foster
DiagnosisResearchScarring Alopecia
Trichoscopy: The Diagnostic Tool That Should Be Standard in Every Hair Consultation
A handheld dermatoscope and three minutes is enough to distinguish androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, scarring alopecias, and telogen effluvium. Many consultations still rely on visual inspection alone.
Feb 24, 2026·3 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
ResearchNutritionDHT
Pumpkin Seed Oil for Hair Loss: A Surprising Trial With Replication Pending
A 2014 Korean trial reported substantial hair count improvements from oral pumpkin seed oil. The methodology was unusual and replication is overdue, but the mechanism is plausible.
Feb 19, 2026·3 months ago·Liam Foster
Telogen EffluviumResearchDiagnosis
Thyroid Hormone and Hair Loss: Both Hypo and Hyperthyroidism Trigger Shedding
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism both cause hair loss, but through different mechanisms. Testing TSH is the most basic workup item for unexplained shedding, and one of the most commonly overlooked.
Feb 14, 2026·3 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
ResearchTreatmentClinical Trials
Latanoprost and Bimatoprost for Hair Growth: A Prostaglandin Story Worth Following
Eye drops for glaucoma turned out to grow eyelashes. The mechanism, prostaglandin F2-alpha receptor agonism, has obvious implications for scalp hair, though the clinical data remains mixed.
Feb 7, 2026·3 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
DiagnosisHair TransplantResearch
Norwood Scale: Why the Classification System Matters More Than People Realise
The Norwood scale is older than most current hair loss treatments. It remains the standard staging tool, and getting the staging right shapes every subsequent treatment decision.
Feb 2, 2026·4 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
GeneticsResearchDiagnosis
Genetic Testing for Hair Loss: What 23andMe and Polygenic Scores Actually Predict
Direct-to-consumer genetic tests report male pattern hair loss risk. The science behind those reports is more complicated, and less predictive, than the marketing suggests.
Jan 31, 2026·4 months ago·Liam Foster
NutritionResearchFemale Pattern Hair Loss
Nutrafol Clinical Data: What the Trial Actually Showed
Nutrafol is the most expensively marketed hair loss supplement on the market. The trial data is real, but the trial design is unusual, and the effect size compared to alternatives is what matters.
Jan 26, 2026·4 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
Female Pattern Hair LossResearchTreatment
Hair Loss in Postmenopausal Women: Distinct Patterns Need Distinct Treatment
Female pattern hair loss in postmenopausal women has distinct features compared to pre-menopausal cases, and treatment approaches that work pre-menopause sometimes fail after.
Jan 14, 2026·4 months ago·Liam Foster
DiagnosisFemale Pattern Hair LossResearch
Ludwig Scale vs Sinclair Scale: Choosing the Right Female Pattern Classification
The Ludwig scale has been the standard female pattern hair loss classification since 1977. The Sinclair scale offers more granular staging that has become preferred for clinical trials.
Jan 9, 2026·4 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
MinoxidilTreatmentResearch
Caffeine Shampoo Alpecin Marketing: Reading Between the Claims
Alpecin's caffeine shampoo has captured significant market share through aggressive marketing. The clinical claims sit on a foundation of in vitro data, and very short-contact-time application.
Jan 2, 2026·5 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
ResearchDHTClinical Trials
Setipiprant: The PGD2 Antagonist That Almost Was
Setipiprant blocks the prostaglandin D2 receptor implicated in androgenetic alopecia. The drug had a promising mechanism and a disappointing development path. Here's what happened.
Dec 28, 2025·5 months ago·Liam Foster
ResearchInflammationTreatment
Cetirizine for Hair Loss: An Antihistamine With Surprising Pilot Data
Topical cetirizine has produced unexpectedly positive hair count results in small trials. The mechanism, PGD2-pathway interference and inflammatory modulation, is plausible but the data is preliminary.
