In the 1960s, patients who took Minoxidil, an antihypertensive medication, reported growing hair. What was once regarded as a harmless side effect has given many men (and women) the chance to regrow their mane.
While Minoxidil remains the drug of choice for those with hair loss, it requires daily application and may lead to some irritation. Its hair-growing effects cease immediately after treatment and can only be purchased with a prescription.
The good news is there are many other topical treatments to help grow your hair in 2025 and beyond. Here are some of them.
Hydrogel Microneedle Patch
There is no cure for alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that affects 6 million Americans. This condition occurs when the body attacks its own hair follicles, leading to patchy hair loss in the face, scalp, and body.
That said, new research has shown that a novel hydrogel microneedle patch may help curb immune-mediated hair loss.
Applied directly on the scalp, the patch contains CCL-22 and IL-2—components that attract regulatory T-cells (Tregs) to the site of hair loss. They also help promote the growth and function of the said cells while facilitating hair follicle regeneration.
Results show that apart from improving hair growth, the microneedle patch can help reduce inflammation as well. This makes it a promising treatment for other inflammatory ailments, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, and atopic dermatitis.
PTT-6 Hair Serum
Derived from mesenchymal stem cells of the umbilical cord lining, PTT-6 helps lengthen the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle. It stimulates hair follicle development for the restoration of the normal hair cycle.
PTT-6 also helps suppress cues that bring about apoptosis, a phase where hair follicles regress and lose ⅙ of their diameter.
The PTT-6 serum is applied to the scalp, which is microneedled with a derma stamp for three passes in alternating directions. An additional 2.5 ml of PTT-6 is also applied to the scalp. Wearers are advised not to wash the treated area for 24–48 hours.
Results show that after 12 weeks of use, the number of hairs per square centimeter of the scalp has increased. There were also more follicles per sq cm and less distance between the said hair follicles.
PTT-6 may be purchased without a prescription.
Clascoterone
Clascoterone is a prescription anti-androgen cream used to treat acne at a lower concentration. Now, clinical trials are underway to determine its effectiveness on male pattern hair loss— though it has already been tested for men and women with pattern hair loss.
The second phase of the trial showed that 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% of Clascoterone applied once to twice daily, lead to noticeable hair growth improvements.
Clascoterone works by stopping testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from binding to the hair follicles. Both affect the growth phase of the hair cycle by shrinking the hair follicle, leading to thinner and weak hairs that shed off easily.
As Clascoterone is applied topically, it offers fewer side effects compared to other oral androgen inhibitors, such as Finasteride and Dutasteride.
2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR)
2dDR is a sugar that plays a key role in various bodily processes. As per the latest mice studies, it is 80-90% as effective as Minoxidil in promoting hair growth.
The 2dDR alginate gel, which was applied to DHT-treated mice for 20 days, resulted in hairs with increased lengths and diameters. Hair follicle density, melanin coverage in the hair bulb, and blood vessel growth also improved post-application.
2dDR is touted as a better alternative to Minoxidil because it is naturally occurring, relatively stable, and affordable.
FOL-005 Peptide
In 2004, Swedish biotech company Follicum was conducting research on arteriosclerosis, a condition where the arteries thicken and harden. The study has yielded many insights, including the fact that the protein osteopontin promotes hair growth.
This discovery eventually led to the formulation of FOL-005, which has been developed to be more physically and chemically stable compared to most peptides. Mice studies show that once-a-day application of high-dose FOL-005 resulted in hair growth of 6.6 hair/cm2. The growth in the placebo group is 5.6 hair/cm2. The effects are similar to twice-daily Minoxidil but with fewer minor side effects.
The topical gel formulation of FOL-005 is set to be released in the market in 2025.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatment for hair growth is a good option for individuals who dislike applying medications or creams. This technology makes use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) devices that provide higher-intensity treatments at longer durations.
LLLT devices promote hair growth through the following:
- Stimulating hair follicles to enter the growth phase of the hair cycle
- Enhancing cell activity within the hair follicles
- Improving oxygen-rich and nutrient-rich blood flow to the scalp
One of the benefits of laser treatment is that it covers all problem areas fully, allowing for more consistent hair growth. Many of these battery-powered devices can also be worn everywhere (under your favorite cap, for example), as they do not need to be plugged in for use.
Furthermore, prescription-strength LLLT devices only need to be applied for 30 minutes every other day.
Compared to the treatments above, LLLT devices are already FDA-cleared for use by men and women with pattern hair loss.
Goodbye, Receding Hairlines
With the many breakthroughs in hair loss research, Minoxidil is not the only option for people with receding hairlines. The solutions above offer the promise of effective hair growth with fewer applications and treatment durations.