Which hair loss treatment works best?

It depends on the cause. In male hereditary hair loss, finasteride and minoxidil have the strongest evidence. They complement each other: one lowers DHT, the other drives growth. When the follicles are already gone, no medicine is enough — then a hair transplant is relevant.

Are hair loss treatments over-the-counter?

Topical minoxidil 2% and 5% is over-the-counter in Sweden. Finasteride, oral minoxidil and dutasteride require a prescription. PRP and hair transplantation are given in clinic after assessment.

How long before a treatment shows effect?

The hair cycle is slow. Finasteride and minoxidil are usually assessed after 3 to 6 months, with full effect up to a year. A transplant gives a mature result at 12 months, sometimes 12–18 on the vertex. If you stop the medicine, DHT-sensitive hair loss usually returns.

Can women use the same treatments?

Topical minoxidil is the most studied treatment for women. Finasteride 1 mg is contraindicated in female hair loss. Iron, thyroid and hormones should be investigated before a treatment becomes the only answer.

Are shampoo and supplements enough?

Rarely in hereditary hair loss. Shampoo and supplements can help the scalp or temporary shedding, but they do not replace finasteride, minoxidil or a clinical assessment.

When is a hair transplant needed instead?

When the follicles at the hairline or on the vertex have already stopped producing hair. Medicine can protect what remains. A transplant moves follicles from the nape that are more resistant to DHT. FUE is planned up to 3500 grafts, DHI up to 1500.

Hair loss treatments – what actually works

Which hair loss treatments have evidence behind them, which are available over the counter, and when is medication not enough? Here we compare finasteride, minoxidil, PRP and hair transplantation.

Short answer: in hereditary hair loss, finasteride and minoxidil are the treatments with the clearest evidence. Finasteride is prescription-only and lowers DHT. Minoxidil 2% and 5% is available over the counter as a solution or foam. Oral minoxidil requires a prescription. PRP and hair transplantation are clinical options when medication is not enough, or when the follicles have already stopped producing hair.

Hair loss treatments are not the same thing as the clinic's treatment catalogue. Shampoos, supplements and plant extracts are often sold as the solution, but they do not replace a proper assessment. Which treatment suits you depends on the cause, your sex and how far the thinning has progressed.

What counts as a hair loss treatment?

Hair loss treatments are medicines and procedures aimed at slowing thinning or increasing density. The most common ones with evidence in androgenetic alopecia are finasteride and minoxidil. PRP and hair transplantation are clinical steps, not bottles from the pharmacy.

Comparison: medicines and treatments

Treatment	What it does	Prescription	Best suited for
Finasteride	Lowers DHT	Prescription-only	Men with hereditary hair loss
Minoxidil, topical	Prolongs the growth phase	Over-the-counter	Men and women
Oral minoxidil	Same action, via the tablet	Prescription, off-label	When solution or foam is not an option
Dutasteride	Stronger DHT reduction	Prescription, off-label	When finasteride is not enough
PRP	Growth factors from your own blood	Clinic treatment	Active follicles, complement
Hair transplant	Moves more DHT-resistant follicles	Surgery	When the follicles are already gone

How the most common treatments work

Finasteride inhibits 5α-reductase type II and lowers DHT. Prescription-only, 1 mg daily for male hereditary hair loss. The first choice when the goal is to reduce the hormonal pressure. Contraindicated in female hair loss.

Minoxidil does not block DHT. 2% and 5% solution or foam is available over the counter. Low-dose oral minoxidil is prescription-only and off-label in Sweden. A visible effect is usually assessed after 3 to 6 months.

PRP consists of injections with growth factors from your own blood. A complement while the follicles are still active – not a substitute for finasteride or minoxidil, and not a DHT blocker.

Hair transplantation moves follicles from the back of the head that usually tolerate DHT. It does not protect the native hair that remains. That is why the procedure is often combined with medication. The mature result is assessed at 12 months, sometimes 12–18 months on the crown.

Men and women

Men. In androgenetic alopecia, the combination of finasteride plus minoxidil is common. Finasteride takes the hormonal pressure, while minoxidil drives growth in follicles that still respond. A transplant becomes relevant when the follicles no longer provide enough density.

Women. Female pattern hair loss more often has several causes: hormones, iron, thyroid, menopause. Topical minoxidil is the most studied treatment. Finasteride 1 mg is contraindicated in female hair loss. Investigation comes before a prescription.

What rarely works on its own

Ketoconazole shampoo, biotin and saw palmetto are often sold as hair loss treatments. They can be a complement against dandruff or for a feeling of fuller hair, but they have weaker evidence than finasteride and minoxidil and rarely stop hereditary thinning on their own.

A dermaroller is sometimes mentioned together with minoxidil. It does not replace medication and should not be used on an irritated scalp. Lifestyle, sleep and nutrition matter in telogen shedding, but they are rarely enough for DHT-sensitive follicles.

When a hair transplant is needed

When the follicles at the hairline or on the crown have already stopped producing hair, no treatment is enough. Medication can protect what remains. A transplant moves more DHT-resistant follicles from the back of the head. FUE is planned for up to 3500 grafts, DHI for up to 1500.

Next steps

The right treatment depends on the pattern, the pace and what you have already tried. At the consultation we will tell you whether over-the-counter minoxidil is enough, whether finasteride or PRP makes sense, or whether a hair transplant is what will actually change the density.

Book a free consultation. We compare the treatments against your situation – not against a generic ranking list.

Read more about hair loss and how to stop hair loss.

This text is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a qualified professional.