Dec 26, 2025·5 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
CosmeticTreatmentResearch
Sulfate-Free Shampoo: Marketing Hype or Genuine Hair Health Benefit?
Sulfate-free shampoos dominate the premium hair care market with claims of gentler cleansing. The trichology evidence is more measured than the marketing language suggests.
Dec 21, 2025·5 months ago·Liam Foster
ResearchLifestyleDHT
Smoking and Androgenetic Alopecia: An Independent Risk Factor With a Plausible Mechanism
Multiple epidemiological studies have linked smoking to accelerated androgenetic alopecia. The relationship survives statistical adjustment, and the proposed mechanism makes biological sense.
Dec 16, 2025·5 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
Telogen EffluviumNutritionResearch
Telogen Effluvium After Bariatric Surgery: What 5-Year Data Reveals
Significant weight loss after bariatric surgery triggers telogen effluvium in roughly half of patients. The long-term recovery data is more complicated than acute studies suggested.
Dec 4, 2025·6 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
TreatmentResearchCosmetic
Cold Cap Therapy for Chemotherapy Hair Loss: What 2025 Data Shows
Scalp cooling during chemotherapy can preserve hair for many patients. The 2025 outcomes registry of 8,400 patients defines who benefits and how much.
Dec 2, 2025·6 months ago·Liam Foster
TreatmentResearchMinoxidil
Microneedling for Hair Loss: 0.5mm vs 1.5mm, Depth Matters
Microneedling protocols vary widely in needle depth and frequency. The 2024 comparison study finally provides standardised guidance for at-home and clinical protocols.
Nov 27, 2025·6 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
Hair TransplantResearchTreatment
Dense Packing in Hair Transplantation: How Many Grafts Per Square Centimetre?
Dense packing pushes graft density toward the natural 80–100 follicular units per cm² that healthy scalp shows. The technique improved transplant results, but pushed against survival limits.
Nov 22, 2025·6 months ago·Liam Foster
TreatmentResearchCosmetic
Carboxytherapy for Hair Loss: A Procedure With Mechanism but Limited Evidence
Carboxytherapy, subcutaneous injection of medical CO2, has been used for various dermatological indications. The hair loss application has theoretical merit but slim clinical data.
Nov 15, 2025·6 months ago·Liam Foster
Alopecia AreataTreatmentResearch
Cyclosporine for Alopecia Areata: An Older Option Worth Revisiting
Before JAK inhibitors, cyclosporine was one of the more effective systemic options for severe alopecia areata. New protocols make it relevant again for specific clinical scenarios.
Nov 8, 2025·6 months ago·Liam Foster
DiagnosisResearchMental Health
Trichotillomania: Hair Loss From an Underrecognised Mental Health Condition
Trichotillomania, compulsive hair pulling, affects approximately 1% of adults but is underdiagnosed because patients rarely volunteer the behaviour. Treatment requires recognising it.
Oct 29, 2025·7 months ago·Liam Foster
DiagnosisResearchFemale Pattern Hair Loss
Hair Loss in Asian Patients: Why Standard Norwood Assumptions Don't Always Apply
Androgenetic alopecia in Asian patients shows distinct patterns that don't always fit the Norwood scale designed for European populations. Treatment timing and approach differ.
Oct 27, 2025·7 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
CosmeticResearchTreatment
Olaplex and Bond Builders: Repair Chemistry That Actually Works
Olaplex's patented bond-rebuilding chemistry was unusual in the hair care industry, actually novel chemistry rather than reformulated standards. The clinical results justify the marketing for damaged hair.
Oct 15, 2025·7 months ago·Liam Foster
ResearchLifestyleTelogen Effluvium
Sleep, Cortisol, and Hair Loss: A Real but Often Overstated Connection
Chronic sleep deprivation elevates cortisol and inflammatory markers. The connection to hair loss is real but commonly exaggerated, here's where the evidence actually sits.
