Hair loss is a widespread phenomenon: 85% of men [1] and 55% of women [2] experience a form of alopecia at some point during their lives. Minoxidil has been one of the most commonly used treatments for decades [3], but recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) hair treatment has emerged as an innovative, promising option [4].
So which is more effective for hair loss: PRP vs Minoxidil? Research suggests it is almost a tie, with a slight advantage for PRP therapy [5][6].
Keep reading this article to find out more about these popular treatment options, such as:
Minoxidil is one of the most frequently prescribed and versatile hair loss medications. It works by dilating the small blood vessels in your scalp so that more oxygen and nutrients can reach your hair follicles [3]. Those additional resources can increase your hair density, diameter and health. They can also help regulate your hair growth cycle by ending a prolonged resting phase and starting a new growth stage.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) hair treatment involves harvesting a small amount of blood from your forearm. The PRP is separated from the other blood components using a centrifuge. Then it is injected into the thinning areas on your scalp.
PRP contains an abundance of growth factors that can help repair damaged hair follicles and stimulate the formation of more small blood vessels to nourish them [4]. This often results in increased hair density, thickness and strength.
Most studies show that PRP may be more effective than Minoxidil in treating conditions such as androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata [5][6][7][8][9]. However, both these treatments are effective when compared to placebo. The differences between the two are small and often not statistically significant.
Some articles also find Minoxidil superior to PRP for hair, but from a statistical standpoint, these results are not significant, indicating that the effect is likely similar for both treatments [10][11]. However, given the important methodological differences between the studies, more evidence is needed to be certain that one of these treatment options is superior to the other.
The key takeaway here is that both treatments are effective, but different people respond better to either one or the other.
Since most of the studies that compare these treatments are small and their methodology and patient sample differ greatly, more evidence is needed to definitively prove which one is the most effective for hair loss in general.
This answer is influenced by many factors and can differ from one patient to another. Getting a trichologist’s recommendation is the only surefire way to get the best treatment option for your specific type of alopecia. Upon examining you, taking a thorough medical history and asking about your lifestyle and preferences, they can determine whether PRP therapy, Minoxidil or an entirely different treatment best suits your needs.
Yes, most of the currently available research shows that Minoxidil combined with PRP is more effective against androgenetic alopecia than either treatment alone. They seem better at increasing hair density and diameter compared to both monotherapy options [12][13][7]. Patient satisfaction also appears to be higher when receiving this combination than a single, standalone treatment.
Only one small clinical trial performed on women with female pattern baldness finds no evidence that using PRP and topical Minoxidil 2% together is more effective than using Minoxidil 2% solution alone [14].
However, a recent article [23] points out that the evidence produced by previous studies is low-quality. The authors argue that the studies were too small, and used samples and methodologies that were too dissimilar. They may also have been too biased to offer reliable results. Thus, they call for more evidence before determining the effectiveness of combining Minoxidil and PRP.
Moreover, it is very difficult to compare Minoxidil and PRP treatments. While Minoxidil is applied daily and all test subjects receive the exact same substance, PRP is injected monthly and its quality and number of platelets it contains can differ from one patient to another (it can vary with age, health condition, etc.). That is one more reason why clinical trials with very large populations, systematic reviews and meta-analyses are necessary to achieve the most reliable results
These before and after photos will give you an idea of what to expect in terms of PRP and Minoxidil results:
Patient with male pattern baldness before and after Minoxidil treatment [15]
In the image above, a patient with Norwood stage 2 male pattern baldness experienced a marked improvement in hair density after 3 months of Minoxidil use.
The male patient above was experiencing Norwood stage 5 androgenetic alopecia. However, a marked increase in hair fullness could be observed after just 3 months of PRP for hair loss (3 sessions).
The patient above who was experiencing patchy alopecia areata showed signs of hair regrowth 3 months into his Minoxidil 2% treatment. However, it should be noted that it is difficult to tell whether this is the effect of treatment or spontaneous remission, which is common in mild forms of alopecia areata.
A female patient with ophiasis alopecia experienced some hair regrowth after 3 months of PRP therapy for hair. This is impressive, since this form of alopecia areata is often resistant to treatment.
Both these treatments are generally safe, with mostly mild and temporary side effects. However, one study [11] performed in 2023 on 64 men with male pattern baldness revealed that 53% of those treated with PRP injections experienced adverse reactions, compared to 37% of those treated with topical Minoxidil 5%.
The chief complaints for the Minoxidil group were mild headaches and a dry, itchy scalp, while most patients in the PRP group reported pain at the injection site, despite having received a topical anaesthetic.