Oct 10, 2025·7 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
MinoxidilTreatmentResearch
Rogaine Foam vs Solution: Which Formulation Actually Works Better?
Most users assume Rogaine foam and solution work identically. The pharmacokinetic data shows they don't, and the difference matters for some users.
Oct 5, 2025·8 months ago·Liam Foster
TreatmentResearchLifestyle
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Hair Loss: Marginal Evidence, Major Cost
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is promoted by some wellness clinics for hair loss. The evidence is preliminary and the cost is high relative to alternatives.
Oct 3, 2025·8 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
Hair TransplantTreatmentResearch
Beard and Body Hair as Donor for Transplant: When and How It Works
Patients with extensive scalp hair loss but adequate beard or chest hair density now have a viable supplementary donor option. The technique has matured significantly since 2018.
Sep 23, 2025·8 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
Alopecia AreataTreatmentResearch
Topical Immunotherapy for Alopecia Areata: An Old Treatment Worth Knowing About
Diphencyprone-induced contact dermatitis on the scalp can promote hair regrowth in alopecia areata. The treatment is older than JAK inhibitors and remains useful in specific cases.
Sep 21, 2025·8 months ago·Liam Foster
NutritionResearchTreatment
Vitamin K2 and Hair Loss: An Emerging Research Direction
Vitamin K2 has gained attention for bone and cardiovascular health. A few preliminary papers suggest possible relevance to hair biology, though the evidence is very early.
Sep 16, 2025·8 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
NutritionResearchTreatment
Collagen Supplements for Hair: Marketing Disconnect From Evidence
Collagen supplements are marketed extensively for hair benefits. Hair is made of keratin, not collagen, and the evidence for any indirect benefit is thin.
Sep 11, 2025·8 months ago·Liam Foster
TreatmentCosmeticResearch
Mesotherapy Cocktails for Hair Loss: What's Actually in the Injections?
Hair loss mesotherapy injections contain widely varying ingredient combinations across clinics. Understanding what's typically included helps patients evaluate the offering.
Sep 9, 2025·8 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
DiagnosisTreatmentResearch
Hair Loss in Adolescents: When Pattern Hair Loss Starts Young
Androgenetic alopecia can begin in late adolescence in patients with strong genetic predisposition. Treatment timing and choice in young patients deserves specific consideration.
Sep 4, 2025·9 months ago·Liam Foster
DiagnosisResearchTreatment
AI-Based Hair Density Measurement: Smartphone Apps That Actually Work
Several smartphone apps now use machine learning to measure hair density from photographs. The clinical validation is mixed but the trajectory is promising.
Aug 30, 2025·9 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
LifestyleResearchNutrition
Alcohol and Hair Loss: A Modest Connection With Practical Implications
Heavy alcohol consumption has multiple indirect effects on hair health. Moderate consumption probably doesn't matter, but heavy use does.
Aug 28, 2025·9 months ago·Liam Foster
DiagnosisTelogen EffluviumResearch
Hair Pull Test: The Diagnostic Procedure Anyone Can Perform
The hair pull test is one of the simplest diagnostic procedures in dermatology. Performed correctly, it distinguishes active telogen effluvium from stable hair loss.
Aug 18, 2025·9 months ago·Liam Foster
Telogen EffluviumResearchDiagnosis
Hair Loss After COVID Vaccination: Causation vs Correlation
Reports of hair loss following COVID vaccination prompted public concern. The epidemiological data shows the connection is complicated and largely explained by other factors.
Aug 16, 2025·9 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
DHTTreatmentResearch
Hair Loss in Trans Men on Testosterone: Pattern and Timing
Testosterone therapy for transmasculine patients reproduces the androgen environment that drives male pattern hair loss. Timing, pattern, and treatment considerations differ from cisgender presentations.
Aug 11, 2025·9 months ago·Liam Foster
DiagnosisInflammationResearch
Trichodynia: The Scalp Pain Some Hair Loss Patients Experience
Some patients with hair loss describe scalp pain, burning, or sensitivity. The condition has a name, trichodynia, and addressing it can improve treatment adherence.
Aug 6, 2025·10 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
NutritionTelogen EffluviumResearch
Selenium and Hair Loss: Why More Is Not Better
Selenium is essential for hair growth, but the therapeutic window is narrower than most supplements suggest. Both deficiency and excess cause hair loss.
Jul 23, 2025·10 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
NutritionLifestyleResearch
Mediterranean Diet and Hair Loss: An Observational Association Worth Knowing
A 2018 case-control study reported reduced androgenetic alopecia in men following Mediterranean diet patterns. The mechanism is plausible but the evidence is observational.
Jul 18, 2025·10 months ago·Liam Foster
Mental HealthResearchDiagnosis
Hair Loss Awareness Without Anxiety: The Psychological Side That Matters
Hair loss causes psychological distress for many patients in ways disproportionate to its medical severity. Recognising and addressing this dimension improves outcomes.
Jul 13, 2025·10 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
NutritionTelogen EffluviumResearch
Zinc Deficiency and Hair Loss: Less Common Than Marketing Suggests
Zinc deficiency causes hair loss when present, but true deficiency is uncommon in Western diets. The widespread inclusion of zinc in hair supplements isn't justified by population-level prevalence.
Jul 6, 2025·11 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
Alopecia AreataTreatmentResearch
Methotrexate for Alopecia Areata: Old Drug, Specific Use Cases
Methotrexate has supporting evidence for severe alopecia areata, particularly in combination with corticosteroids. It remains a useful option in specific clinical scenarios.
Jul 1, 2025·11 months ago·Liam Foster
DiagnosisResearchPediatric
Loose Anagen Syndrome: When Children's Hair Comes Out Painlessly
Loose anagen syndrome causes painless extraction of hair shafts in young children. It's underdiagnosed but typically self-resolving with age.
Jun 29, 2025·11 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
LifestyleResearchCosmetic
Brushing Technique and Scalp Circulation: Folklore vs Physiology
The advice to brush hair 100 strokes daily for scalp health has folklore status. The physiology supports much more modest claims.
Jun 17, 2025·11 months ago·Liam Foster
Alopecia AreataMental HealthResearch
Stress-Induced Alopecia Areata: When Psychological Trauma Triggers Disease
Severe psychological stress can trigger alopecia areata onset or flares. The mechanism involves established connections between the nervous and immune systems.
Jun 12, 2025·11 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
MinoxidilTreatmentResearch
Topical Tretinoin Combined With Minoxidil: A Quiet Workhorse Combination
Adding tretinoin to minoxidil enhances scalp penetration and may upregulate the sulfotransferase enzyme that activates minoxidil. The clinical evidence supports the combination.
May 26, 2025·12 months ago·Dr. Maya Chen
Telogen EffluviumNutritionResearch
Hair Loss From PPI Use: A Connection With Plausibility but Modest Evidence
Long-term proton pump inhibitor use has been linked to telogen effluvium in some studies. The mechanism is plausible through micronutrient absorption effects.
May 24, 2025·12 months ago·Liam Foster
Hair TransplantResearchClinical Trials
Long-Term Outcomes After Hair Transplant: 10-Year Data Beyond Initial Results
Hair transplant results 12 months post-op look impressive. What they look like at 10 years tells a more complete story about lasting outcomes and ongoing native loss.
May 19, 2025·about 1 year ago·Dr. Maya Chen
ResearchClinical TrialsTreatment
Melatonin for Hair Loss: The Sleep Hormone With a Real but Modest Effect on Follicles
Topical melatonin sounds like wellness nonsense. The actual trial data shows a small but measurable effect on follicle density, with a coherent biological mechanism.
May 14, 2025·about 1 year ago·Liam Foster

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