Here are the most common adverse effects of PRP and Minoxidil:
The most common potential side effects
Minoxidil
PRP hair treatment
While it is always best to get a trichologist’s recommendation for the right hair growth treatment, sometimes this is not an option. In this case, Minoxidil and PRP each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Here is a list of advantages and disadvantages that may help you decide which is a better option for you:
No. While some people opt to use Minoxidil in between PRP sessions, this is not a requirement unless recommended by your trichologist. Both PRP and Minoxidil can be safely and effectively used on their own.
However, research shows these treatments likely work better against hair loss when combined. So if you are open to the idea of trying Minoxidil alongside PRP, it may lead to improved results.
If you are unsure whether either Minoxidil or PRP is the best solution to your hair loss, there are other effective treatments you may want to consider. Here are some of the best, evidence-based options.
Patient before and 15 months after a 2500-graft FUE crown hair transplant performed at the Wimpole Clinic
While Minoxidil and PRP hair treatment are only effective for as long as you are using them, you can enjoy the effect of a hair transplant after 10 years and even much longer. This safe and simple outpatient procedure involves harvesting healthy hair follicles from the back of your head and reimplanting them in your thinning areas.
At the Wimpole Clinic, we take great pride in our 50-year legacy of excellent hair restoration surgeries, with an almost 100% success rate for both FUE and FUT procedures.
This is the most widely prescribed and one of the most effective medications for androgenetic alopecia in the world. Finasteride works by inhibiting the activity of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which converts some of your naturally occurring testosterone into a different hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
DHT can bind to androgen receptors on your hair follicles. When this happens, it leads to hair miniaturisation and eventually to balding. As Finasteride reduces the DHT levels in your blood, your male pattern baldness can be curbed and even reversed.
Finasteride is not normally recommended for premenopausal women, as it can cause foetal malformations and disturbances to monthly cycles.
If you are experiencing an autoimmune type of hair loss, where your white blood cells attack your hair follicles (such as alopecia areata or scalp psoriasis), you may benefit from a steroid cream for hair loss.
Corticosteroids can reduce scalp inflammation, allowing your damaged hair follicles to heal and start producing hair once more. More severe conditions may require intralesional steroid injections for hair loss to show improvement.
This form of low-level laser therapy uses red or near-infrared light to improve your cell metabolism. The light beams are absorbed by your scalp, activating the c oxidase enzyme which enhances the efficiency of your mitochondria.
Red light therapy for hair also helps dilate the blood vessels in your scalp, allowing your follicles to get more oxygen and nutrients. This promotes the production of stronger, healthier, fuller hair.
Don’t waste any more time trying to figure out how different hair loss treatments compare in theory. Book a consultation with one of our helpful hair experts and get a personalised recommendation tailored to your specific needs.
Our hair doctors will run all the necessary diagnostic trichology tests and determine the best hair treatment for men (or, respectively, the most effective hair loss treatment for women) with your specific type of alopecia. They will also ask about your medical history, lifestyle choices and styling preferences and work together with you to devise the best haircare routine for thinning hair.
Read the answers to the following frequently asked questions to find out more about the effectiveness of Minoxidil and PRP for hair.
A hair transplant is the most effective hair loss treatment presently available and the closest you can get to a cure for baldness with today’s technology. It can provide greater hair density and coverage than either PRP or Minoxidil, but unlike these treatments, a hair transplant is permanent. So if you are eligible for surgical hair restoration, it may be the best option to regain a full head of hair.
Finasteride is more effective than Minoxidil in treating male pattern baldness [18][19]. However, Minoxidil is normally the treatment of choice for female pattern baldness, as premenopausal women cannot use Finasteride (it can cause birth defects and hormonal imbalances).
If you are experiencing male pattern baldness, Minoxidil combined with Finasteride is significantly more effective than either of these treatments on their own [20][21]. However, you will need a prescription to purchase Finasteride even when combined with over-the-counter medications.
Few studies have compared the effectiveness of these treatment combinations. So more evidence is needed to determine which one works best against different types of alopecia. However, one study [22] performed in 2024 on 80 patients of both genders with androgenetic alopecia reported that PRP combined with Finasteride yielded superior results.
The researchers divided participants into 2 groups. The first one was treated with 6 PRP sessions spaced 1 month apart and 1 mg daily of oral Finasteride. The second group received a daily dose of Finasteride 1 mg and two daily doses of topical Minoxidil 5%. After 6 months, the PRP and Finasteride group showed a 16.8% improvement in hair density compared to the Minoxidil and Finasteride group [22].
Yes, research shows that combining topical Minoxidil with microneedling (also known as derma rolling for hair growth) yields superior results to either of these treatments alone. That is because the small punctures made by the derma roller to the scalp help improve Minoxidil absorption, while the extra nourishment provided by Minoxidil to the hair follicles enhances the effect of microneedling.
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